William Trump, 25, Lives with Disabilities in a Wheelchair – His Father Fred Trump III Shares Their Journey and Advocacy

William Trump’s experiences have become the driving force behind his father’s dedication to raising awareness and improving support for families dealing with disabilities.

Fred C. Trump III, nephew of former President Donald Trump, long awaited an opportunity to use his family’s prominence for a greater good. That opportunity came through sharing the story of his son William in his memoir, All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way.

The book offers a candid look at family dynamics—power, affection, wealth, hardship, and enduring ties—while weaving in Fred’s personal account of raising a child with significant needs.

A Diagnosis That Changed Everything Fred and his wife Lisa welcomed William expecting a typical childhood, especially after two healthy older siblings. But from infancy, William suffered hundreds of seizures daily, leaving doctors baffled for years.

“It completely alters your world,” Fred recalled. For nearly 15 years, Lisa tirelessly sought answers until specialists identified a rare KCNQ2 genetic mutation as the cause of William’s profound developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy.

A Vibrant Life Amid Ongoing Challenges Despite his limitations, William has embraced many simple pleasures: swimming, peanut butter sandwiches, playful wrestling with his brother, reggae music (thanks to a beloved caretaker), and plenty of ice cream.

With bright blue eyes and an infectious grin, the 25-year-old brings joy wherever he goes. He is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair, but his father insists William possesses a rich inner life that shines through his presence.

Two years ago, William moved into a specialized group home in Connecticut, receiving round-the-clock professional care while staying close enough for frequent family visits.

Turning Personal Experience Into Advocacy The transition gave Fred time to reflect on their journey and channel it into broader change. His memoir not only chronicles family history but serves as a resource for parents thrust into similar uncertainty, offering hope through shared knowledge and community.

Fred stresses that individuals with severe disabilities lead full, meaningful lives deserving recognition and protection. He calls for stronger societal commitment, including in policy and government programs.

Using a Prominent Name for Good Leveraging the attention from his book and family name, Fred has amplified his voice for disability rights. He holds leaders accountable and pushes for concrete improvements.

His priorities include:

• Better training and compensation for caregivers
• More sustainable, quality housing options for adults with disabilities
• Earlier diagnosis and intervention through enhanced medical education

Fred has met with legislators and spoken at events like those hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities, using William’s story to humanize the issues.

William relies on an augmentative communication device to express himself, but finding trained specialists remains a hurdle. Fred advocates for increased funding and programs to make such technology accessible to all.

Acknowledging Privilege While Fighting for Equity Thanks to family resources, William has accessed private therapies like music and swim programs that have greatly enriched his life. Fred openly recognizes this advantage and is driven to extend similar opportunities to every family, regardless of means.

Fred and Lisa, married since 1989 and based in Connecticut, remain deeply committed partners in advocacy. Fred graduated from Lehigh University with an economics degree; Lisa from Ithaca College.

Together, they continue championing intellectual and developmental disability support—turning private pain into public purpose, one voice at a time.