Donald Trump
Overview
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 45th President of the United States (2017–2021) and was re-elected as the 47th President after winning the 2024 election. A real estate mogul and former host of the TV reality show 'The Apprentice', he championed 'America First' and led populist politics based on opposition to the established political elite. His presidency and re-election deepened political divisions within the United States and caused significant global repercussions.
Main Content
Early Life and Business Career
Trump was born in Queens, New York, to 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, the Trump Organization. From the 1970s, he expanded operations into Manhattan, developing major structures such as Trump Tower and Trump Plaza. In the 1990s, he expanded into casino and hotel businesses but faced multiple bankruptcy crises. From 2004, he gained national fame as the host of NBC's reality show 'The Apprentice'.
Political Entry and the 2016 Election
In June 2015, Trump descended an escalator to announce his presidential candidacy with the slogan 'Make America Great Again'. He defeated 16 competitors in the Republican primaries to secure the nomination and won the general election against Hillary Clinton with an Electoral College vote of 304 to 227. His campaign focused on key pledges such as immigration restrictions, renegotiation of free trade agreements, and dismantling the Washington elite, receiving strong support particularly from white working-class voters in the Rust Belt.
45th Presidential Term (2017–2021)
Trump's term was characterized by the following major policies and events:
- Economy: Passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, a 50-year low.
- Immigration: Pursued strict immigration enforcement, including building a wall on the Mexican border, the Muslim ban (Executive Order 13769), and a family separation policy.
- Foreign Policy: Held three summits with North Korea's Kim Jong-un (Singapore, Hanoi, and Panmunjom) but failed to reach a denuclearization agreement. Withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), and pressured NATO member states to increase defense spending, pursuing an 'America First' foreign policy.
- Judiciary: Appointed three Supreme Court justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—strengthening the conservative leaning of the court.
- Impeachments: Was impeached twice: first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over the Ukraine pressure incident (phone call), and second in 2021 for incitement of insurrection related to the January 6 Capitol attack. Both times, he was acquitted by the Senate.
2020 Election Loss and January 6 Incident
Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden but refused to accept the results, alleging 'election fraud'. On January 6, 2021, his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a riot that left a deep scar on American democratic history. Subsequently, Trump was impeached for a second time but was acquitted by the Senate.
2024 Re-election
In November 2022, Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 election. Despite facing four criminal indictments from 2023 onward (the New York hush-money case involving a porn star, the Florida classified documents case, the Georgia election interference case, and the January 6-related case), he secured the Republican nomination with overwhelming support. In the November 2024 election, he defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris with an Electoral College vote of 312 to 226, winning re-election. His campaign focused on attacking the Biden administration's economic policies (inflation), the southern border crisis, and social unrest.
Latest Developments
On January 20, 2025, Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President. On his first day in office, he signed over 100 executive orders, marking a 'historic first day'. Key measures included declaring a national emergency at the Mexican border, re-withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, repealing Biden-era immigration and environmental regulations, and establishing the 'Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)', appointing Elon Musk as its head. DOGE aims to reduce waste and inefficiency in the federal government, with Musk announcing plans to 'cut the size of the federal government by more than 30%'. Additionally, Trump is pursuing mediation to end the Ukraine war and has signaled a strong trade war, including imposing 60% tariffs on China. His re-election has sparked strong opposition from progressive factions in the U.S., with some states reviving discussions on secession. As of March 2025, Trump's approval rating stands at 47%, slightly higher than at the same point in his first term, but opinions remain deeply polarized.
Related Topics
- [[President of the United States]]
- [[Republican Party (United States)]]
- [[America First]]
- [[2024 United States presidential election]]
- [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]]
- [[Elon Musk]]
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