Donald Trump

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, and again beginning in 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party. Born into a wealthy family in New York City, Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He took over his family's real estate business in 1971, renaming it the Trump Organization, and built a reputation through real estate projects and television.

Trump gained widespread fame for hosting the reality TV show The Apprentice from 2004 to 2015. In 2016, he won the U.S. presidential election as a political outsider, defeating Hillary Clinton from the Democratic Party. His first presidency saw major policy changes including a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, changes to immigration policies, and efforts to roll back environmental regulations.

After losing the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, Trump contested the results, leading to significant events including the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021. He was impeached twice but acquitted both times. In 2024, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records and later won that year’s presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris. His second presidency has been marked by significant and controversial actions, including major economic policies and international conflicts.

Early life and education

Main article: Early life and education of Donald Trump

Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in the Queens area of New York City. He was the fourth child of Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. Trump grew up in a large home with his siblings in Jamaica Estates.

He first attended the private Kew-Forest School and later went to the New York Military Academy for his middle and high school years. Trump then went to Fordham University before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1968 with a degree in economics.

Business career

Main article: Business career of Donald Trump

Further information: Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia, Tax returns of Donald Trump, and The Trump Organization

Donald Trump started his career in real estate with his father’s company, managing apartment buildings in Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. He later moved to Manhattan to pursue bigger projects. Trump became known for his big constructions, like the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower. He also opened several casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, though they faced financial troubles over the years.

Trump’s business also included licensing his name for products and real estate developments, owning golf courses, and trying out other ventures like a airline shuttle and a real estate school. Despite many successes, his companies faced legal issues and bankruptcies, especially in the 1990s.

Media career

Main article: Media career of Donald Trump

Donald Trump wrote or had others write 19 books, with his first, The Art of the Deal, becoming a New York Times Best Seller in 1987. He appeared in many films and television shows between 1985 and 2001 and even took part in professional wrestling events, such as WrestleMania 23.

He became a television star when Mark Burnett created the reality show The Apprentice, which Trump hosted from 2004 to 2015. On the show, he played a wealthy boss who would tell contestants "you're fired." These shows helped make him famous and earned him a lot of money.

Early political aspirations

Further information: Political career of Donald Trump

Donald Trump changed his political party several times over the years. He started as a Republican, then joined the Independence Party and the Reform Party, before switching to the Democrat and back to Republican again.

In 1987, he shared his ideas about foreign policy and the budget in big newspaper ads. He even thought about running for vice president in 1988. Later, he tried to run for president in 2000 but decided to stop. In 2011, he thought about running again in the 2012 election but chose not to.

2016 presidential election

Main article: 2016 United States presidential election

Donald Trump announced he wanted to be president in June 2015. He said he was a successful businessman and not part of politics. He became the Republican Party's candidate to be president in May 2016. His campaign used the slogan "Make America Great Again."

Trump talked about changing how the United States worked with other countries like China and NATO. He wanted to build a wall on the border with Mexico and change some laws about people coming into the country. He also talked about changing taxes, helping veterans, and making the country more independent in energy. Trump won the election in November 2016 and became the 45th president of the United States.

First presidency (2017–2021)

Main article: First presidency of Donald Trump

Main articles: Domestic policy of the first Trump administration, Economic policy of the first Trump administration, Environmental policy of the first Trump administration, and Social policy of the first Trump administration

Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017. During his time in office, he focused on changing laws about healthcare, trade, and energy. He signed important bills, like one that changed how taxes worked in the United States. He also made many changes to rules about the environment and energy use.

Trump faced many challenges, including investigations into his actions and two times when Congress tried to remove him from office. Despite this, he completed his term and left office on January 20, 2021. His presidency was also marked by significant events like the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Between presidencies (2021–2025)

After leaving the White House in 2021, Donald Trump moved to Mar-a-Lago and set up an office there. He continued to spread false claims about the 2020 election, which many called the "big lie." These claims led some states to change their voting laws. Trump remained a major figure in the Republican Party, raising large amounts of money and supporting many candidates in the 2022 midterm elections. In February 2022, he launched a social media platform called Truth Social.

Trump faced several legal issues during this time. In 2022, he was found responsible for sexual abuse and defamation in cases brought by writer E. Jean Carroll and ordered to pay millions of dollars. In 2022, New York filed a lawsuit against him for business fraud, resulting in a large fine. In 2023, he was indicted in Georgia for trying to change the 2020 election results there, but the case was later dismissed. In August 2022, FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago for classified documents he took after leaving office, leading to charges that were later dismissed. In May 2024, he was found guilty of falsifying business records related to payments to Stormy Daniels but received no penalty.

In November 2022, Trump announced he would run for president again in 2024. His campaign faced concerns over his increasingly strong and harsh statements. Despite two assassination attempts during his campaign, Trump won the 2024 election, receiving more votes than his opponent and becoming president again. His plans for his second term, known as Agenda 47, were not fully detailed.

Second presidency (2025–present)

Main article: Second presidency of Donald Trump

Donald Trump began his second term as president on January 20, 2025. He became the oldest person to assume the presidency and the first president to have a felony conviction. He was also the second person to serve two nonconsecutive terms as president.

Trump issued many executive orders in the early days of his second term, more than any other U.S. president in their first 100 days. His actions were challenged in over 550 lawsuits nationwide. Trump criticized the judiciary after legal setbacks and called for the impeachment of federal judges who ruled against him. His administration claimed a right to ignore federal law in some cases, which legal experts described as unprecedented.

Rhetoric, behavior, and political practice

Main articles: Political positions of Donald Trump and Rhetoric of Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s political style included bringing ideas from far-right groups into mainstream politics. During his time as a candidate and president, he formed a movement known as Trumpism. His way of speaking and acting often led people to see him as a strong leader, but also caused concern about how he handled power and freedom in the country.

Trump often spoke in ways that worried many people. He used strong language against his opponents and made many statements that were not true. His speeches sometimes made people feel scared or divided. He also talked a lot about issues like immigration and who should be allowed into the country, which led to many debates and strong feelings among Americans.

Assessments

Main articles: Public image of Donald Trump and Opinion polling on the first Trump presidency

During his time as president from 2017 to 2021, many people around the world had mixed feelings about Donald Trump's leadership. In some countries, fewer people approved of U.S. leadership under him compared to before. In the United States, most Republicans supported him, while most Democrats did not.

Historians and scholars have also studied his presidency. In surveys after his time in office, many experts placed him among the least favored presidents in U.S. history. He often ranked low in areas like leadership and moral authority, though some thought he was willing to take risks.

Personal life

Main article: Trump family

Main article: Wealth of Donald Trump

Main article: Age and health concerns about Donald Trump

Donald Trump married Ivana Zelníčková in 1977, and they had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. They divorced in 1990. He later married Marla Maples in 1993, and they have a daughter, Tiffany. In 2005, he married Melania Knauss, and they have a son, Barron.

Trump began his career with money from his father and built a large real estate business. His wealth changed over time, and in recent years, it was estimated to be several billion dollars. He has said he never drinks alcohol or smokes cigarettes and gets little sleep each night. Trump described himself as a Christian, though some people questioned how strong his religious beliefs were.