Donald J Trump Facts & Biography
45th President of the United States
Years Served as President: 2017-2021
Vice President: Mike Pence
Party: Republican
Age at Inauguration: 70
Home State: New York
Date of Birth: June 14, 1946
Married: Ivana Zelnickova, Marla Maples, Melania Knauss
Children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, Barron
Nickname: The Donald
What is Donald Trump known for?
Donald Trump (or President Donald Trump) was famous before becoming president for being a wealthy businessman and real estate developer.
He also starred in a reality television show, “The Apprentice.” His path to the presidency is a unique one that shocked many people. Let’s explore some Donald Trump facts!
Related: Joe Biden Facts
Early Life
Donald John Trump was born in 1946 in Queens, New York City. He was the fourth of five children born to Frederick and Mary Trump. He has numerous siblings, including Fred Trump who died in 1981.
Frederick was a builder and real estate developer. Mary had immigrated from Scotland.
As the Trump family’s wealth grew, Mary became a philanthropist (someone who gives time and money to good causes) and a socialite.
As a child, Donald was frequently in trouble at school. His parents sent him to the New York Military Academy when he was thirteen, hoping he would learn discipline.
At the Academy, Donald was a student leader and an excellent athlete.
After high school, Donald attended Fordham University, then the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.
He graduated in 1968 and began working for his father’s real estate business in Brooklyn, New York.
Business and Television Career
Trump learned a great deal about the real estate business from his father and eventually became a successful businessman with a very high net worth in his own right.
In 1976, he renovated the rundown Commodore Hotel and turned it into the highly successful Grand Hyatt Hotel.
He renovated many other skyscrapers, converting them into famous buildings like Trump Tower.
His other business ventures include golf courses, casinos, aircraft, merchandise, and published business books. In 1987, his book The Art of the Deal became a bestseller.
In 2003, Trump became the host of a television show called “The Apprentice.” Contestants participated in business challenges to compete for a job within the Trump Organization.
The catchphrase, “You’re fired!” which Trump used when eliminating a contestant, became famous. Another version of the show “Celebrity Apprentice,” started airing in 2004.
Family Life
In 1977, Trump married his first wife Ivana, a fashion model in New York.
She became the vice president in charge of design at the Trump Organization and played an important role in some of his renovation projects.
Donald and Ivana had three children: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. They divorced in 1992.
Trump married Marla Maples, an actress, in 1993. The couple already had a daughter together, Tiffany. They divorced in 1999.
In 2005, Trump married his current wife Melania, now the First Lady of the United States and a former Miss Universe judge. Donald and Melania have a son named Barron.
Presidential Campaign
On June 16, 2015, Trump announced that he would run for president of the United States. At the time, some people did not think Trump was serious and branded the declaration a publicity stunt.
His slogan was “Make America Great Again,” and he focused on border security, providing jobs for the middle class, and lowering the national debt.
He emphasized that he was not a politician and was anti-establishment, promising to “drain the swamp.” This meant that he would fix problems in the government and do things differently.
After a hard-fought campaign against Democratic nominee Hilary Clinton, Trump was elected president of the United States.
Clinton received 2.87 million more popular votes than Trump, but Trump won a majority of the electoral votes.
Presidency
Trump’s first term as president is currently still in progress. He has made efforts to replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), changed the federal tax system, and focused heavily on immigration policies.
He also began the process of planning and designing the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump withdrew the United States from a proposed trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and he increased tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump believes that climate change (also referred to as global warming) is not real and has cut research funds for renewable energy.
He has also rolled back policies directed at reducing pollution and climate change, and he withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The U.S. is the only nation in the world that did not sign the agreement.
Trump advocates for an “America First” foreign policy. He favors increasing military defense spending, but wants the United States to be less involved in foreign affairs.
The economy has improved during Trump’s presidency, and unemployment has declined.
Many of Trump’s policies have been controversial, and there have been several scandals during his presidency. Trump has been accused of working with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election.
More recently, Trump has been accused of asking the Ukraine to investigate presidential hopeful Joe Biden. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced an impeachment investigation.
Currently, 52% of Americans support the impeachment and removal of Donald Trump from office.
Fun Facts About Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the first U.S. president with no previous experience in politics or the military.
In addition to The Art of the Deal, Trump has co-authored The Art of the Comeback and Think Like a Champion.
In 2007, Trump was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star was vandalized several times after he was elected president.
Donald Trump has eight grandchildren.
He does not drink alcohol, a decision that he made after his brother, Fred Jr, died from alcoholism.
Trump has made dozens of cameo appearances in TV shows and films, including Zoolander, The Little Rascals, Home Alone 2, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and The Nanny.
