Donald John Trump, born on June 14, 1946, is a prominent American figure known for his roles in politics, media, and business. He holds the distinction of being the 47th president of the United States and previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021 as a Republican.
Growing up in a prosperous family in Queens, New York City, Trump earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. In 1971, he took the helm of his family’s real estate business, which he rebranded as the Trump Organization, and embarked on a journey to build and acquire various properties, including skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Alongside these ventures, he explored numerous licensing opportunities under the Trump name, although he also faced challenges, including six business bankruptcies in the 1990s and 2000s. His public persona soared during his time hosting the reality show The Apprentice from 2004 to 2015, further solidifying his status as a billionaire. Positioning himself as a political outsider, Trump won the presidential election in 2016 against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Throughout his first term, Trump made significant policy moves, such as enforcing a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, expanding the border wall with Mexico, and implementing a controversial family separation policy. He rolled back several environmental and business regulations, enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and appointed three justices to the Supreme Court. On the international front, he withdrew from various climate and trade agreements and instigated a trade war with China. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, he often downplayed its seriousness, contradicted health officials, and signed the CARES Act. Following his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Trump attempted to contest the result, leading to the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. He faced impeachment in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection, ultimately being acquitted by the Senate both times.
In 2023, Trump was found responsible in civil cases for sexual abuse, defamation, and business fraud. He was convicted of falsifying business records in 2024, making him the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. After winning the 2024 presidential election against Kamala Harris, he received a penalty-free discharge, with two felony indictments regarding the retention of classified documents and obstruction of the 2020 election dismissed without prejudice. A racketeering case related to the 2020 election in Georgia remains unresolved.
As he began his second term, Trump granted pardons to approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 riot and activated mass layoffs among federal workers. He imposed tariffs on nearly every country, notably including significant tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico. Many actions during his presidency—such as confronting political adversaries, deporting immigrants, and heavily relying on executive orders—have sparked over 300 lawsuits contesting their legality. High-profile cases have brought attention to his interpretation of executive powers and led to considerable scrutiny.
