Donald Trump

Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Born	June 14, 1946 (age 80); Queens, New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, media figure, politician
Years active	1971–present
Known for	45th and 47th president of the United States; chairman of the Trump Organization; host of The Apprentice

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American businessman, media figure, and politician currently serving as the 47th president of the United States. Affiliated with the Republican Party, he previously held office as the 45th president from 2017 until 2021.

Raised in an affluent New York City household, Trump earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He assumed leadership of his family's real estate enterprise in 1971, rebranding it as the Trump Organization, and diversified its portfolio to include skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf resorts. Alongside these ventures, he licensed his name for various projects and experienced six business bankruptcies throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Between 2004 and 2015, he gained widespread recognition hosting the reality television program The Apprentice, enhancing his public image as a billionaire. Running as a political outsider, Trump secured victory in the 2016 presidential race against Democratic contender Hillary Clinton.

In his initial term, Trump enacted a travel restriction targeting seven predominantly Muslim nations, advanced construction of the Mexico–United States border wall, and implemented a policy resulting in family separations at the border. His administration rolled back numerous environmental protections and business regulations, enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and appointed three justices to the Supreme Court. On the international stage, he withdrew from several agreements concerning climate change, trade, and Iran's nuclear program while initiating a trade conflict with China. The government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis included minimizing its seriousness and passing the CARES Act. Following defeat in the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump sought to challenge the outcome, culminating in the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021. He faced impeachment twice—first for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in 2019, then for incitement of insurrection in 2021—but was acquitted on both occasions.

By 2023, Trump was held liable in civil lawsuits concerning sexual misconduct and defamation as well as business fraud linked to the Trump Organization. In 2024, he became the first U.S. president convicted of a felony following a conviction for falsifying business records. After winning the 2024 election over Kamala Harris, he received a discharge without penalties; meanwhile, two felony charges related to classified documents retention and election interference were dismissed without prejudice. A racketeering lawsuit connected to the 2020 Georgia election remains unresolved.

Trump’s second term commenced with widespread federal workforce reductions. He imposed tariffs on nearly all trading partners at levels unseen since the Great Depression and enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. His administration’s measures—including actions perceived as intimidation toward political adversaries, mass deportations, and numerous executive orders—have prompted over 300 legal challenges questioning their legitimacy. Prominent cases have underscored his broad application of the unitary executive theory and frequent clashes with federal judiciary bodies. In 2025, he authorized military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Since emerging on the political scene in 2015, Trump's leadership approach—often termed Trumpism—has fundamentally altered Republican Party dynamics. Many of his remarks have been labeled racist or sexist; he has propagated a significant number of false or misleading assertions and advanced conspiracy theories unprecedented in American politics. His conduct, particularly during his second term, has been characterized as authoritarian and linked to concerns about erosion of democratic norms. Academic assessments commonly place him among the least effective presidents in U.S. history.

Early life and education

Donald John Trump entered the world on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital located in Queens, New York City. He was the fourth offspring of Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, descending from German and Scottish ancestry. Growing up in an affluent residence within the Jamaica Estates area, he shared his upbringing with siblings Maryanne, Fred Jr., Elizabeth, and Robert. Fred Trump provided each child with an annual allowance of approximately $20,000 (equivalent to $265,000 in 2024), effectively making Donald a millionaire by inflation-adjusted standards before reaching the age of nine.

Trump’s early education began at the private Kew-Forest School through seventh grade before he transferred to New York Military Academy, a private boarding institution where he maintained a B average. Though initially contemplating a career in entertainment, he enrolled at Fordham University in 1964 but later transferred to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1966. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in economics by May 1968, frequently visiting his father’s office on weekends during this period. Trump was exempt from military service during the Vietnam War due to bone spurs.

His formative influences included his father, who instilled values of assertiveness and perseverance, and family pastor Norman Vincent Peale, whose teachings on self-assurance significantly shaped Trump’s mindset. The principles from Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking were later integrated into Trump’s business ideology, especially reflected in his book The Art of the Deal.

