Donald Trump

Who Is Donald Trump?

Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York. He is the 47th and 45th President of the United States. Before holding public office, Trump owned the Trump Organization, a conglomerate dealing in real estate and other industries. He also hosted The Apprentice on NBC.

Trump served as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States, making him one of only two presidents in history to serve two nonconsecutive terms. The other was Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president.

Furthermore, Trump was inaugurated for his second term on January 20, 2025, after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5, 2024 presidential election. He won 312 Electoral College votes and carried all seven major swing states.

Early Life: Queens, Discipline, and a Real Estate Dynasty

Born Into Ambition

Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City. He is the fourth of five children of Frederick Christ Trump Sr. and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. Trump’s mother was born in Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1930. His father was born in New York City, the son of German immigrants.

During Trump’s childhood, the family lived in an upscale community of the Queens Borough known as Jamaica Estates. Fred Trump owned and operated a successful real estate company called Elizabeth Trump & Son, which developed properties for middle-class white families in Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.

The Military Academy Years

Donald Trump was an energetic and bright child. His parents sent him to the New York Military Academy at age thirteen, hoping the discipline of the school would positively channel his energy. Trump did well at the academy, both socially and academically, rising to be a star athlete and student leader by the time he graduated in 1964.

Therefore, the military academy was not a punishment. It was the crucible that shaped his competitive, disciplined approach to life.

Education: From Fordham to Wharton

After graduating from the academy, Trump attended Fordham University from 1964 to 1966, studying economics. Early in his sophomore year, he transferred to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

He graduated in 1968 with a degree in economics. The Wharton School — one of the world’s most respected business schools — gave Trump both the credentials and the network he needed to enter the competitive world of Manhattan real estate.

Business Career: Building the Trump Empire

Joining the Family Business

After completing his education, Donald Trump joined his father’s real estate company, which later became known as the Trump Organization.

He did not stay in the outer boroughs for long. His ambitions were firmly fixed on Manhattan. He pursued bigger projects, bolder deals, and a grander stage than Queens could offer.

Expanding Into Manhattan and Beyond

Trump continued to work in real estate development but also expanded into other businesses. He purchased sports teams, published books, and served as the producer and host of a reality TV show called The Apprentice.

In addition to starring on The Apprentice and making cameo appearances in other TV shows and movies, Trump owned several beauty pageants from 1996 to 2015, including Miss Universe and Miss USA. In 1999, he founded a modeling agency.

His empire grew across hotels, casinos, golf courses, and branded merchandise. Moreover, the Trump name became one of the most recognized brands in American business.

The Apprentice: A Star Is Born (2003)

The Apprentice transformed Donald Trump from a New York real estate figure into a national celebrity. Each week, aspiring business executives competed for a coveted position in his organization. His catchphrase — “You’re fired!” — became part of American pop culture.

The show ran for 14 seasons. It gave Trump a level of brand recognition that no real estate deal could match. Furthermore, it introduced him to millions of Americans who would later become his most devoted political supporters.

Personal Life: Three Marriages and Five Children

First Marriage: Ivana Trump (1977–1992)

In 1977, Trump married Czech model Ivana Zelnickova. During their 13-year marriage, the couple welcomed three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. The pair divorced in 1992.

Ivana was not just Donald Trump’s partner in marriage. They became partners in business too, as she climbed the corporate ladder at The Trump Organization, eventually being appointed CEO and president of Atlantic City’s Trump Castle Hotel and Casino.

Second Marriage: Marla Maples (1993–1999)

After Trump’s divorce from Ivana, he wed actress Marla Maples in 1993. They welcomed daughter Tiffany the same year. Marla and Donald split in 1999.

Third Marriage: Melania Trump (2005–Present)

He then married now-wife Melania in 2005. The couple shares a son, Barron.

Melania Trump was born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia). She had a lengthy modeling career and is the second foreign-born first lady of the United States, the first being Louisa Adams.

His Five Children

Donald Trump has five children from three marriages. Don Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Trump are from his marriage with Ivana Trump. Tiffany Trump is from his marriage with Marla Maples. Barron Trump was born during his marriage with Melania Trump. All five have maintained public profiles, with Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric playing active roles in The Trump Organization and in his political campaigns.

Political Rise: From The Apprentice to the White House

Entering the Race (2015)

Donald Trump announced his presidential campaign in June 2015. Few took it seriously at first. However, his direct communication style, business credentials, and “America First” message quickly resonated with a wide base of voters.

He defeated 16 Republican primary challengers. He then defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the November 2016 general election. The political world was stunned.

