Donald John Trump was born in Queens, New York, on June 14, 1946. Trump was educated at the New York Military Academy and the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1971, he took over his father’s real estate company, renaming it the Trump Organization. The business soon became involved in a variety of projects, including hotels, resorts, residential and commercial buildings, casinos, and golf courses. His first of many books was The Art of the Deal, published in 1987. In 2004, he launched the reality television show The Apprentice. The following year, Trump married Melania Knauss. They have one son, Barron. Trump also has four adult children from previous marriages: Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany. Trump secured the Republican nomination in 2016 and went on to defeat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the fall election. His campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again.” One of the keys to his success was his use of social media to communicate his priorities, positions, and opinions. Most notably, he used the social media platform Twitter to directly communicate with the American public, as well as other politicians and leaders. During his first term, he signed a major tax reform bill into law and oversaw a reduction of federal regulations. His protectionist trade policies included tariffs on aluminum, steel, and other products. The Trump administration also renegotiated trade agreements with Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, and South Korea. Other domestic priorities included transforming the federal judiciary with three justices nominated and confirmed to the United States Supreme Court and more than 200 judicial appointments. He also increased military funding, pursued aggressive border and immigration control, criminal justice reform, and the reduction of prescription drug prices. In foreign policy, the Trump administration moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several countries. In 2018, President Trump attended a summit with Kim Jong Un, marking the first time a sitting president met with a North Korean leader. In 2019, the House of Representatives impeached President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquitted Trump of both charges. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States on January 20, 2020. The remainder of Trump’s presidency was consumed with the coronavirus pandemic. Critics argued that Trump’s response to the pandemic was delayed and did not sufficiently encourage public health practices. However, the Trump administration’s program “Operation Warp Speed” assisted in the private sector development of two approved vaccines. Trump lost reelection to former Vice President Joe Biden but claimed widespread voter fraud had affected the outcome. His supporters traveled to Washington, D.C. for a “Save America” rally on January 6, 2021. The rally turned violent when the president’s supporters overwhelmed law enforcement, breaching the United States Capitol and disrupting the Electoral College vote count. According to a bipartisan Senate report, "seven individuals, including three law enforcement officers, ultimately lost their lives" and the Capitol complex suffered millions of dollars in damage. On January 13, 2021, the House of Representatives approved one article of impeachment – incitement of insurrection. The Senate later acquitted him of the charge. He is the only president in American history to be impeached and acquitted twice by Congress. In November 2022, Trump announced his candidacy and won the Republican nomination. He campaigned on immigration and tax reform, tariffs to stimulate American manufacturing, and reducing federal regulations and agencies. In 2024, he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, winning 312 electoral votes and a plurality of the popular vote. He is the second president to serve non-consecutive terms. Related Information First Lady Melania Trump Portrait by Daniel Torok Find us on... Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest