Donald Trump

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman. He served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, and then again beginning in 2024. He belongs to the Republican Party.

Trump grew up in a wealthy family in New York City. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He took over his family's real estate business in 1971, renaming it the Trump Organization. He built many famous buildings and also hosted the television show The Apprentice from 2004 to 2015.

Trump won the 2016 presidential election and began his first presidency focused on changing laws about the environment, taxes, and international agreements. After the 2020 presidential election, he began his second presidency in 2024 with changes in foreign policy and domestic actions.

Trump's leadership style, known as Trumpism, has influenced the Republican Party. His time in office has been studied by historians and scholars.

Early life and education

Main article: Early life and education of Donald Trump

Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Jamaica Hospital in the Queens area of New York City. He grew up in a large house with his four siblings. His father, Fred Trump, helped him learn about business when he was young.

Trump went to private schools, including the New York Military Academy. Later, he went to the University of Pennsylvania and earned a degree in economics. Even as a student, he was already thinking about working in real estate.

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 in real estate with his father’s company. He worked on apartment buildings in New York City. He later built big projects in Manhattan, like the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower.

He built casinos in Atlantic City, but they had money problems. He also used his name for golf courses and an airline called the Trump Shuttle. He started Trump University, which sold real estate classes. The university had legal issues for misleading people. His foundation, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, was closed due to legal problems. His career had many legal cases and bankruptcies, especially with his casinos.

Media career

Main article: Media career of Donald Trump

Donald Trump wrote or helped write 19 books. His first book, The Art of the Deal, became very popular in 1987. He appeared in many movies and TV shows between 1985 and 2001. He also worked with professional wrestling groups like WWE.

In 2004, he became a television star by hosting The Apprentice. On the show, he played a powerful boss and used the famous phrase, "you're fired." The show helped make him well-known and very wealthy.

Early political aspirations

Further information: Political career of Donald Trump

Donald Trump joined different political parties over the years. He started as a Republican in 1969. He later became a member of the Independence Party in 1999. He switched to the Democrat Party in 2001 and returned to the Republican Party in 2009. He was unaffiliated in 2011 and then became a Republican again in 2012.

In 1987, Trump shared his ideas about foreign policy and reducing government debt by paying for full-page ads in newspapers. He once asked to be considered as a running mate for President George H. W. Bush in 1988. Later, he tried to run for president in the year 2000 but decided to stop. In 2011, he thought about running against President Barack Obama in the 2012 election but finally chose not to.

2016 presidential election

Main article: 2016 United States presidential election

Donald Trump started running for president in June 2015. He used the slogan "Make America Great Again" and said he was a successful businessman without any political experience. Trump became the top candidate for the Republican Party and was chosen as their nominee in May 2016.

Trump talked about changing many important things in the United States. He wanted to change trade agreements, make immigration laws stronger, and build a wall on the border with Mexico. He also talked about cutting taxes and changing healthcare laws. After a close race, Trump won the election and became the 45th president of the United States.

First presidency (2017–2021)

Main article: First presidency of Donald Trump

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies § First presidency (2017–2021).

Donald Trump became president on January 20, 2017. The next day, many people around the world protested against him. During his first weeks as president, Trump signed several important orders. These included steps to change health care laws, leave a trade agreement, support big building projects, and plan a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico.

Trump became president when the United States' economy was growing strongly. In 2017, he signed a big tax law that changed taxes for many people and businesses. He also changed some environmental rules, often allowing more use of natural resources. His administration changed health and safety rules, sometimes reducing protections for people.

Trump faced many challenges while in office, including investigations into his actions. He also led the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many difficulties. After losing the 2020 election, Trump said the results were unfair, which led to protests and a serious event at 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 said the 2020 election was not fair, but many people disagreed. He helped many Republican candidates and raised money for his activities.

In 2022, Trump started a social media platform called Truth Social. In 2024, his company became a public business. He faced some legal issues during this time. He announced he would run for president again in 2024 and won the election in November 2024, becoming president once more.

Second presidency (2025–present)

Main article: Second presidency of Donald Trump

Donald Trump began his second term as president on January 20, 2025. He was the oldest person to become president and the first president to have a felony conviction. He was also the second person to serve two terms that were not one after the other.

Trump made many changes very quickly at the start of his term. Some people did not agree with these changes and took them to court. His administration also had questions about mixing his work as president with his business interests.

Rhetoric, behavior, and political practice

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

Donald Trump brought some ideas from the far-right into mainstream politics. His supporters created a movement called Trumpism, which focused on his unique style and policies. His speeches often aimed to create strong feelings and were described as populist or right-wing populist.

Trump's comments about different racial and ethnic groups were often criticized. He made statements that many people felt were unfair or hurtful. During important events, his actions and words sometimes caused controversy. His way of speaking and the stories he told influenced many people's views, leading to debates and disagreements.

Assessments

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

From 2017 to 2021, Donald Trump was the president. Some people who voted for him liked his leadership. Others did not. People around the world also had different views about U.S. leadership during his time.

Historians and scholars looked at how Trump compared to other U.S. presidents. After his first term, some surveys showed he was seen as one of the least favored presidents. He was often rated low in leadership and moral authority, but some thought he was good at taking risks.

Personal life

Family

Main article: Trump family

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

Wealth

Main article: Wealth of Donald Trump

Trump started his career with money from his father and built a big real estate business. Over time, his wealth changed a lot. In 2015, his wealth was estimated at $4.5 billion, and by 2026, it was estimated at $6.5 billion. This made him one of the wealthiest people in the world.

Health

Main article: Age and health concerns about Donald Trump

Trump says he has never drunk alcohol, smoked, or used drugs. He also says he needs very little sleep. He enjoys playing golf but usually uses a golf cart to move around the course.

Religion

Trump says he is a Christian and has had different religious affiliations over the years. During his presidency, he had a pastor to help him with faith-related matters.