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President Trump on Tuesday said his father was “born in a very wonderful place in Germany,” even though Fred Trump was born in New York. The president was speaking with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at an event at the White House on topics including defense spending by European countries. Trump repeated his frequent complaint that countries such as Germany weren’t spending enough, but added he still has respect for Germany as an ally.

Trump just said "my father is German, was German. Born in a very wonderful place in Germany." Fred Trump was born in New York.

“I have great respect for Angela [Merkel, German chancellor] and I have great respect for the country,” he said. “My father is German, right, was German. And born in a very wonderful place in Germany, so I have a great feeling for Germany.” The president’s father, Fred Trump, was born in the Bronx in 1905. You can see his birth certificate here, or you can just Google it.

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But for some reason, the president keeps saying his father was born in Germany. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for an explanation. In July 2018, the president told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo that both his parents were born in the European Union in an interview about trade with Europe. His mother, Mary Anne Trump, was born in Scotland. “My parents were born in the European Union,” he said. “I love those countries, Germany and all of the countries, Scotland.”

That same month, he spoke with CBS News, calling the EU a foe of the United States because of trade, not any personal ill will toward Europe. “Don’t forget both my parents were born in EU sectors, okay?” Trump told CBS News. “I mean, my mother was Scotland, my father was Germany. And, you know I love those countries.” The president made similar statements at a press conference in Brussels later that month.