Donald Trump, born June 14, 1946, is a real estate developer, television personality, and politician who served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He transformed his family’s real estate business into the Trump Organization, hosted “The Apprentice” for eleven years, and won the 2024 presidential election, becoming the first president since the 19th century to serve non-consecutive terms. His career encompasses significant business ventures, two impeachments, and ongoing political influence that continues shaping American discourse.
A businessman, television personality, and political figure, Donald John Trump stands as one of the most consequential and polarizing figures in modern American history, having served as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States. Born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City, Trump was raised in a wealthy family where his father, Fred Trump, established himself as a successful real estate developer, providing the foundation for his son’s eventual business empire.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, Trump assumed control of the family real estate business in 1971, subsequently renaming it the Trump Organization. He expanded the company’s portfolio beyond its original scope, developing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses while pursuing licensing deals that leveraged the Trump brand name across various ventures.
Trump transformed his father’s real estate company into a global brand empire spanning luxury developments and licensing ventures.
Despite his public image as a billionaire entrepreneur, Trump’s business career included six bankruptcies during the 1990s and 2000s, highlighting the volatile nature of his financial endeavors.
Trump’s shift from businessman to media personality began with his hosting of the reality television show “The Apprentice” from 2004 to 2015, which notably increased his national fame and reinforced his public persona as a decisive business leader. The show earned him nearly $200 million over 16 years and significantly enhanced his reputation as a businessman. He actively utilized social media platforms, particularly Twitter, to maintain his high public profile and communicate directly with audiences, frequently appearing in news headlines beyond his business and television activities.
His political career commenced with his successful 2016 presidential campaign as a Republican candidate, defeating Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president, serving from 2017 to 2021. During his first term, Trump implemented considerable policy changes, including signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, appointing three Supreme Court justices, imposing travel restrictions on several Muslim-majority countries, expanding border wall construction, and withdrawing from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and Iran nuclear deal.
Trump’s presidency was marked by unprecedented controversy and partisan division, resulting in two impeachments by the House of Representatives, first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, then in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol attack, though the Senate acquitted him both times. He also authored 19 books throughout his career, many of which were ghostwritten, with his first book “The Art of the Deal” becoming a bestseller.
After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden and attempting to overturn those results, Trump successfully won the 2024 presidential election, becoming the first president since the 19th century to serve non-consecutive terms and, at age 78, the oldest person to assume the presidency.
