Deutsche Bank saw Trump as a ticket to the 'wealthiest people on the planet': fraud trial

Sarah K. Burris
November 29, 2023 

(Trump Instagram


Top Deutsche Bank executive Rosemary Vrablic testified in court on Wednesday that she courted Donald Trump's business because of the wealth he is now found to have exaggerated on his financial statements.

MSNBC's Lisa Rubin reported from inside the courtroom where Trump is on trial for fraud that Deutsche Bank’s former managing director said she wanted to meet with Trump because he was such a “big-deal” client.

She also told colleagues that he should be pursued because, "Given the circles this family travels in, we expect to be introduced to the wealthiest people on the planet," ABC News reported.

Vrablic wrote to colleagues while courting Trump in the early 2010s, according to materials entered into evidence.

Trump was listed in a 2012 memo as a “top 5 relationship in terms of revenue” for the team. Given Trump's wealth and his willingness to loan cash, the bank was also pressing for Trump to move his personal finances and deposits over to Deutsche Bank.

After establishing the relationship, Ivanka Trump took over, becoming the primary contact Vrablic said she used.

"Your family is in the top 10 revenue-generating names of asset and wealth management now and he’s thrilled with how it’s grown," wrote Vrablic in an email to Ivanka, referencing Vrablic's boss.

The prosecution claims that much of Trump's wealth was exaggerated. In a summary judgment before the trial began the judge found him liable for fraud, making the ongoing trial in New York largely to determine damages.

In one email that Vrablic was asked to review, the executive said that “credit has given the green light” to Deutsche Bank issuing a "term sheet" detailing the Old Post Office loan repayment schedule. That property became Trump's Washington, D.C. hotel, which became a favorite of international leaders attempting to curry favor during his term as president.


Vrablic later testified that the bank declined to lend money to Trump for the Turnberry golf course project because Trump was about to become president. That would then bring greater scrutiny and more risk for the bank, and it was deemed not worth "greater exposure."

She didn't say what the project at Turnberry was, but Trump had bought the Scottish golf course in 2014, long before he was president.

It was late May 2016 when he ultimately won enough electoral votes to get the nomination for the Republican Party, NPR reported at the time.