Real estate

Following graduation, Trump spent around five years working under his father as a rent collector and maintenance overseer, eventually surpassing his older brother as heir to their father’s enterprise. The firm, originally established by Trump’s grandmother as Elizabeth Trump & Son, specialized in constructing and managing middle-income housing across Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. Drawn by the allure and prestige of Manhattan real estate, Trump advocated for expanding into that market despite his father’s preference for properties in the outer boroughs. In 1971, he relocated to Manhattan to shift the company’s operations there while continuing to commute to his father’s office. That same year, Fred Trump assumed the role of chairman while Donald became president, managing 48 private companies alongside 15 family partnerships. The business was rebranded as the Trump Organization.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Roy Cohn emerged as a pivotal mentor and fixer for Trump, shaping his deal-making style. Cohn assisted Trump in filing a countersuit against the U.S. government in 1973 concerning accusations of racial discrimination at his properties; although Trump’s counterclaims were dismissed, the dispute concluded with a consent decree mandating desegregation. Four years afterward, the Trumps were held in contempt for violating that decree. Cohn also utilized Mafia-linked construction union connections to facilitate Trump's projects and introduced political strategist Roger Stone to help navigate governmental affairs.

By the mid-1970s, Trump had secured a real estate broker’s license and acquired a penthouse apartment in Manhattan. Even before turning thirty, he exhibited a strong inclination toward litigation irrespective of expense or result; by 2018, he had been involved in over 4,000 lawsuits and liens frequently related to unpaid obligations involving employees, contractors, brokers, and lawyers. Between 1991 and 2009, Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six times concerning ventures such as Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel and Atlantic City casinos operated under Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts.

In 1992, Trump and his siblings established All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp with equal ownership stakes. Reportedly functioning as a shell entity, it compensated vendors for services rendered on Trump’s rental properties and then invoiced those services back to Trump Management with markups ranging from 20% to 50%, distributing profits among shareholders. This arrangement inflated expenses used to justify rent hikes on rent-stabilized apartments. Subsequently, in 1994, the siblings created Apartment Management Associates to assume control over management fees previously handled by Trump Management. These structures facilitated asset transfers from Fred Trump to his children and nephew while simultaneously reducing tax liabilities.

Developments in Manhattan and Chicago

Trump first attracted significant attention in 1978 through the refurbishment of the dilapidated Commodore Hotel located near Grand Central Terminal. The project’s financing included a $400 million city property tax break arranged by his father, who also co-guaranteed a $70 million construction loan alongside Hyatt. The hotel reopened as the Grand Hyatt Hotel in 1980. That same year, Trump secured development rights for Trump Tower, a mixed-use skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan that housed both the Trump Corporation headquarters and his political action committee; it served as his primary home until 2019. In 1988, he purchased the Plaza Hotel through a loan provided by 16 banks. The hotel declared bankruptcy in 1992, which led to a restructuring process resulting in bank control.

By 1995, Trump defaulted on loans exceeding $3 billion, prompting lenders to take possession of the Plaza and most of his other holdings during a debt restructuring that helped him avoid filing for personal bankruptcy. According to the lead bank’s attorney, maintaining Trump’s financial viability was considered preferable. In 1996, he acquired and refurbished the largely vacant 71-story tower at 40 Wall Street, renaming it the Trump Building. During the early 1990s, Trump secured development rights for a parcel in Manhattan’s Lincoln Square but sold most of his interests to Asian investors amid financial difficulties; these investors financed the completion of Riverside South.

Trump’s final significant construction endeavor was the 92-story mixed-use Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, which opened in 2008. In 2024, The New York Times and ProPublica revealed an IRS inquiry into whether Trump improperly claimed losses from construction cost overruns and sluggish residential sales at this property on his 2008 tax filings.

Casinos in Atlantic City

In 1984, Trump launched Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a hotel-casino venture backed by financing and operational support from the Holiday Corporation. The casino was unprofitable, leading Trump to pay Holiday $70 million in 1986 to assume full control. In 1985, he acquired the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and rebranded it as Trump Castle. Both casinos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1992. In 1988, Trump purchased a third Atlantic City property, the Trump Taj Mahal, funded with $675 million in junk bonds and completed at a cost of $1.1 billion; it opened in April 1990. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again in 1991, relinquishing half of his ownership stake while personally guaranteeing future obligations.

To alleviate $900 million in personal debt, Trump sold various assets including the Trump Shuttle airline and his luxury yacht, the Trump Princess. In 1995, he established Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which took control of Trump Plaza and later acquired both the Taj Mahal and Trump Castle in 1996. THCR filed for bankruptcy twice—in 2004 and again in 2009—leaving Trump with a minority stake of approximately 10 percent. He continued serving as chairman until 2009.

