Kai Rivers
In October 2008, Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew were murdered in Chicago. Following the tragedy, Donald Trump reportedly offered the Oscar-winning actress and some of her family members a complimentary stay at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. Trump himself confirmed to People magazine that Hudson and her family were guests at his hotel, stating, They are safe... She's a great girl, and we're protecting them well. While some sources suggest that Trump sheltered Hudson rent-free, others question the validity of these claims, given Trump's reputation for self-promotion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2008 |
| Location | Chicago |
| Hotel | Trump International Hotel & Tower |
| Reason | Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew were murdered |
| Source of Information | People Magazine, E! Online, Access Hollywood, Business Insider, Snopes, and statements by Donald Trump and his employee Dana London |
| Additional Information | Donald Trump has a history of charitable acts |
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What You'll Learn
Jennifer Hudson's family tragedy
In October 2008, Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found murdered at their Chicago home. A few days later, Hudson's seven-year-old nephew, Julian King, was also found murdered in a parked SUV. King was initially reported missing, with an AMBER Alert issued, before his body was discovered on 27 October. Autopsy results showed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, was considered a person of interest in the case. He was arrested on the day of the killings and confessed while in custody. Balfour spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, and possessing a stolen vehicle. He was also charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Donerson, Jason Hudson, and King, as well as one count of felony home invasion. Balfour pleaded not guilty to all charges, but was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for the murders.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Hudson and her family were reportedly sheltered by Donald Trump, who offered them a complimentary stay at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. While some sources attribute this gesture to Trump, others note that it stemmed from a single statement made by Trump himself to People magazine, and therefore, the veracity of this claim is questionable.
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Trump's offer of a hotel suite
In October 2008, Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew were murdered in Chicago. Following the tragedy, Donald Trump offered the Oscar-winning actress and some of her relatives a complimentary stay at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago.
Trump reportedly picked up the tab for Hudson's stay, telling People magazine:
> "They are safe. She's a great girl and we're protecting them well."
While staying at the hotel, Hudson rarely left the premises. This suggests that the hotel suite offered by Trump provided a refuge for the grieving family, allowing them to focus on their healing and recovery. It is unclear how long Hudson and her family remained guests at the hotel, but Trump's gesture of support during their difficult time was widely reported and recognized.
Despite some skepticism about the truthfulness of the story, with all reports stemming from Trump's statement to People magazine, the gesture reflects a compassionate side to Trump. It also highlights his ability to use his resources and influence to assist others in times of crisis.
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Trump's comments on Hudson's safety
In October 2008, Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew were murdered in Chicago. Following the tragedy, Hudson and her family stayed at the Trump International Hotel & Tower rent-free, with Donald Trump stating that he wanted to ensure their safety.
Trump commented on Hudson's safety in an interview with People magazine, stating: "They are safe... She's a great girl and we're protecting them well." He made similar comments at a benefit in New York, saying: "She's a great girl. They are very safe."
Trump's offer to shelter Hudson and her family rent-free was seen as a generous gesture, especially considering the tragic circumstances. According to reports, Hudson and her family members checked into the hotel immediately after the murders and rarely left the premises.
While some have questioned the veracity of Trump's claims, given his penchant for exaggeration and self-promotion, it is widely accepted that he did, in fact, offer Hudson and her family accommodation and protection during their time of need.
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The perpetrator of the murders
On October 24, 2008, the bodies of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found in the family home in Chicago. Hudson's seven-year-old nephew, Julian King, was initially reported missing, and an AMBER Alert was issued. Three days later, his body was found in the back seat of an SUV on Chicago's West Side. He had also been shot.
William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, Julia, was the only person identified as a "person of interest" in the murders. He was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony home invasion. Prosecutors believed the shootings were the result of an argument Balfour had with Julia about another man.
Balfour had a history of domestic violence and had threatened to kill members of Hudson's family on at least two dozen occasions before the murders. He was on parole at the time of the murders and had previously spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
During the trial, Balfour's defense attorney argued that he was targeted by the police because of the high-profile nature of the case. Balfour pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed he was nowhere near the house when the murders occurred. However, gunshot residue was found on the steering wheel of his vehicle, and witnesses reported seeing him with a gun identical to the murder weapon.
In May 2012, Balfour was convicted and sentenced to three life sentences plus 120 years in prison.
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Trump's history of charitable acts
In October 2008, following the tragic murder of her mother, brother, and nephew, Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson and her family were reportedly housed by Donald Trump in his Trump International Hotel Tower in Chicago. Trump allegedly covered the cost of their stay, stating that Hudson and her family were "very safe". However, this report originated from a single source—a statement made by Trump himself to People magazine—and has not been independently verified.
Beyond this widely reported incident, Donald Trump has been associated with several charitable acts, primarily through the Donald J. Trump Foundation. In 2013, during episodes of "The Celebrity Apprentice," Trump promised personal donations of $20,000 each to the charities of basketball star Dennis Rodman, singer La Toya Jackson, former Playboy Playmate Brande Roderick, and actor Gary Busey. Trump then used funds from the Trump Foundation to make these payments. Additionally, the Foundation donated at least $14,000 to the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a charity chosen by actress Marlee Matlin.
In 2010, the Trump Foundation contributed $10,000 to Jenny McCarthy's Generation Rescue, an organization that promotes vaccine hesitancy. The Foundation has also been implicated in potentially illegal grants to non-charitable organizations, such as the Iowa-based group "The Family Leader." Trump directed $50,000 of Foundation money to the American Conservative Union's Conservative Political Action Conference in 2013, potentially as a grant to their affiliated charitable foundation.
Trump has also been known to use charitable donations for political purposes. During his presidential campaign rallies, he distributed foundation grants with his campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" or a link to his campaign website. In 2018, New York State Attorney General Barbara Underwood alleged that Trump violated charity laws by using the foundation to promote his campaign. Trump's ""big beautiful bill," enacted in 2025, reduced tax deductions for charitable donations by high earners, while also introducing a charitable deduction for non-itemizers donating cash.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Donald Trump sheltered Jennifer Hudson and her family rent-free at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago after her mother, brother, and nephew were murdered in 2008.
William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, was considered a person of interest in the case. He was held in custody for parole violation, but it is unclear if he was ever charged with the murders.
It is unclear how long Hudson and her family stayed as guests of Trump, but she had rarely left the hotel since checking in on October 24, 2008.
Trump told People magazine, "She's a great girl. They are very safe. And we're protecting them well."
