Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American businessman, media personality, and politician who is the47th and currentpresident of the United States since 2025. Before, he was the 45th president from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of theRepublican Party. Before becoming president, he was abusinessman andtelevision personality.
In 2023, Trump became the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges. In 2024, he became the first former U.S. president convicted of afelony.
Donald John Trump was born at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center inQueens,New York City.[12] He is the son ofFred Trump and his wife Mary Anne (née MacLeod). They married in 1936. His mother was born on theIsle of Lewis, off the west coast ofScotland.[13] Donald was one of five children.[14] Donald's oldest brother, Fred Jr., died in 1981 at the age of 43, due to an alcohol addiction.[15] Trump's sister,Maryanne, is a judge in New York. Trump's father's parents were German immigrants.[16]His grandfather, Frederick Trump, immigrated to the United States in 1885. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1892. Frederick married Elisabeth Christ (October 10, 1880 – June 6, 1966)[17] at Kallstadt, State ofBavaria,Germany, on August 26, 1902. They had three children. He studied atFordham University until transferring to theUniversity of Pennsylvania.Trump was not drafted during theVietnam War.[18] This was due to four college deferments and one medical deferment. In an interview withThe New York Times, he said his medical deferment was because ofheel spurs.[19][20]
Trump is aWWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) fan, and a friend of WWE ownerVince McMahon. In 1988–89 he hostedWrestleMania IV andV atBoardwalk Hall (dubbed "Trump Plaza" for storyline purposes) and has been an active participant in several of the shows.[31] Trump was inducted into the celebrity wing of theWWE Hall of Fame in 2013 atMadison Square Garden for his contributions to the promotion. He made his sixthWrestleMania appearance the next night.[32]
In 2003, Trump became the executive producer and host of the NBCreality showThe Apprentice, in which a group of competitors battled for a high-level management job in one of Trump's commercial enterprises. In 2004, Trump filed a trademark application for thecatchphrase "You're fired!"[33]
For the first year of the show, Trump earned $50,000 per episode (roughly $700,000 for the first season), but following the show's initial success, he was paid $1million per episode.[34] In a July 2015 press release, Trump's campaign manager said thatNBCUniversal had paid him $213,606,575 for his 14 seasons hosting the show.
On February 16, 2015, NBC announced that they would be renewingThe Apprentice for a 15th season.[35] On February 27, Trump stated that he was "not ready" to sign on for another season because of the possibility of a presidential run.[36] On June 29, after a widespread negative reaction stemming from Trump's campaign announcement speech, NBC released a statement saying, "Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump."[37] Trump was replaced by formerGovernor of California and actorArnold Schwarzenegger.
Political activity before 2015
Trump switched between political parties a number of times. He registered as a Republican in 1987,[38] a member of theIndependence Party in 1999,[39] a Democrat in 2001, a Republican in 2009, with no political party in 2011, and a Republican in 2012.[38]
In 2011, Trump said that PresidentBarack Obama was born inKenya; Obama was actually born inHawaii. If Obama had been born in Kenya, he would not have been allowed to run for president. Trump repeatedly said that Obama was lying about where he was born, an idea called "Birtherism". Even after Obama shared hisbirth certificate with the public, Trump suggested that it could be fake.[40]
Trump made aformal announcement of his candidacy for president of the United States for the 2016 elections on June 16, 2015. He made the announcement at 11am EST from his headquarters inTrump Tower in New York City.[41][42] Trump launched his campaign saying, "We are going to make our Country Great Again" with a commitment to become the "greatest jobs president."[42] Trump's official campaign slogan was "Make America Great Again." That was first used byAlexander Wiley, but Donald Trump trademarked it.[43]
During his announcement speech he stated in part, "WhenMexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." On July 6, 2015, Trump issued a written statement to clarify his position onillegal immigration, which drew a reaction from critics.[44]
Ideology
Trump has described his political leanings and positions in many ways over time.[45][46][47]Politico has called his positions as "eclectic, improvisational and often contradictory".[47] He has listed several different party affiliations over the years,[47] and has also run as aReform Party candidate.[48] The positions that he has revised or reversed include stances onprogressive taxation,abortion, andgovernment involvement in health care.[47]He has supported Christian groups in the U.S., claiming that he will reverse unfavorable tax treatments preventing them from expressing themselves in the political arena and promising to revive a more widespread use of the phrase "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays" in department stores. Other issues he highlighted include taking care of militaryveterans, making the military "strong", aggressive bombing of the Mideast terrorist groupISIS, surveillance of certain mosques in the U.S., and makingtrade agreements more favorable to American workers.[49][50][51]
During the primaries, Trump (dark blue) won 40 contests.