Golf Properties

In 1985, Trump purchased the Mar-a-Lago estate located in Palm Beach, Florida, transforming it into a private club by 1995 that charged initiation fees and annual dues while preserving a private residence section. He designated Mar-a-Lago as his primary residence starting in 2019. Beginning in 1999, he embarked on building and acquiring golf courses, ultimately owning a portfolio of 17 by the year 2016.

Licensing the Trump brand

The Trump Organization granted licenses for the Trump brand across a variety of consumer goods and services, such as food products, clothing, educational programs, and home décor. More than 50 licensing or management agreements collectively generated upwards of $59 million. By 2018, only two companies in the consumer goods sector still held licenses to use his name. Throughout the 2000s, Trump extended his brand to numerous residential real estate projects worldwide; however, approximately 40 of these developments never materialized.

Additional business endeavors

In 1970, Trump invested $70,000 to become a co-producer of a Broadway comedy production. He acquired the New Jersey Generals football franchise in the United States Football League in 1983, but the league ceased operations after the 1985 season following his push to shift to a fall schedule and pursue an antitrust lawsuit aimed at forcing a merger with the NFL. Trump also promoted boxing events at the Atlantic City Convention Hall and lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling competitions held in 1989 and 1990.

Between 1986 and 1988, he purchased large stakes in publicly traded companies with intentions of takeovers, later selling these holdings for profit—a practice some critics labeled as greenmail. Early profits diminished after investors began discounting his takeover threats.

In 1988, Trump bought the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, rebranding it as Trump Shuttle, funded by $380 million in bank financing. He defaulted on this loan by 1991, resulting in ownership reverting to creditors. In 1996, he acquired the Miss Universe pageants—including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA—and moved their broadcast from CBS to NBC in 2002 due to scheduling conflicts. For producing Miss Universe, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007. However, NBC and Univision discontinued airing the pageants in 2015 following Trump's controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants.

In 2005, Trump co-founded Trump University, which offered real estate training seminars with fees reaching up to $35,000. After New York State challenged its use of "university," it was renamed Trump Entrepreneur Initiative in 2010. In 2013, New York initiated a $40 million civil lawsuit accusing it of fraud and false advertising; this was followed by two federal class-action suits. Internal documents exposed aggressive sales techniques, while former staff testified about deceptive practices. After winning the presidency in 2016, Trump agreed to a $25 million settlement to resolve all related lawsuits.

The Foundation

The Donald J. Trump Foundation was established as a private charitable organization in 1988. From 1987 through 2006, Trump personally donated $5.4 million, which had been fully expended by that time. Following contributions totaling $65,000 during 2007–2008, he stopped making personal donations; nevertheless, the foundation continued receiving millions from other benefactors, including $5 million from Vince McMahon. Its philanthropic efforts focused on health and sports charities, conservative political groups, and events hosted at Trump-owned venues.

In 2016, investigations brought to light potential legal and ethical breaches involving self-dealing and tax violations. The New York attorney general determined that the foundation had violated state laws by soliciting funds without conducting mandatory audits and ordered it to cease fundraising activities within New York State. Subsequently, Trump's representatives announced plans to dissolve the foundation later that year.

In June 2018, a civil lawsuit was filed by the New York attorney general against the foundation, Donald Trump himself, and his adult children seeking $2.8 million in restitution and penalties. The foundation formally ended operations in December 2018 after distributing its remaining assets to other charities. In November 2019, a judge mandated that Trump pay $2 million to charitable organizations for improper use of foundation funds partly directed toward financing his presidential campaign.

Legal matters and insolvencies

A 2018 analysis by USA Today revealed that Trump and his enterprises were involved in more than 4,000 legal cases at both state and federal levels. Although Trump has never personally declared bankruptcy, his highly leveraged hotel and casino operations in Atlantic City and New York underwent Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings six times between 1991 and 2009. These entities remained operational as financial institutions restructured their debts and diminished Trump's ownership shares. During the 1980s, over 70 banks extended loans totaling $4 billion to Trump. After the corporate bankruptcies of the early 1990s, most prominent lenders, with the exception of Deutsche Bank, refused to provide additional financing. Following the January 6 Capitol attack, Deutsche Bank terminated all financial relationships with Trump and his related businesses.

