Donald Trump, born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City, is one of the most polarizing and influential figures in modern American politics. Better known for his time as the 45th president of the United States between 2017 and 2021, Trump’s impact has also been felt outside of his tenure, changing the shape of the Republican Party, U.S. foreign policy, and national discourse. Entry into politics was through a long and successful career as a businessman and television personality, making him an unlikely or impossible politician.
Early Life and Business Career
Trump was raised in a rich family, his father, Fred Trump, is a businessman and a major real estate developer from New York. He took over the family business that belonged to his father and developed and expanded it under the banner of Trump Organization. Trump established luxury hotels, casinos, skyscrapers, and golf courses in the farthest reaches of the earth. His brand became synonymous with luxury and success. The business ventures of Donald Trump, however were not without controversy. He had filed for bankruptcy multiple times.
He then went on to become even more infamous in the 2000s with his hosting of the reality show The Apprentice, during which his wildly popular phrase “You’re fired!” leaked into pop culture. He would go on to use that fame as a springboard to launch his eventual political career.
Trump’s Political Ascent and 2016 Election
Although Trump has flirted with political ambitions since the 1980s, it was only in 2015 that he officially became a player in politics, running as a Republican for the presidency. His candidacy seemed at first to be a dark horse endeavor, but the message of the New York businessman seemed to connect strongly with a significant portion of those who felt disenchanted with the political establishment.
Running on a populist and nationalist platform, Trump promised to “Make America Great Again” by focusing on issues like immigration, trade, and deregulation. His brash, unapologetic style, combined with his ability to command media attention, allowed him to secure the Republican nomination and defeat Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, despite losing the popular vote.
Family Life
Donald Trump has been married three times and has five children. His first marriage, to Ivana Trump, lasted from 1977 to 1992. Ivana, a former model and businesswoman, played a key role in managing parts of Trump’s business empire during their marriage. The couple had three children together:
- Donald Trump Jr.: The eldest, Donald Jr., has been a prominent figure in Trump’s business and political ventures, often representing the Trump Organization and actively campaigning during his father’s political career.
- Ivanka Trump: Ivanka is perhaps the most well-known of Trump’s children. A former model and businesswoman, she served as a senior advisor in the White House during her father’s presidency. She is married to Jared Kushner, who was also a key figure in Trump’s administration.
- Eric Trump: Eric Trump also works in the family business and was a significant part of the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.
After divorcing Ivana, Trump married actress Marla Maples in 1993. They had one child, Tiffany Trump, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight compared to her half-siblings, though she was involved in her father’s campaigns.
In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss, who became the First Lady of the United States. They have one son together, Barron Trump, who was born in 2006. Melania, as First Lady, maintained a relatively low profile, focusing on her “Be Best” initiative, which promoted children’s well-being and tackled online bullying.
The Trump Presidency: 2017–2021
A very significant policy and event-filled presidency marked Trump’s term, many of which were deeply divisive. At home, his administration enacted major tax cuts, pursued deregulation, and nominated three Supreme Court justices, changing the judiciary in a more conservative direction. Headline attention grabbed his handling of immigration, particularly the efforts made to build the wall along the border of the United States and Mexico and the family separation policy of his administration that led to national and international condemnation.
In the international arena, Trump followed an approach called “America First,” which withdrew the U.S. from several international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Nuclear Deal. He tried to renegotiate several trade agreements, especially with China, which led to a trade war, affecting global markets. A historic negotiation with North Korea was another hallmark of Trump’s foreign policy and ultimately did not lead to denuclearization.
The Trump presidency’s last year was marked by a pandemic of COVID-19, which ravaged the U.S. and the world. His administration received much criticism over its handling of the pandemic as well as his comments trivializing the severity of the virus. Furthermore, his efforts to discredit mail-in voting across the board and allegations of election fraud following his loss in the 2020 election contributed to continued political unrest.
Post-Presidency and Political Relevance
After his loss in the presidential election against Joe Biden in 2020, Trump refused to concede and persisted in claiming there was widespread voter fraud-on an unprecedented scale-with no evidence to support the claim, either substantial or otherwise. His speech and rhetoric ended with the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, when a mob of his supporters clashed with security forces to block the certification of the election results. This was a turning point in the path of Trump, because for the first time, the U.S. president was impeached twice in history, though he was acquitted twice by the Senate.
Ever since he left office, Trump has been a dominant force within the Republican Party, holding rallies, endorsing candidates. His influence continues to bifurcate the party: some Republicans embracing his brand of populism while others seek to get far away from him and his utterly divisive legacy.
Legacy and Controversy
The legacy of Donald Trump is much controversial. His supporters admire him for having changed the country’s economy, reducing taxes, and ensuring that the borders of the country were strengthened. They view him as a disruptor who changed the political status quo and spoke up for millions of Americans threatened by globalization and the old politics.
Critics, however, argue that Trump’s presidency has aggravated political polarisation, attacked democratic institutions, and hurt the standing of America before the rest of the world. Amongst some of these things the issues he created about handling the COVID-19 pandemic, his inflammatory rhetoric, and actions related to the January 6 Capital riot sullied his legacy for many.
2024 Presidential Run
In 2024, Donald Trump is running for the office of President of the United States vs Kamla Harris, this time hoping to retain an office he already briefly held from 2017 through 2021. In November 2022, Trump announced his intention to run for the Republican nomination, touting his campaign as a chance to “Make America Great Again, Again.” His 2024 campaign has been highly publicized, partly because his power continues with the Republicans and because so much controversy marked his presidency.
A large portion of his 2024 appeal is based on the idea that he thinks President Joe Biden’s re-election in 2020 was fraudulent, and has presented little credible evidence of wide spread fraud at the polls to support this claim. Trump continues to rail against the results of the election, providing a renewed sense of purpose among his loyal followers to push for political rebirth.
Key Issues for Trump’s 2024 Campaign are Immigration and Border Security, Economic Policy, Law and Order, Foreign Policy and Election Integrity.