Early Life and Family Background
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, as the fourth of five children in the Trump family. His father, Fred Trump, was a successful real estate developer known for constructing affordable housing in New York City. Donald’s mother, Mary MacLeod, was born in Scotland. Donald’s siblings included older sister Maryanne Trump Barry, a federal judge, and his late brother Frederick, Jr., who struggled with alcoholism and died young.
Fred Trump’s business ventures were at times controversial. In the 1950s, he faced investigations into his use of federal loan guarantees for construction projects. Although Fred was never convicted of a crime, these investigations hurt his ability to access federal loans in the future.
Trump’s Business Career
Trump took over his father’s real estate company in the 1970s, initially focusing on developing properties in Queens and Brooklyn before expanding into Manhattan. His first major success came in 1976 with the renovation of the Commodore Hotel (later rebranded as the Grand Hyatt) near Grand Central Station, which was backed by city tax incentives and a partnership with Hyatt Corporation. He then expanded into luxury properties, with notable projects including Trump Tower (1983), Trump Plaza, and the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
In the 1980s, Trump also ventured into Atlantic City’s casino industry, where he built Trump Plaza, Trump’s Castle, and the Trump Taj Mahal, the latter of which became the world’s largest casino upon its completion in 1990. Trump’s diverse investments in the 1980s included purchasing the New Jersey Generals football team, Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and an extravagant yacht named Trump Princess.
Financial Struggles and Recovery
The early 1990s were marked by financial difficulties for Trump, as his businesses struggled under a heavy debt burden, including a $5 billion liability. His casinos went bankrupt, and he was forced to sell assets like his yacht and his airline (Trump Shuttle). However, by the mid-1990s, Trump rebounded, partly due to the booming economy and credit from Deutsche Bank. He also transformed his Mar-a-Lago estate into a private club, which became an important source of income.
In the late 1990s, Trump’s fortunes improved significantly, partly due to the success of his real estate ventures in New York City, including the Trump World Tower, as well as his involvement in the Miss Universe pageant. However, his casino business continued to face challenges, and his company filed for bankruptcy several times during the 2000s.
Television Career and Brand Expansion
In the mid-2000s, Trump achieved tremendous financial success and visibility through his role as the star of The Apprentice, a reality television show that ran for over a decade. The series solidified Trump’s image as a shrewd businessman, and he expanded his brand into numerous ventures, including Trump Financial and Trump University. However, Trump University faced legal action from former students, which culminated in a $25 million settlement in 2016.
Political Career and Presidency
Donald Trump’s political career began in earnest in 2015 when he announced his candidacy for president as a Republican. His campaign was marked by controversial rhetoric and promises to “Make America Great Again.” Despite his outsider status and divisive rhetoric, Trump won the 2016 election, defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a surprising victory.
His presidency from 2017 to 2021 was tumultuous, marked by major policy changes, international tensions, and investigations into his business and political dealings. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives: first in 2019 over allegations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in relation to Ukraine, and again in 2021 for inciting the January 6 Capitol riot. Both impeachments resulted in acquittals in the Senate. Trump lost his bid for re-election in 2020 to Joe Biden.
Legal Troubles and Impeachments
Throughout his presidency and after leaving office, Trump faced multiple legal challenges, including investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents. In May 2024, he became the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime, following a guilty verdict in a case related to hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump has also faced civil lawsuits alleging fraud and sexual misconduct. Despite these legal challenges, Trump continued to enjoy strong support from his political base.
2024 Political Comeback
In 2022, after a disappointing showing in the midterm elections, Trump announced his intention to run for president again in 2024. Despite ongoing legal battles, Trump secured the Republican nomination, and in November 2024, he made a dramatic political comeback, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to win the presidency. This victory made him the first president in U.S. history to serve nonconsecutive terms since Grover Cleveland.
Personal Life and Family
Trump’s personal life has been marked by several high-profile marriages. He married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková in 1977, with whom he had three children—Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric—before they divorced in 1992. In 1993, Trump married actress Marla Maples, with whom he had a daughter, Tiffany. This marriage ended in divorce in 1999. In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss, and their son Barron was born the following year. Melania Trump served as the first lady from 2017 to 2021.
Controversies and Legal Issues
Throughout his career, Trump has been embroiled in numerous controversies. These include allegations of racial discrimination in housing practices in the 1970s, as well as a 2018 investigation by The New York Times into his tax returns, revealing that he paid little to no federal income taxes over several years. Trump’s financial dealings have also been the subject of scrutiny, including reports that he received hundreds of millions of dollars in transfers from his father, some of which involved questionable tax practices.
Trump’s image as a wealthy businessman and reality TV star played a crucial role in his rise to political power, even as legal challenges and allegations of fraud and misconduct continued to follow him throughout his career. His legacy remains divisive, as he reshaped American politics with his populist rhetoric and unorthodox style.