Financial status

Trump asserts that his career began with "a small loan of a million dollars" from his father; however, records indicate he borrowed at least $60 million, much of which was not repaid, along with receiving an extra $413 million (adjusted for 2018 inflation) from his father's company. In 1984, under the pseudonym "John Barron" acting as a Trump Organization representative, he reached out to journalist Jonathan Greenberg to enhance his position on the Forbes 400 list. Trump's self-declared net worth has fluctuated substantially—from a negative $900 million in 1990 to $10 billion in 2015. In 2015, Forbes estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion based on information from over 80 sources. By 2025, Forbes assessed it at $5.1 billion, ranking him as the 700th wealthiest individual worldwide.

Media involvement

Trump has authored 19 books bearing his name, though most were written or co-written by ghostwriters. His debut publication, The Art of the Deal (1987), achieved New York Times Best Seller status and was credited by The New Yorker with establishing Trump’s reputation as a prosperous businessman. The book was ghostwritten by Tony Schwartz, who is acknowledged as coauthor. Between 1985 and 2001, Trump made numerous cameo appearances in films and television shows. He adopted a political approach influenced by professional wrestling, characterized by orchestrated confrontations and insults, and appeared intermittently in WWE events from the late 1980s onward, including at Wrestlemania 23 in 2007. Beginning in the 1990s, Trump featured on the nationally syndicated Howard Stern Show 24 times. He hosted a brief talk radio segment titled Trumped! from 2004 until 2008. Between 2011 and 2015, he served as a guest commentator on Fox & Friends. In 2021, Trump resigned from SAG-AFTRA, where he had been a member since 1989, to avoid facing disciplinary action related to the January 6 incident; two days later, the union permanently expelled him.

The Apprentice and The Celebrity Apprentice

Television producer Mark Burnett propelled Trump to stardom by creating The Apprentice, which he hosted from 2004 through 2015, including its spin-off The Celebrity Apprentice. On these programs, Trump portrayed a billionaire CEO who dismissed contestants using the signature phrase "you're fired". The New York Times characterized this depiction as "a highly flattering, highly fictionalized version" of Trump himself. The series transformed Trump's public image for millions across the country. Through licensing deals connected to these shows, he earned upwards of $400 million.

Early political ambitions

Throughout the years, Trump has registered with various political parties: initially as a Republican in 1987, then with the Independence Party (New York's Reform Party affiliate) in 1999, switching to Democrat in 2001, returning to Republican in 2009, becoming unaffiliated in 2011, and once again registering as a Republican in 2012. In 1987, he purchased full-page advertisements in prominent newspapers to share his foreign policy perspectives and proposals for eliminating the federal budget deficit. The following year, he expressed interest in being considered as the vice-presidential candidate for Republican nominee George H. W. Bush—a notion Bush described as "strange and unbelievable." Trump briefly entered the Reform Party presidential primaries in 2000 but withdrew by February of that year. In 2011, he contemplated running against President Barack Obama in the 2012 election, delivering speeches at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and campaigning in early primary states before ultimately deciding not to pursue a candidacy.

2016 presidential election

In June 2015, Trump officially declared his intention to run for president in the 2016 election, positioning himself as a wealthy entrepreneur and political outsider. He frequently alleged media bias against him and often made statements that were ambiguous or inaccurate. By March 2016, he had emerged as the leading Republican candidate and was widely regarded as the presumptive nominee by May.

Trump labeled NATO as "obsolete" and advocated for a foreign policy centered on noninterventionism and protectionism. His platform emphasized renegotiating U.S.–China relations along with trade agreements like NAFTA, strict enforcement of immigration laws, energy independence while opposing environmental regulations, modernization of veterans' healthcare services, repeal of the Affordable Care Act, elimination of Common Core educational standards, infrastructure investment, tax code simplification with rate reductions, and imposing tariffs on companies relocating jobs overseas. He supported increased military funding and proposed rigorous vetting or bans targeting immigrants from Muslim-majority nations. Trump pledged to construct a border wall between Mexico and the United States funded by Mexico itself and vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. His campaign was marked by contentious immigration remarks that generated significant backlash and led to his dismissal from NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice.