Trump entered a large field of candidates consisting of 16 other Republican candidates campaigning for the nomination, the largest presidential field in American history.[52] By early 2016, the race had mostly centered on Donald Trump andU.S. SenatorTed Cruz.[53] OnSuper Tuesday, Trump won the majority of the delegates and remained the front-runner throughout the primaries.
Finishing in June 2016 with nearly 14 million votes, Trump broke the all-time record for winning the most primary votes in the history of theRepublican Party.[57][58]
After becoming the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump's focus shifted to thegeneral election, urging remaining primary voters to "save [their] vote for the general election."[59] Trump began targetingHillary Clinton, who became the presumptiveDemocratic nominee on June 6, 2016 after beatingBernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, and continued to campaign across the country. Clinton had established a significant lead innational polls over Trump throughout most of 2016. In early July, Clinton's lead narrowed in national polling averages following theFBI's conclusion of its investigation into her ongoingemail controversy.[60]
On September 26, 2016, Donald Trump andHillary Clinton faced off inthe first presidential debate atHofstra University inHempstead, New York.Lester Holt, an anchor withNBC News, was the moderator.[61] This was the most watched presidential debate in United States history.[62]On November 8, 2016, Trump won the presidency with 306 electoral votes to Clinton's 232 votes,[63][64] even though Trump won a smaller part of thepopular vote than Clinton.[65] He is the fourth person to become president without winning the popular vote.[65][66] The final popular vote difference between Clinton and Trump is that Clinton finished ahead by 2.86 million or 2.1 percentage points, 48.04% to 45.95%, with neither candidate reaching a majority.[67] Trump's victory was considered a big political upset, as nearly all national polls at the time showed Hillary Clinton with a modest lead over Trump, and state polls showed her with a modest lead to win the Electoral College.[68] In the early hours of November 9, 2016, Trump received a phone call in which Clinton conceded the presidency to him. Trump then delivered his victory speech before hundreds of supporters in theHilton Hotel in New York City.[69]
Trump's presidential transition team was led byChris Christie until November 11, 2016, when Vice President-elect Mike Pence took over.[70]
On the Saturday following Trump's inauguration there were massive demonstrations protesting Trump in the United States and worldwide, including the2017 Women's March.
President Trump receiving a flight jacket fromNASA at theWhite House, March 2017
On January 27, an order suspended admission of refugees for 120 days and denied entry to citizens ofIraq,Iran,Libya,Somalia,Sudan,Syria andYemen for 90 days, citing security concerns about terrorism. Later, the administration seemed to reverse a portion of part of the order, effectively exempting visitors with agreen card.[77][78] Several federal judges issued rulings that curtailed parts of the immigration order, stopping the federal government from deporting visitors already affected.
Allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election
Trump claimed there was no collusion and no obstruction and on May 9, 2017, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey after he reportedly asked for more information and funding for the investigation of Russian interference in the2016 United States elections. The White House stated that this was not true, and that Trump fired Comey in order to end the investigation. AfterThe Wall Street Journal reported that Trump'sNational Security AdvisorMichael T. Flynn was under investigation by U.S.counterintelligence agents for his communications with Russian officials,[79] Flynn resigned on February 13, 2017.[80] Two days later on February 15, Trump'sSecretary of Labor-nomineeAndrew Puzder withdrew his nomination due to not having support from Democrats or Republicans to confirm his nomination.[81]
Trump, joined on stage by medical professionals and invited guests, displays his signature on an Executive Order protecting insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions, September 2020.
