Maryanne Barry, Donald Trump's sister, found dead inside Manhattan home

Donald Trump's older sister Maryanne Barry was found dead today at her home in Manhattan on Monday. She was 86.

Born on April 5,1937 in Queens, New York City, Maryanne Trump Barry was the eldest child of real estate developer Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. Barry attended Kew-Forest School and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1958.

She furthered her education by earning a Master of Arts in public law and government from Columbia University in 1962. Later, she attended Hofstra University School of Law, obtaining her Juris Doctor in 1974.


She was an American attorney and federal judge. Barry served as an Assistant United States Attorney starting in 1974 and was initially appointed to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

Later, in 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed her to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Barry provided testimony in support of her colleague Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination in 2006. She transitioned to senior status in June 2011 and officially retired in February 2019 amid an investigation into allegations of judicial misconduct related to fraudulent financial transactions.

Barry's retirement in February 2019 coincided with allegations of tax evasion. An investigative report by The New York Times in October 2018 claimed that Barry and her siblings were involved in fraudulent activities to limit estate and gift tax liability related to their father's real estate ventures.

The allegations focused on a purported "sham company," All County Building Supply & Maintenance, which was allegedly used to evade taxes. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance initiated a review, and the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit launched an investigation into judicial misconduct. However, Barry's retirement effectively brought an end to the judicial investigation.

Donald Trump faced criticism from his sister, who, in recorded discussions with her niece, Mary L. Trump, in 2018 and 2019, sharply criticized the president. Barry accused her brother of lacking principles, concentrating solely on appealing to his base, and engaging in dishonesty, tweeting, and lying.

She expressed frustration with Trump's inconsistency, lack of preparation, and perceived cruelty, stating that he is "cruel." Barry also condemned the family separation policy and highlighted the untrustworthiness of Trump, pointing to his past bankruptcies. Mary Trump publicly released transcripts and audio excerpts of these discussions in August 2020.