Donald Trump’s business career, particularly in New York City real estate and Atlantic City casinos, has long been scrutinized for alleged connections to organized crime figures, including some of Jewish descent involved in what has been described in media reports as “Jewish mafia” or Russian-Jewish mob networks. These ties are often portrayed as incidental to operating in mob-influenced industries like construction, concrete, and gambling during the 1970s–1990s, rather than direct involvement in criminal activities. Trump has repeatedly denied close associations, attributing any overlaps to the realities of doing business in those sectors and claiming limited recollection of specific individuals. Below, I’ll outline the most prominent documented connections based on investigative journalism, court records, and public statements, drawing from a range of sources including mainstream outlets (e.g., Politico, Washington Post), books, and discussions on X (formerly Twitter). Note that while some allegations involve Jewish individuals linked to organized crime, broader claims of a monolithic “Jewish mob” often stem from antisemitic tropes or conspiracy theories, as critiqued by organizations like the ADL.

Roy Cohn: Trump’s Mentor and Mob-Connected Lawyer

One of the most frequently cited links is Roy Cohn, a Jewish attorney who served as Trump’s personal lawyer and mentor starting in the 1970s. Cohn, who gained notoriety as chief counsel to Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare, later represented high-profile mob bosses, including Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno (Genovese crime family) and Carmine Galante (Bonanno family). Cohn’s connections extended to what some sources describe as Jewish organized crime networks, though he primarily worked with Italian-American Mafia families. Trump met Cohn in 1973 amid a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Trump Organization for housing bias against Black tenants; Cohn helped settle the case without an admission of guilt.

• Trump has called Cohn a “genius” and credited him with aggressive business tactics. In a 2016 Forward op-ed, Cohn’s role in securing tax abatements, zoning variances, and mob-controlled concrete contracts for Trump Tower is highlighted, leveraging Cohn’s government and underworld ties.
• A Cohn staffer recounted to journalist Wayne Barrett that Trump met Salerno at Cohn’s townhouse, though Trump denied this. Cohn’s cousin later wrote in Politico that Cohn had “almost no principles” and served as consigliere to Mafia bosses.
• On X, users like @jakeshieldsajj have amplified this, noting Cohn’s alleged blackmail operations for Jewish mafia elements, including claims of leverage over FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. However, these often veer into unsubstantiated territory.

Trump distanced himself after Cohn’s 1986 disbarment for unethical conduct and death from AIDS-related complications, but their 13-year relationship is well-documented in books like Barrett’s Trump: The Deals and the Downfall.

Felix Sater: Russian-Jewish Mob Ties and Trump Real Estate Deals

Felix Sater, a Russian-born Jewish businessman, has been linked to Trump through real estate ventures via Bayrock Group, which operated out of Trump Tower. Sater pleaded guilty in 1998 to a $40 million stock fraud scheme tied to the Russian Mafia (often involving Russian-Jewish émigrés) and became an FBI informant.

• Sater pitched Trump on projects like Trump SoHo (2007) and attempted Trump Tower Moscow deals during the 2016 campaign, boasting to Michael Cohen (Trump’s then-lawyer) about Russian connections to boost Trump’s election chances. 6 Trump signed a 2015 letter of intent for the Moscow project but later claimed minimal familiarity with Sater, saying in 2015, “If he were sitting in the room right now, I really wouldn’t know what he looked like.”
• Sater’s criminal past includes a 1991 assault conviction (stabbing a man with a margarita glass stem) and cooperation in organized crime probes. He was subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee in 2019 over Russia-related matters.
• Sources like the Washington Post detail Sater’s “friendly” rapport with Trump, including one-on-one meetings, though Trump’s lawyer Alan Garten emphasized Sater was never a Trump Organization employee. On X, users like @OlgaNYC1211 tie this to Trump’s broader Russian mob dealings since the 1980s.

Trump’s team ended the Bayrock association around 2010, and no charges were filed against Trump related to Sater.

Broader Mob Ties in Construction and Casinos

Trump’s empire intersected with mobbed-up industries, but ties to specifically Jewish figures are less dominant than Italian Mafia ones:

• In NYC construction, Trump used concrete from firms controlled by the Genovese and Gambino families, including overpaying for land tied to Philadelphia mob boss “Little Nicky” Scarfo. Australian authorities blocked Trump’s casino bid in 1987 citing “Mafia connections.”
• In Atlantic City, Trump’s casinos (e.g., Taj Mahal) faced allegations of money laundering for Russian-Jewish mob elements. 59 He hosted figures like Joey “No Socks” Cinque, a “small-time mobster,” at events.
• Family history: Fred Trump (Donald’s father) donated to Jewish causes, including a synagogue in Brooklyn, fostering early ties. Sidney Blumenthal’s LRB essay notes Fred’s mob links and housing discrimination.

Investigative books like David Cay Johnston’s The Making of Donald Trump and Craig Unger’s American Kompromat expand on these, often framing them as pragmatic rather than ideological. Pro-Trump sources, like Michael Franzese (ex-mobster) in YouTube interviews, downplay direct involvement.

Political and Personal Ties to Jewish Communities

Trump’s family includes Jewish connections: Daughter Ivanka converted to Orthodox Judaism, marrying Jared Kushner (from a prominent real estate family). 3 Advisors like David Friedman (Israel ambassador) and Jason Greenblatt are Jewish. 9 Trump has pro-Israel policies but faced antisemitism accusations, e.g., for tropes about Jewish loyalty. On X, some users allege deeper “Jewish mafia” control, but these lack evidence and echo conspiracy theories.

Denials and Broader Context

Trump’s spokesperson has dismissed mob ties as old and unsubstantiated, noting no convictions against him. 0 Critics like the Guardian argue presidents from JFK to Trump have “flirted with the mob.” 11 Balanced views, like in Politico, suggest ties were unavoidable in corrupt industries but benefited Trump’s rise. 0 Jewish leaders have mixed views: Some praise his Israel support, others decry rhetoric. 1

No evidence shows Trump directly engaging in mob activities, and many claims remain allegations. For deeper reading, consult Barrett’s or Johnston’s books.