On June 1, 2017, he announced that the United States would withdraw from theParis Climate agreement, making the United States one of only three nations, includingSyria andNicaragua, to do so.[87] On June 16, 2017, President Trump announced that he was "cancelling" the Obamaadministrations deals withCuba, while also expressing that a new deal could be negotiated between the Cuban and United States governments.[88][89] In response to President Biden's rejoining of the Paris Climate agreement,[90] President Trump withdrew once again after being inaugurated on January 20, 2025.[91]
On July 12, 2017, California RepresentativeBrad Sherman formally introduced an article of impeachment, H. Res. 438,[92] accusing the president of obstructing justice regarding the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.[93]
LGBT rights
On July 26, 2017, Trump tweeted that the "United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail."[94] Trump cited the alleged "disruption" and "tremendous medical costs" of having transgender service members.[94]
Between August 11 and 12, 2017, there was a violentwhite supremacist rally inCharlottesville, Virginia regarding the removal ofConfederate statues.[95] Trump did not speak out against white nationalists explicitly, instead condemning "hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides" leading people to think he did not take a harsh approach on racism.[96]
North Korea
In late August, Trump dramatically increased tensions against North Korea, warning that more threats against the U.S. will be responded to with "fire and fury like the world has never seen."[97] North Korean leaderKim Jong-un then threatened to direct the country's next missile test towardGuam. Trump responded in his war-related service that if North Korea took steps to attack Guam, "things [would] happen to them like they never thought possible."[98]
In September 2017, Trump controversially oversaw the rescinding of theDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or "DACA" which removed protections for children immigrants and removed benefits.[103] The decision was announced by Attorney GeneralJeff Sessions. Two injunctions in January and February 2018 allowed renewals of applications and stopped the rolling back of DACA, and in April 2018 a federal judge ordered the acceptance of new applications; this would go into effect in 90 days.[104]
Trump with Vice PresidentMike Pence signing aNASA funding bill, December 2017
In December 2017, Trump signed theTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which cut the corporate tax rate to 21%, lowered personal tax brackets, increased child tax credit, doubled theestate tax threshold to $11.2million, and limited the state and local tax deduction to $10,000.[108]
In February 2018, Trump praised the bill for increasing pay for millions, after announcements of bonuses from many companies. These bonuses have been criticized by the bill's opponents as publicity stunts,[109] and economists have said many of them would have happened anyway due to low unemployment.[110][111]
On December 18, 2019, the House of Representatives voted to have Trump impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.[112] On February 5, 2020, the Senate found Trump not guilty of all charges.[113]
Donald Trump announced the 2020 re-election campaign in Orlando, Florida, on June 18, 2019.
Trump announced his plans to run for a second term by filing with the FEC within a few hours of assuming the presidency.[114] This transformed his 2016 election committee into a 2020 reelection one.[115] Trump marked the official start of the campaign with a rally inMelbourne, Florida, on February 18, 2017, less than a month after taking office.[116]
By January 2018, Trump's re-election committee had $22million in hand,[117] and it had raised a total amount exceeding $67million by December 2018.[118] $23million was spent in the fourth quarter of 2018, as Trump supported various Republican candidates for the2018 midterm elections.[119] He made an official re-election campaign launch on June 18, 2019 inOrlando, Florida.[120]
Many Republican representatives and senators planned toobject theUnited States Congress's formally recognizing Biden'selectoral college victory on January 6, 2021.[124] In early January 2021, Trump made aphone call to Georgia Secretary of StateBrad Raffensperger in an attempt to find "11,780 votes" trying to remove Biden's victory in the state.[125]
After this, Trump got his Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts deleted.[127] On January 8, 2021, Trump was banned from Twitter.[128] The events from the Capitol riots led tonew efforts toimpeach Trump from the presidency.[129]
Second impeachment
His actions towards the Capitol riots, led to the U.S. House toimpeach Trump for a second time, making him the only President to be impeached twice.[130]
Media said that the Supreme Court’s decision in July, says "that former presidents have “absolute” immunity from criminal prosecution over actions that fall within their “core constitutional powers,” and that they are alsoentitled to immunity for many other “official” acts."[132]
Theindictment was [made narrow, or] narrowed[134] by the supreme court's decision (in July), according to media.