Inauguration as the 45th President (January 20, 2017)

Trump served his first term from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021. His inauguration drew enormous attention. He took the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol and declared that “American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”

First Term as the 45th President (2017–2021)

Economic Policy: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

The signature legislative achievement of Trump’s first term was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed in December 2017. The law cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, doubled the standard deduction for individuals, and doubled the child tax credit.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, results were strong. The Trump administration presided over a period of economic expansion, characterized by low unemployment rates and steady GDP growth.

The Judiciary: Three Supreme Court Justices

A hallmark of Trump’s presidency was his impact on the judiciary, with the appointment of three Supreme Court justices and numerous federal judges. These appointments reshaped the ideological balance of the courts with conservative-leaning jurists, fulfilling a key promise to his base and influencing legal decisions for years to come.

The three justices appointed were Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Moreover, in 2022, all three voted with the majority when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Foreign Policy: The Abraham Accords

In foreign policy, Trump’s most notable accomplishment was the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. These deals were hailed as a breakthrough for Middle Eastern diplomacy.

Additionally, Trump renegotiated NAFTA into the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), signed in 2018 and entering into force on July 1, 2020.

Historic Diplomacy With North Korea

Trump held three meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — in Singapore in 2018, Hanoi in 2019, and at the DMZ in 2019. These meetings marked the first time a sitting U.S. president met with a North Korean leader. However, they did not produce a lasting denuclearization agreement.

Impeachments: A Historic First

Donald Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives — in December 2019 over the Ukraine phone call and in January 2021 following the January 6 Capitol riot. He was acquitted by the Senate both times and remains the only president in American history to have been impeached twice.

Post-Presidency and 2024 Campaign

Staying in the Fight (2021–2024)

After leaving office in January 2021, Trump remained the dominant force in the Republican Party. He held rallies. He backed candidates. He kept the “Make America Great Again” movement alive.

In May 2024, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made before the 2016 election. Despite this, he continued his campaign. His supporters rallied around him.

Winning the 2024 Election

Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5, 2024 presidential election. He won 312 Electoral College votes and carried all seven major swing states.

It was a decisive victory. It was historic. No president had ever returned to the White House after losing an election — except Grover Cleveland — and Trump made history as the second.

Second Term as the 47th President (2025–Present)

Inauguration: The Oldest President Ever Sworn In

Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2025, at the age of 78 — the oldest person ever to take the presidential oath. The ceremony took place inside the Capitol Rotunda, moved indoors owing to extreme cold. In his inaugural address, he declared that America’s “decline is over” and that a “golden age” had begun.

He serves with Vice President J.D. Vance, a former senator from Ohio.

Executive Actions: A Record-Breaking Start

Trump signed more than 100 executive orders in his first month, rescinding Biden-era policies on climate, diversity and inclusion programs across the federal government, student loan forgiveness, and the approach to immigration enforcement.

His administration, staffed with loyalists including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has pursued an aggressive agenda of executive orders, deregulation, and federal workforce reductions.

DOGE: The Department of Government Efficiency

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led initially by Elon Musk, became one of the most controversial features of Trump’s second term, overseeing sweeping cuts to federal agencies and drawing nationwide protests and multiple legal challenges.

Trump’s stated goal was simple. He wanted to shrink the federal government. He wanted to cut waste. DOGE became the instrument of that mission — and one of the most debated institutions of his second term.

Key Second-Term Policy Priorities

Trump’s key second-term priorities include leading the world in AI, growing the economy, strengthening national security, reforming government through DOGE, making America healthy again, securing the border, unleashing American energy, and supporting public safety.

Legal Controversies and Political Battles

Donald Trump has faced more legal proceedings than any other American president. He has been impeached twice. He was convicted on 34 criminal counts in New York. He faced multiple federal indictments. However, many cases were dismissed or resolved without prison time after his 2024 election victory.

Two federal felony indictments against him — for the retention of classified documents and obstruction of the 2020 election — were dismissed without prejudice after he won the election.

These controversies have followed Trump at every stage of his political career. Yet his supporters argue that the prosecutions were politically motivated. His opponents argue they prove no one is above the law. The debate continues.

Presidential Career Timeline

Year	Event
2015	Announced presidential campaign
2016	Defeated Hillary Clinton; elected 45th President
2017	Inaugurated Jan 20; Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed
2018	USMCA negotiated; first Kim Jong Un summit
2019	First impeachment (Ukraine); acquitted by Senate
2020	Abraham Accords signed; COVID-19 pandemic
2021	Second impeachment (Jan 6); acquitted; left office
2022	Roe v. Wade overturned by Trump-appointed justices
2023	Indicted on multiple federal and state charges
2024	Convicted on 34 counts in NY; won presidential election
2025	Inaugurated as 47th President; 100+ executive orders signed
2026	DOGE cuts continue; Iran conflict escalation