Fact check: What are Donald Trump's academic records from Wharton School of Business?

1. Summary of the results

Donald Trump graduated from Wharton School of Business in 1968 with a B.S. in real estate ^[1]. His academic performance was definitively not outstanding, with a confirmed GPA of 2.94 ^[2]. He performed adequately in core business courses but struggled in electives, receiving grades as low as C+ in courses like history of American business ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth noting:

• Trump was largely unmemorable to his classmates, with 68 out of 74 respondents saying they never encountered him at Penn ^[1]
• His professor, William T. Kelley, reportedly described Trump as "the dumbest goddamn student I ever had" ^[1]
• Trump actively prevented the release of his academic records through legal threats ^[3]
• He was notably absent from campus activities ^[1]
• The minimum GPA requirement for honors at Wharton was 3.40, which Trump did not achieve ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The most significant misinformation surrounding Trump's academic record comes from Trump himself, who has:

• Repeatedly claimed he graduated "first in his class" which has been proven false ^[3]
• Been notably defensive about his academic performance, leading to legal threats against schools to prevent record release ^[3]
• Created a narrative of academic excellence that contradicts the documented evidence ^[4]

This pattern of misrepresentation benefits Trump's public image as a successful businessman and leader. The actual records suggest a more modest academic achievement, which could explain his aggressive stance against releasing official documentation. The beneficiaries of maintaining uncertainty around these records would be Trump and his political allies, while transparency would benefit voters and the public's right to accurate information about their political leaders.