ThisElection obstruction case, is sometimes called the "federal election case inWashington D.C."[133][134] Trump is charged with conspiring tosubvert the 2020 election, according to media.".[136][137]Trump is charged with conspiring to subvert the 2020 election, according to media".
The judge (in the trial) "has scheduled a Sept. 5 hearing to set acourse for the case", according to media.[138] Furthermore, during the previous month, a new "indictment [... removed] some specific allegations against Trump".[138]
2024 hearing in U.S. supreme court
Thesupreme court made (July 2024) its decision about its hearing about Trump's claim of immunity from prosecution.[139][137] The decision says, according to media, that "Trump isimmune from prosecution for some [things, or]acts in" at least one of the court cases, thefederal election case; Furthermore, "The opinion leaves much [without a decision, or] unresolved; Furthermore, the court has sent "the case back totrial court for furtherproceedings".[137]
Some of the decisions (by the court), are called anopinion.
In May 2024, Trump was convicted by ajury; The judge (in the case) is supposed to hand down asentence, on November 26;[132][143] Earlier, Trump "had aprobation interview as part of the sentencing process for his criminal conviction", according to media; Furthermore, he "did the interview [byvideo link, or] virtually from his Florida home ... with aprobation officer at the Manhattan court"; Trump's lawyer was alongside Trump.[144][145] From the day of getting his sentence, Trump will have 30 days to make an appeal.[146][143][147] Trump is notdetained (as of the beginning of July). He has not been ordered to (pay or) postbail (in this case.)
A (theory about Law, or a) "legal theory [was used in thecourt case,] that [made it possible or] enabled prosecutors to [change or] transform 34misdemeanor counts [...] into afelony case against" Trump, according toPolitico.com.[148]
Earlier (April 15, 2024), the trial started.[152][153]
Earlier (March 30, 2023) the Manhattan district attorney's office confirmed that a New York grand jury hadindicted Trump.[154][155]
Media wrote (September 3, 2024) that the judge is "weighing requests from Trump to toss out the verdict or postpone the sentencing hearing until after Election Day".[156]
Classified documents case (in federal court)
There is no date for the trial in Florida [as of July 5]; Trump's lawyers have asked the judge, if Trump can get a "chance to argue the immunity issue", in front of the judge "between now and early September, [... and that will delay orpause] all other proceedings in the case by two months".[157][158][159] Earlier (March 1, 2024) a hearing was held; The judge "did not [make or] issue anyrulings", during the hearing.[160]Earlier (June 8, 2023) the Justice Department indicted Trump in Miami federal court, for
on purpose, keeping "national defense information under theEspionage Act"; He has been charged with doing those 31 times.[161]
(together with or) "jointly with a personalaide ... conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding government documents, corruptly concealing records, concealing a document in a federal investigation and scheming to conceal [the efforts of those two people, or] their efforts".[162][161]
Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.[163]The judge in the court case tried to find out in court ifthe U.S. attorney general "issupervising Jack Smith" [as of June 2024]; The judge did not get information about how much contact there is between thespecial prosecutors and the U.S. attorney general.[164]
On July 15, 2024, the judge at Donald Trump's trial for withholding classified documents after his departure from the White House annuls the entire procedure, considering that the appointment of special prosecutor Jack Smith was illegal.[165]
The case is sometimes called theGovernment and classified documents case.
