Timeline
Born in Queens, New York City.
Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in economics.
Became president of his family's real estate business, renamed the Trump Organization.
Hosted the reality television show The Apprentice.
Won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton.
Served as the 45th President of the United States.
Found guilty of falsifying business records and won the 2024 presidential election.
Authorized joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, starting the 2026 Iran war.
Biography
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 and became president of his family's real estate business, renamed the Trump Organization, in 1971. He developed skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses, and hosted The Apprentice from 2004 to 2015. After winning the 2016 election, his first presidency saw policies like a travel ban, border wall expansion, and tax cuts. He was impeached twice. In 2024, he was convicted of falsifying business records and won the 2024 presidential election, beginning his second presidency with significant policy changes and legal challenges.
Early Life & Background
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City, the fourth child of Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. He is of German and Scottish descent. He grew up in a 23-room mansion in Jamaica Estates with his older siblings, Maryanne, Fred Jr, and Elizabeth, and younger brother, Robert. His father, Fred, paid his children about $20,000 a year, making Trump a millionaire in inflation-adjusted dollars by age eight. Roy Cohn served as his fixer, lawyer, and mentor for 13 years, influencing his transactional view of life.
Education
Trump attended the private Kew-Forest School through seventh grade. He was then enrolled in the New York Military Academy, a private boarding school, from eighth to twelfth grade. In 1964, he enrolled at Fordham University, participating in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps during his first year. He transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in his junior year, graduating in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in economics. He was exempted from the Vietnam War draft due to bone spurs.
Political & Professional Career
Campaigning as a political outsider, Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election against Hillary Clinton. He served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. During his first term, he imposed a travel ban, expanded the Mexico–United States border wall, signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and appointed three Supreme Court justices. He withdrew the U.S. from climate and trade agreements and started a trade war with China. He was impeached twice—in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—and acquitted both times. After losing the 2020 election, he refused to concede and attempted to overturn the result. After winning the 2024 presidential election, he began his second presidency as the 47th president, initiating mass layoffs, imposing tariffs, and signing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. His administration's actions have drawn over 550 lawsuits.
Key Achievements & Legacy
Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in economics., Became president of his family's real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, and developed numerous skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses., Hosted the reality television show The Apprentice from 2004 to 2015, bolstering his reputation., Served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021, signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and appointing three Supreme Court justices., Won the 2024 presidential election, becoming the 47th President of the United States.