Other meanings of Donald Trump
American politics
Donald Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American businessman, media personality, and politician who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and became the 47th president in 2025. He is associated with a nationalist political style, restrictive immigration policies, skepticism toward multilateral institutions, tax reductions, deregulation, and an unusually direct relationship with supporters through mass media and social platforms.1
Trump first became nationally known as a New York real-estate developer and promoter before entering electoral politics. He was born in Queens to Fred Trump, a real-estate builder, and studied at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1968.1 He joined his father’s company and later expanded its Manhattan profile through projects including the renovation of the Commodore Hotel into the Grand Hyatt and the development of Trump Tower.
His public identity depended as much on branding as on construction. The book Trump: The Art of the Deal, published in 1987, presented him as a model of aggressive negotiation, while the reality television program The Apprentice, which began in 2004, made his catchphrase “You’re fired” part of popular culture.2 The business record was mixed: some ventures, including casinos and an airline, entered bankruptcy proceedings, while licensing agreements allowed the Trump name to remain commercially valuable.
Trump converted celebrity and outsider status into a successful 2016 presidential campaign. He announced his candidacy in 2015, emphasizing immigration, trade, opposition to political elites, and the slogan “Make America Great Again”; he defeated a large Republican primary field before winning the general election against Hillary Clinton.2 Trump lost the national popular vote but won the Electoral College, becoming the first president without prior military or elected office experience since Dwight D. Eisenhower.
His political communication departed from established presidential conventions. He relied heavily on rallies, television appearances, and social media, particularly Twitter, to frame policy disputes and criticize opponents. This approach energized a durable movement within the Republican Party while also producing unusually sharp conflicts with journalists, civil servants, judges, intelligence agencies, and members of his own party. His presidency was investigated by the special counsel concerning Russian interference in the 2016 election; the resulting report did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and Russia, though it documented extensive Russian efforts to influence the election.3
Trump’s first presidency combined conservative domestic priorities with an “America First” foreign policy. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reduced federal corporate and individual tax rates, while his administration pursued broad deregulation and appointed three justices to the Supreme Court. His administration also adopted a more restrictive immigration agenda, including expanded border enforcement, limits on entry from several predominantly Muslim countries, and the construction of additional barriers along parts of the United States–Mexico border.2
Internationally, Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear agreement, imposed tariffs on imports from China and other trading partners, and challenged established alliances, particularly over defense spending. His administration supported the Abraham Accords, through which Israel normalized relations with several Arab states in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic dominated his final year; Operation Warp Speed helped accelerate vaccine development and production, although the federal response became politically polarized.
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives twice, first in 2019 over conduct involving Ukraine and again in 2021 after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Senate acquitted him in both trials.4
Trump’s political career includes several unusual precedents and institutional consequences. He was the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, and his 2024 return to the presidency made him the second president, after Grover Cleveland, to serve nonconsecutive terms.1 His 2016 victory also illustrated the difference between the popular vote and the Electoral College, a distinction that became central to debates about election legitimacy and democratic representation.
Before his presidential campaigns, Trump explored or hinted at political runs several times, including a 2000 Reform Party campaign that he abandoned. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 for his television work, an honor unrelated to his real-estate career. His name has been licensed for buildings, golf courses, hotels, and consumer products around the world, making personal branding a central part of his public and commercial identity.
Trump’s post-presidential influence remained substantial: he continued to shape Republican endorsements, policy priorities, and candidate selection. The National Archives preserves records from his first administration, including materials concerning executive actions, foreign policy, and the January 6 period.
Presidential numbering follows the conventional count of administrations; nonconsecutive terms are counted as separate presidencies.
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