Georgia election interference case (in state court)
The state of Georgia has criminal charges against Trump. A trial "will not come before a jury in 2024", according to media (in June).[136] Furthermore, anappeals court made a decision (early June 2024), to stop pretrial proceedings while apanel (of three) judges thinks about having thelead prosecutor kicked off the case; She is also thedistrict attorney ofFulton county.[136]
Earlier (May 2024), anappeals court made a decision to hear the [demand] thatthe district attorney should be kicked off the case against Trump.[158][170][171] Three "of the 13 felony counts [that] Trump faces in the case", have been taken away, according to media (on March 13, 2024); Furthermore, "the central charge of a racketeering conspiracy aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state", is still in place.[172] (Acount, is anoffence that a defendant gets charged with, in anindictment.)
As of 2024's first quarter, there areallegations that there has been (wrong behavior or)prosecutorialmisconduct in that case.[173] The judge ruled (March 15) thatthe district attorney "can continue" in the case against "Trump and his co-defendants ... ifone of her top prosecutors on the case ... is removed from the team"; That prosecutor resigned that day.[171] In regard to thecourt hearings[174] about taking the district attorney off the case (ordisqualifying her): On March 1, there was acourt hearing.[175][176][177] Earlier (February 27) one of those that witnessed at an earlier hearing, testified again;[178] He had been ordered to testify again.[179][180][181] Media said earlier (February 23) that a new[182]affidavit from a private investigator, says thatphone records show that the district attorney and Nathan Wade had more than 2,000 phone calls and more than 11,000text messages during an 11 month period of 2021; The district attorney and Wade have testified that they were not in a romantic relationship during that time;[183] Earlier (February 15) a hearing started; Earlier (February 12),the judge in the case said that he willconsider taking district attorneyFani Willis off the case, if there was afinancialconflict-of-interest between Willis and the man that she gave a job to (as special prosecutor in the Trump case); That man is Nathan Wade.Earlier (February 2), Willis said in adocument to the court, that she has been in a personal relationship with Wade since 2022.
As of the beginning of March 2024, trial dates for 15 defendants have not been set; Four other defendants have earlier made aguiltyplea.
New York State's fraud case (trial in civil court)
In September 2022, the New York State Attorney General filed a fraud case (acivil lawsuit) against Trump, his three oldest children, and the Trump Organization.[184]
In February 2024, the court found Trump (responsible according to law, or) liable.[185] Trump said he would appeal the verdict. In March, the court system said that he "can post a bond of $175 million while heappeals the verdict".[186] On April 1, he posted bond.[187] AU.S. authority has asked[188] [the court] (and "filed notice"), "for evidence thatthe company, which backed the bond ... can pay up if" necessary.[185][186][189]
In February 2024, there was a verdict against Trump.[185] The next month, Trump got "a bond that will prevent E. Jean Carroll from immediatelyenforcing [a c. $83 million, or] an $83.3 million defamation verdict while Trump" isappealing (or asking for another trial, in a higher court).[194][195][196]
Cases with a final decision (or verdict)
Case about being on the ballot (March 2024) in Illinois
Trump won a case in March 2024; He gets to have his name on theballot in Illinois.[197] During the previous month, Trumpappealed a courtruling in Illinois, that says that the Illinois Board of Elections must remove Trump's name from the ballot of the (March 19) primary election.[198][199]
He has won 995delegates, as of March 6, 2024.[202] He needs to have 1,215 to win the primary elections (or the Republican presidentialcaucus).
