Q+ ……….

The primary link between Donald Trump and the Rothschild family (or more precisely, the Rothschild banking interests) is through Wilbur Ross and a single major business event in the early 1990s.

Wilbur Ross worked for Rothschild Inc. (the New York-based U.S. arm of the Rothschild & Co. investment bank, now part of the broader Rothschild & Co. group) from the late 1970s until around 2000. He led their bankruptcy restructuring and advisory practice, specializing in distressed assets and negotiations for creditors in high-profile bankruptcies.

In 1990, Trump's Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City was in severe financial trouble shortly after opening. Trump had financed it heavily with junk bonds ($675 million at 14% interest), and he quickly struggled with payments amid a downturn in the casino market. His companies faced billions in debt, with Trump personally guaranteeing around $900 million.

Ross, as senior managing director at Rothschild Inc., represented the bondholders (the investors holding those junk bonds), not Trump or his companies. The bondholders were considering forcing an involuntary bankruptcy to seize control or liquidate assets. Ross negotiated on their behalf in what became a "prepackaged" Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.

The deal allowed Trump to:

Retain operational control of the casino.

Avoid personal bankruptcy (which could have ended his public/business career).

Give up about 50% equity in the Taj Mahal to the bondholders.

Get reduced interest rates and better debt terms.

This outcome helped Trump stay afloat during his broader financial crisis (multiple casino restructurings followed), preserving his brand and assets. Ross reportedly saw value in Trump's celebrity and name recognition, pushing for a deal that kept him involved rather than ousting him entirely.