--- title: Donald Trump Genes: Watch Him Talk About his Genetics description: In interviews over the years, Trump has credited his genes for everything from his health to his success. canonical: https://time.com/4936612/donald-trump-genes-genetics/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-09-12T15:39:20.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:50:48.697Z article:section: Politics og:title: Donald Trump Loves to Talk About His 'Good Genes' og:description: "I had a good gene pool from the standpoint of that so I was pretty much driven." og:url: https://time.com/4936612/donald-trump-genes-genetics/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt220e620c82a17e89/6988dd45096a9464b769f88a/gettyimages-843825652.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: U.S. President Donald Trump answers reporters' questions during a joint news conference with Amir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait in the East Room of the White House September 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Donald Trump Loves to Talk About His 'Good Genes' twitter:description: "I had a good gene pool from the standpoint of that so I was pretty much driven." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt220e620c82a17e89/6988dd45096a9464b769f88a/gettyimages-843825652.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Donald Trump Loves to Talk About His 'Good Genes' > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=e3649255-e47c-445a-afd5-213e3a30cb2f&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Donald Trump Believes That His Genes Are the Secret to His Success [Watch (HLS stream): Donald Trump Believes That His Genes Are the Secret to His Success](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/C3OQtgZb.m3u8) (2:17)  _Published 2017-09-11. Donald Trump Believes That His Genes Are the Secret to His Success_ by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Sep 12, 2017 3:39 PM UTC by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Sep 12, 2017 3:39 PM UTC President Trump brags a lot about his genes. In interviews over the years, Trump has credited his genes for everything from [his health](http://time.com/4493743/donald-trump-dr-oz-health-claims-fact-check/) to his [success](http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/02/11/donald.trump.marriage.apprentice/index.html), and he’s noted that his children and grandchildren will benefit from them as well. When he was interrupted by his granddaughter, Arabella, during [an interview with the New York _Times_](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/us/politics/trump-interview-transcript.html) in July, Trump noted that she has learned some Chinese. “She’s unbelievable, huh?” he said. “Good, smart genes.” Trump’s statements on the influence of genetics go farther than what most scientists would say. While genes can contribute to the abilities of some athletes, they aren’t generally viewed as determining things like success in business. Watch this video to see Trump repeatedly talk about his genes. ## Transcript Is it possible for everybody to be what you've become. No, it's not but it's possible for a lot of people to become successful and even very successful. YOu have to be born lucky in the sense that you have to have the right genes to go out and if it's in my business if it's making deals. Donald Trump says he's got good genes, but scientists wouldn't endorse his views. One, two, three. Over the years, Trump has credited his genes for his success in life so frequently, that it's clear this is more than just a rhetorical tick. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Trump has said he's healthy because of his genes. Genetically, I mean I think you're probably a believer in that And a lot of people say that's sort of the most important thing. He said that he's smart because of his genes. My uncle was a great professor and scientist and engineer, Dr. John Trump at MIT. Good genes, very good genes. Okay. He said that he's driven because of his genes. I had a good gene [ UNKNOWN ] from the standpoint of that So I was pretty much driven. And he said that he was successful because of his genes. I think I was born with a drive for success. I had a father who was successful. I have a certain gene. I am a gene believer. He also said that his children and grandchildren have inherited these good genes and will succeed as well as a result. Trump's advisors have even gotten in on the action. So given his diet and exercise, how does he pull that off? [ LAUGH ] He's got perfect jeans. [ MUSIC ] Must. He does. And it's not just the Trump family jeans he thinks about. Trump's comments to an Irish pro- golfer indicate that he'd use athletic ability as being genetic as well. Trump talks more about good genes than bad ones, but he has occasionally hinted that he thinks some people may not be cut out for success because of their DNA. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Scientists who study genes would not agree with Trump's beliefs, however. Ever, while long limbs may have helped to make Michael Phelps a champion swimmer, there's little evidence that complex skills like deal making are rooted in genetics. But that's not going to stop Trump from talking about them. I said I had an uncle who is a great professor at MIT for 35 years. This Donald Trump, an intellectual, trust me, I'm like a smart person. 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