Donald Trump

Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in the Queens borough of New York City. He was the fourth child of Fred Trump, a real estate developer, and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. Raised in a 23-room mansion in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood, Trump grew up with four siblings.

His father, who was a significant influence on his life, instilled in him a strong work ethic and a competitive nature, often encouraging him to be a 'killer' in business. Trump attended the private Kew-Forest School until the seventh grade before his father enrolled him in the New York Military Academy. At this boarding school, he participated in sports and learned the importance of winning.

After graduating from the academy, he attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. Although he later claimed to have been at the top of his class, academic records do not reflect this.

During the Vietnam War, he was exempted from the draft due to a medical claim regarding bone spurs in his heels.

Trump began his professional career in 1968 at his father's company, Trump Management, which focused on middle-class housing in New York City's outer boroughs. In 1971, he became president of the company, which he rebranded as the Trump Organization, and shifted his focus to high-profile projects in Manhattan. With the help of his mentor, Roy Cohn, Trump navigated the complex world of New York real estate, securing tax breaks and building iconic structures like Trump Tower.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his portfolio expanded to include casinos in Atlantic City and various luxury hotels. However, his business history was marked by significant financial volatility; he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses between 1991 and 2009. Beyond real estate, Trump sought fame in the media.

He published his first book, 'The Art of the Deal', in 1987, which became a bestseller and solidified his public image as a successful tycoon. From 2004 to 2015, he hosted the reality television show 'The Apprentice', which further elevated his national profile. He also ventured into various other industries, including professional wrestling, pageants like Miss Universe, and the short-lived Trump University.

Presenting himself as a political outsider, Trump won the 2016 presidential election against Hillary Clinton. He served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. His administration was characterized by significant policy shifts, including the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the appointment of three Supreme Court justices.

He implemented a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, expanded the border wall between the United States and Mexico, and enforced a family separation policy at the border. In terms of foreign policy, he withdrew the U.S. from various international climate and trade agreements and initiated a trade war with China. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, he signed the bipartisan CARES Act but often contradicted health officials regarding the severity of the virus.

His presidency was marked by two impeachments: the first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and the second in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol attack. He was acquitted by the Senate in both instances.

Following his loss in the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump refused to concede and attempted to challenge the results, which culminated in the events of January 6, 2021. In the years that followed, he faced numerous legal challenges. In 2023, he was found liable in New York civil cases for sexual abuse and business fraud.

In May 2024, he became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony after a New York court found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Despite these legal hurdles, he campaigned for the 2024 presidential election and defeated Vice President Kamala Harris. Upon his victory, he received a no-penalty sentence in his New York case, and two federal felony indictments related to the retention of classified documents and the obstruction of the 2020 election were dismissed.

These developments allowed him to return to the White House to begin his second term as president, marking a rare comeback in American political history.

As of October 2026, Donald Trump is serving his second term as the 47th president of the United States. His current administration has been marked by the use of executive orders to implement significant changes, including mass layoffs of federal workers and the imposition of tariffs on nearly all countries, representing the highest levels since the Great Depression. He also signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

His administration has faced over 550 lawsuits challenging the legality of his policies, which include the mass deportation of immigrants and the restriction of transgender rights. Internationally, his administration has pursued aggressive campaigns against drug traffickers in Latin America and authorized military actions in the Middle East, including joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that initiated the 2026 Iran war. Trump's leadership style, often referred to as 'Trumpism', has fundamentally reshaped the identity of the Republican Party.

While his supporters credit him with challenging the status quo, critics and historians have expressed concerns regarding his impact on democratic institutions. As of October 2026, his actions and political agenda continue to be a central focus of national and international debate, cementing his status as a transformative and polarizing figure in modern history.