According to disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission, Trump's assets exceeded $1.4 billion while his liabilities amounted to at least $315 million. Despite earlier commitments to release his tax returns, he withheld them citing ongoing audits; following prolonged legal disputes culminating in Supreme Court decisions in 2021, his tax documents were eventually handed over to prosecutors. Leaked filings revealed a $916 million loss reported in 1995 that may have enabled tax avoidance spanning up to 18 years.

Trump secured the presidency by winning 306 pledged Electoral College votes compared to Hillary Clinton’s 232; after some defections, the final tally stood at 304 to 227. Although he lost the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes (46.3% versus Clinton’s 48.25%), he achieved an Electoral College victory—becoming only the fifth president in U.S. history to do so without winning the popular vote. He was also the first president without prior military service or government experience. His election resulted in unified Republican control of both the presidency and Congress, creating an undivided government, while also sparking widespread protests across several major cities.

Initial measures

Donald Trump assumed office on January 20, 2017. The following day, approximately 2.6 million individuals worldwide participated in the Women's Marches to express opposition to his presidency. Within his first week, Trump enacted six executive orders targeting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, promoting the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline projects, and initiating plans for a U.S.–Mexico border wall.

Potential conflicts of interest

Prior to taking office, Trump transferred his business holdings into a revocable trust rather than a blind trust, enabling him to continue earning profits from his enterprises while influencing policies that could affect them. The Trump Organization expanded its international presence with ventures in Scotland, Dubai, and the Dominican Republic. His hotels and resorts benefited significantly from lobbyists, foreign officials, and donors. Legal challenges were filed alleging breaches of both the Domestic and Foreign Emoluments Clauses—the first major litigation concerning these provisions. One lawsuit was dismissed at the district court level, while two others were deemed moot by the Supreme Court following the conclusion of his presidency.

During his campaign, Trump committed to donating his presidential salary and any profits derived from foreign patronage to the U.S. government. He made salary contributions to federal agencies and publicized these donations until July 2020; afterward, no federal agency reported receiving such gifts. In 2024, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington revealed that he donated $448,000 out of an estimated $13.6 million received from foreign governments throughout his first term.

Domestic policy

When Trump took office, the U.S. was experiencing its longest economic growth period, spanning from 2009 until the onset of the COVID-19 recession in February 2020. In December 2017, he enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered tax rates for individuals and corporations while removing the penalty associated with the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. Despite claims from his administration that this would not diminish government revenue, actual 2018 receipts were 7.6% below forecasts. The federal deficit surged by nearly half, approaching $1 trillion in 2019, and the national debt rose by 39%, reaching $27.75 trillion with a debt-to-GDP ratio at its highest since World War II. His promise of $1 trillion in infrastructure investment remained unfulfilled.

By the end of his term, the labor force had shrunk by three million compared to when he began. Rejecting mainstream climate science, Trump reduced funding for renewable energy research by 40%, reversed several Obama-era environmental policies, and withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, leaving it as the sole country not to ratify the accord. His administration promoted increased fossil fuel production and exports, expanded natural gas usage while coal declined, and rolled back more than 100 federal environmental regulations addressing emissions, pollution controls, and resource extraction activities such as Arctic drilling.

Trump's tenure saw widespread deregulation across health, labor, environmental sectors, often responding to industry demands; within his first six weeks, he delayed or rescinded ninety federal rules. Nonetheless, courts blocked or overturned 78% of these regulatory efforts. Campaigning on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), he sought to undermine its implementation through executive orders, reduced funding for enrollment outreach, and backed Supreme Court challenges that risked eliminating coverage for up to 23 million Americans—though these challenges ultimately failed. Initially pledging to safeguard Medicare and social programs, he later indicated a willingness to consider budget cuts.

In addressing the opioid crisis, Trump increased treatment funding but faced criticism for lacking a comprehensive plan. He prohibited federal funds from going to organizations that provide abortion referrals and advocated for "traditional marriage," even as he accepted nationwide same-sex marriage legality. The administration rolled back significant workplace protections for LGBTQ individuals; following Supreme Court rulings extending civil rights based on gender identity, a federal judge blocked attempts to remove transgender health protections.