Trump won in Utah, Alaska, California, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Maine, Oklahoma,Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Those elections were held onSuper Tuesday.[203][204]
On July 13, 2024, during a rally inButler, Pennsylvania,Thomas Matthew Crooks shot Trump.[212] People at the rally and in videos have shown that Trump was bleeding from his right ear after the shooting.[213] He put hisfist into the air for a few seconds. He was quickly brought to avehicle afterwards.[214][215] He was brought to thehospital.[216][217] The shooter and a spectator were killed. Trump and two others were injured.[218]
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2025)
Presidential transition
Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States in November 2024. He beat vice president Kamala Harris.[219][220] He became the second president in U.S. history elected to serve non-consecutive terms after former presidentGrover Cleveland.[221] TheAssociated Press andBBC News described it as a comeback for a former president.[222][223] At age 78 at the time of the 2024 election, Trump is the oldest person to be elected U.S. president, and the first convicted felon to become U.S. president.[224][225] He was also set to become the first Republican in twenty years to win the popular vote in the U.S. presidential elections.[226][227] Trump received congratulatory messages from politicians all over the world.[228]
The Trump family at a campaign rally inDes Moines, Iowa, February 2016
Trump married his first wife, Czech modelIvana Zelníčková, on April 7, 1977, at theMarble Collegiate Church inManhattan.[231] They had three children: sonDonald Trump Jr. (born December 31, 1977), daughterIvanka (born October 30, 1981), and sonEric (born January 6, 1984). Ivana became a naturalized United States citizen in 1988.[232] By early 1990, Trump's troubled marriage to Ivana and affair with actressMarla Maples had been reported in the tabloid press.[source?] They were divorced in 1992.
Trump married his second wife, actress Marla Maples in 1993. They had one daughter together,Tiffany (born October 13, 1993). The couple were separated in 1997 and later divorced in 1999.[233]In 1998, Trump began a relationship withSlovene modelMelania Knauss, who became his third wife.[234][235] They were engaged in April 2004[236] and were married on January 22, 2005, atBethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, inPalm Beach, Florida.[237][238] In 2006, Melania became a naturalized United States citizen. On March 20, 2006, she gave birth to their son, whom they named Barron Trump.[239]
A medical report by his doctor,Harold Bornstein MD, showed that Trump'sblood pressure, liver and thyroid function were in normal range.[242][243] Trump says that he has never smoked cigarettes or consumed other drugs, includingmarijuana.[244] He also does not drink alcohol, a decision after his brother's death caused byalcoholism.[245][246][247] HisBMI, according to his December 2016 visit on Doctor Oz, is just under 30, which is "high".[248][249][250]
↑Koffler, Jacob (August 7, 2015)."Donald Trump's 16 Biggest Business Failures and Successes".Time.The Apprentice premiered on NBC in 2004 to great ratings. Trump served as not only the host but also the executive producer, raking in $1million per episode. The show was successful enough that it inspired a spinoff, The Celebrity Apprentice.
12https://www.politico.com/. Retrieved July 1, 2024. "In a 6-3 decision, the court narrowed the federal indictment against Trump for subverting the 2020 election — further delaying Jack Smith’s bid to put him on trial"
↑Slattery, Gram (January 16, 2024)."Ron DeSantis bet the farm on Iowa. He just lost it".Reuters. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2024."The Iowa results confirm a compelling consensus that Trump will be the nominee and there is nothing anyone can do about it absent an act of God or the courts," Jowers said.
↑"After The Gold Rush".Vanity Fair. August 1990. RetrievedJanuary 10, 2016. "They were married in New York during Easter of 1977. Mayor Beame attended the wedding at Marble Collegiate Church. Donald had already made his alliance with Roy Cohn, who would become his lawyer and mentor.
↑"Part 2: Donald Trump on 'Watters' World'".Watters' World. Fox News. February 6, 2016. RetrievedSeptember 4, 2016.WATTERS: "Have you ever smoked weed?" TRUMP: "No, I have not. I have not. I would tell you 100 percent because everyone else seems to admit it nowadays, so I would actually tell you. This is almost like, it's almost like 'Hey, it's a sign'. No, I have never. I have never smoked a cigarette, either."
↑Dent, Millie (July 10, 2015)."15 Facts You Didn't Know About Donald Trump".The Fiscal Times. RetrievedAugust 1, 2015.The Donald has never smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol or done drugs. His older brother, Fred, was an alcoholic for many years and warned Trump to avoid drinking. Fred ultimately died from his addiction.
.jpg)
.svg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(2).jpg)
.jpg)