In brief
Donald Trump’s life has been marked by a myriad of achievements and controversies, from his ascendance in the real estate industry to his tumultuous political career, culminating in his recent electoral victory.
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, as the fourth of five siblings, which include two brothers and two sisters. Raised in a family where his father, Fred Trump, thrived in the construction business, Donald joined the family firm in 1968 before launching his own ventures in Manhattan. His entrepreneurial journey led him to develop a wide range of properties, including casinos, condominiums, golf courses, and hotels across the globe from Atlantic City to the Philippines.Known for his larger-than-life persona, Trump captured the public's attention and further established his brand through the reality television show "The Apprentice." He has been married three times and has five children, beginning with his marriage to Ivana Zelníčková in 1977, and most recently to Melania Knauss in 2005.Trump's political aspirations ignited in 2015 when he announced his candidacy for president at Trump Tower with a family-filled press conference, embracing the slogan “Make America great again.” After a fiercely contested election, he emerged victorious against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, taking office as the 45th president in 2017.His presidency saw significant foreign policy shifts, including withdrawal from key climate and trade accords and a contentious trade war with China. The final year of his term was heavily overshadowed by backlash regarding his management of the Covid pandemic. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, he fiercely contested the results despite widespread condemnation. His rally in Washington on January 6, which erupted into chaos, led to two criminal cases focused on his actions that day.Despite the setbacks following the 2020 election, Trump re-emerged as a leading figure in the Republican Party and announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, all while facing 91 felony charges. In 2024, he was found guilty of 34 counts of fraud related to hush money payments during the 2016 election campaign. His activities led to an assassination attempt during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania.Nevertheless, Trump secured the Republican nomination at the National Convention and, in a surprising turn of events, won the 2024 election, edging out his competitors to become the country's oldest president at 82 years old by the end of his term.