Trump opposed gun control measures despite evolving stances over time and pursued a hardline approach against marijuana legalization by rescinding Obama-era protections for states allowing cannabis use. As a long-standing supporter of capital punishment, his administration executed thirteen federal inmates—the highest number in more than fifty years—ending a seventeen-year moratorium. He also voiced support for enhanced interrogation techniques beyond waterboarding.

Race relations

Trump's reaction to the 2017 Unite the Right rally involved condemning "hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" and asserting there were "very fine people on both sides," comments that drew criticism for implying moral equivalence between white supremacists and counter-protesters. In January 2018, he reportedly described El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and several African nations as "shithole countries," remarks widely denounced as racist.

In July 2019, Trump tweeted that four Democratic congresswomen—three of whom were born in the U.S.—should "go back" to their countries of origin. The House of Representatives condemned these statements as racist in a largely party-line vote. White nationalist media praised his remarks, which he reiterated during his 2020 reelection campaign.

During the June 2020 George Floyd protests, law enforcement employed tear gas to disperse mostly peaceful demonstrators from Lafayette Square near the White House. Trump then held a photo opportunity at St. John's Episcopal Church while holding a Bible, an action criticized by religious leaders both for how protesters were treated and for staging the event itself. Numerous retired military officials condemned his suggestion to deploy U.S. armed forces against protesters opposing police brutality.

Pardons and commutations

Throughout his initial term, Trump issued a total of 237 clemency grants, a number lower than most presidents since 1900, with the exceptions of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. Only 25 of these were reviewed by the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney. The majority were awarded to individuals connected personally or politically to Trump, his family, supporters, or those endorsed by public figures. On his final full day in office, he pardoned 73 individuals and commuted 70 sentences. Certain pardons encountered resistance from military officials and Justice Department personnel due to concerns over the backgrounds of the recipients.

Immigration

Trump framed unauthorized immigration as an "invasion" during his presidency and significantly intensified enforcement efforts. He enacted stringent asylum regulations and deployed close to 6,000 troops along the U.S.–Mexico border to reduce illegal crossings. The annual refugee admission cap declined sharply from 110,000 before his administration to just 15,000 in 2021. Additionally, he imposed tighter eligibility criteria for permanent residency on immigrants dependent on public assistance. A central campaign pledge involved constructing a border wall; under his administration, 73 miles of new barriers were erected in previously unprotected zones, alongside replacement of 365 miles of existing fencing. His demand for wall funding triggered the longest federal government shutdown in history, lasting 35 days. Ultimately, legislation allocated $1.4 billion for border fencing, but Trump declared a national emergency to redirect $6.1 billion toward the wall despite congressional opposition.

In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order indefinitely barring entry from six Muslim-majority nations and Syria, which led to widespread protests and legal challenges that temporarily halted its implementation. Subsequent revised orders were also blocked by courts until June 2017 when the Supreme Court permitted enforcement for travelers lacking a bona fide connection to the U.S. Later proclamations expanded bans to include North Korea, Chad, and certain Venezuelan officials while excluding Iraq and Sudan; these measures were ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court.

Between 2017 and 2018, the administration enforced a family separation policy that resulted in more than 4,400 children being separated from their parents at the border, sparking significant public outcry. Initially attributing blame to Democrats and resisting executive intervention to stop separations, Trump reversed this stance in June 2018 by ordering that families be detained together unless child safety was compromised. A federal judge mandated reunifications and restricted further separations; nonetheless, over 1,000 children remained separated after this ruling.

Foreign policy

Trump identified as a "nationalist" and described his foreign policy under the banner of "America First". He aligned with populist, neo-nationalist, and authoritarian regimes during his tenure. His approach was characterized by unpredictability and tensions with traditional European allies. He openly criticized NATO members and privately contemplated U.S. withdrawal from the alliance. Trump strongly supported policies advanced by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and facilitated the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020 between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, establishing diplomatic normalization.

In 2018, Trump launched a trade conflict with China through tariffs aimed at ending unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. He relaxed certain U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2014 annexation of Crimea while praising Russian president Vladimir Putin but opposed some actions taken by the Russian government. Trump withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing Russian violations, and advocated for Russia’s potential reintegration into the G7 group.

