Donald J. Trump
Overview
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American businessman, television personality, and politician who served as the 45th president of the United States (2017–2021). Born into a real estate dynasty, he led the Trump Organization, successfully developing major real estate projects in Manhattan, and gained national fame through the reality TV program 'The Apprentice'. He ran as the Republican Party nominee in the 2016 presidential election, defeating Hillary Clinton, and promoted protectionist trade policies, strict immigration measures, tax cuts, and deregulation under the slogan 'America First'. During his tenure, he was impeached twice but acquitted both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, he contested the results, influencing the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. He ran again in the 2024 election, winning and becoming the 47th president.
Main Content
Early Life and Business Career
Donald Trump was born in Queens, New York, and grew up as the son of real estate developer Fred Trump. After earning a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he joined his father's company. From the 1970s, he expanded into Manhattan, developing iconic buildings such as Trump Tower and the Plaza Hotel, building the 'Trump' brand. In the 1980s and 1990s, he ventured into casino businesses (Trump Plaza, Trump Taj Mahal) and an airline (Trump Shuttle), but faced multiple bankruptcy crises. In the 2000s, he significantly boosted his public profile through the reality TV show 'The Apprentice'.
Entry into Politics and the 2016 Election
Trump officially announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2015. He campaigned on anti-immigration, anti-free trade, and 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) slogans, gaining strong support from white working-class voters. He defeated 16 rivals in the primaries to secure the nomination and won the general election against Hillary Clinton. His campaign was noted for its heavy use of social media (especially Twitter) and rhetoric that broke traditional political norms.
Presidential Term (2017–2021)
The Trump administration pursued the following key policies:
- Economy: Passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Deregulation boosted the energy (oil and gas) industry and led to stock market gains. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp economic contraction in 2020.
- Immigration: Enforced strict immigration measures, including building a border wall, the Muslim ban (Executive Order 13769), and a family separation policy. Attempts to end protections for 'Dreamers' (DACA recipients) were blocked by courts.
- Foreign Policy: Held three summits with North Korea (Singapore, Hanoi, and the DMZ) but failed to reach a denuclearization agreement. Initiated a trade war with China, imposing tariffs, and demanded increased defense spending from NATO allies. Brokered the Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Judiciary: Appointed three Supreme Court justices (Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett), strengthening its conservative tilt.
- Impeachments: First impeached in 2019 over the Ukraine pressure scandal (Trump–Zelenskyy call) on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but acquitted by the Senate. Second impeached in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol riot, but acquitted by the Senate (with seven Republican senators voting guilty).
2020 Election and Aftermath
Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden but refused to concede, alleging election fraud. On January 6, 2021, his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. He was subsequently impeached for a second time but acquitted. In November 2022, he announced his candidacy for the 2024 election. In 2023, he faced multiple legal challenges, including a New York state fraud trial, federal charges for mishandling classified documents, and indictments related to the January 6 events. Nevertheless, he won the 2024 election, becoming the 47th president.
Latest Developments
In November 2024, Trump defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the presidential election. This marked a return after his 2020 defeat, making him the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms (after Grover Cleveland). His reelection campaign focused on economic anxiety, immigration issues, and framing his legal prosecutions as 'political persecution'. After taking office on January 20, 2025, Trump immediately implemented executive orders to strengthen immigration enforcement (declaring a national emergency at the border, launching mass deportation operations), raised tariffs (60% on China, 25% on Mexico), and declared energy independence (re-withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement). He also pursued pardons for defendants related to the January 6, 2021 events and is undertaking 'administrative state reform' by replacing federal bureaucrats with loyalists. As of April 2025, Trump's economic policies have led to short-term stock market gains, but concerns over inflation and retaliatory tariffs from trade partners have increased uncertainty. Polls show a divided approval rating of 47%.
Related Topics
- [[President of the United States]]
- [[Republican Party (United States)]]
- [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]]
- [[Trump administration]]
- [[MAGA movement]]