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Fact check: Did Donald Trump cheat on his SATS?
1. Summary of the results
The question of whether Donald Trump cheated on his SATs centers around allegations made by his niece, Mary Trump, in her book "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man". According to multiple sources, Mary Trump claimed that Donald Trump paid someone to take the SAT exam on his behalf to help him gain admission to the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania [1] [2].
These allegations have prompted at least half a dozen professors at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School to call for an official investigation into whether Trump was fraudulently admitted to their institution [3] [4]. The White House has categorically denied these claims, calling the allegation "false" and "absurd" [1].
Supporting evidence for potential academic misconduct includes testimony from Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who stated under oath that Trump directed him to threaten his high school, colleges, and the College Board not to release his grades or SAT scores [5] [6]. Fordham University has confirmed receiving a letter from Cohen warning them not to disclose Trump's records [6].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context:
- Mary Trump's motivations and credibility as the source of these allegations are not addressed. She is Trump's niece and has written a critical book about the family, which could influence her perspective [2].
- The timing and legal implications of these allegations are missing. The claims emerged during Trump's presidency and involve potential fraud in college admissions, which could have serious legal consequences if proven true.
- The broader pattern of alleged behavior is not mentioned. According to Mary Trump, the SAT cheating allegation is "part of a larger pattern of cheating and deceit throughout his life" [2], suggesting this incident fits into a wider narrative about Trump's character.
- The institutional response from the University of Pennsylvania beyond the faculty calls for investigation is not detailed, nor is there information about whether any formal investigation was actually conducted.
Powerful individuals and institutions who would benefit from different narratives include:
- Political opponents who would benefit from allegations of academic fraud being accepted as true
- Trump supporters and the Trump administration who would benefit from these claims being dismissed as false
- Academic institutions like Wharton, which could face reputational damage if the allegations were proven true
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question itself is relatively neutral, simply asking whether Trump cheated on his SATs. However, it lacks important context about the unproven nature of these allegations. The question could be misleading because:
- It presents the cheating as a factual possibility without acknowledging that these are unsubstantiated allegations from a family member with potential bias
- It doesn't mention that official denials have been issued by the White House [1]
- It fails to note that no formal investigation results have been made public to either confirm or refute the claims
The question would be more balanced if it acknowledged that these are allegations that remain unproven and that there are conflicting accounts from different parties involved.