Confronting North Korea’s nuclear threat, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, conducting three summits: in Singapore (2018), Hanoi (2019), and at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (2019). Despite these historic meetings, negotiations collapsed in October 2019 without achieving a denuclearization agreement.

Personnel

Within the first year of Trump's presidency, 34 percent of his initial team had either resigned, been dismissed, or reassigned. By mid-2018, 61 percent of senior advisors had exited, with 141 staff members departing during the preceding year—figures that set new records for turnover compared to recent administrations. Several close aides to Trump either resigned voluntarily or were removed, and Trump openly criticized a number of former high-ranking officials.

Throughout his term, Trump appointed four different White House chiefs of staff, sidelining or removing several predecessors. In May 2017, he terminated FBI Director James Comey, later justifying the decision by expressing concerns over Comey's involvement in the investigations related to Trump and Russia. Among Trump's original cabinet members, three out of fifteen had left or were compelled to resign within the first year.

Trump was notably slow in appointing officials to secondary executive branch roles, often considering many positions unnecessary. By October 2017, a significant number of sub-cabinet posts remained unfilled. As of January 8, 2019, appointments had been made to 433 out of 706 critical positions, leaving 264 roles without nominees.

Judiciary

During his presidency, Trump appointed a total of 226 federal judges, including 54 to the courts of appeals and three to the Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. These selections contributed to a conservative shift in the Supreme Court's ideological balance. While campaigning in 2016, Trump vowed that Roe v. Wade would be overturned if he succeeded in appointing two or three justices opposed to abortion rights; he later credited himself when Roe was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022, with all three appointees voting with the majority.

Trump frequently directed criticism at courts and judges whose rulings he opposed, often making personal attacks and questioning the judiciary’s constitutional legitimacy. Such behavior generated concern among legal experts and federal judges about potential threats to judicial independence and public trust in the legal system.

COVID-19 pandemic

Initially, Trump disregarded warnings from public health experts and delayed taking decisive action despite internal appeals from health officials. He formed the White House Coronavirus Task Force on January 29. On March 27, he signed into law the CARES Act—a bipartisan economic stimulus package valued at $2.2 trillion—the largest in U.S. history. After facing criticism over his administration's slow response to the pandemic, Trump suspended funding for the World Health Organization in April.

Republican-affiliated groups organized anti-lockdown demonstrations opposing state-level pandemic restrictions in April 2020; Trump publicly supported these protests via Twitter even though those states failed to meet reopening criteria set by his administration. He persistently pressured federal health agencies to authorize measures he favored, including treatments lacking scientific validation. In October, Trump was hospitalized for three days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Investigations

Following his inauguration, Trump became subject to multiple investigations by the Justice Department and congressional committees concerning his campaign activities, transition period, inauguration events, presidential conduct, private enterprises, tax matters, and charitable foundation operations. These included ten federal criminal probes, eight state and local inquiries, and twelve congressional investigations.

In July 2016, the FBI initiated Crossfire Hurricane to examine potential connections between Russia and Trump's campaign during that election cycle. After Trump dismissed FBI Director Comey in May 2017, a subsequent investigation targeted Trump's personal and business relationships with Russia. In January 2017, U.S. intelligence agencies asserted with "high confidence" that Russia interfered in the 2016 election intending to assist Trump's victory. Numerous questionable contacts between Trump associates and Russian officials were uncovered. Reportedly, Trump informed Russian representatives that he was unconcerned about Moscow’s interference. The Crossfire Hurricane investigation was eventually transferred to Special Counsel Robert Mueller who investigated criminal issues related to Russia's election meddling before delivering his final report in March 2019.

Mueller’s report confirmed Russia’s interference aimed at benefiting Trump and noted that Trump's campaign welcomed this assistance but did not find sufficient evidence of conspiracy or coordination with Russia. The report also described possible obstruction of justice by Trump but deferred prosecutorial decisions to Congress. Despite Mueller’s conclusions, Trump asserted that the report cleared him of wrongdoing.

In April 2019, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas for financial documents from Trump's banks—Deutsche Bank and Capital One—and accounting firm Mazars USA; Trump filed lawsuits seeking to prevent these disclosures. By May, courts ordered Mazars and the banks to comply with subpoenas; Trump's legal team appealed these rulings. In September 2022, an agreement was reached between Trump and the committee concerning Mazars' records, leading to their subsequent release.

Impeachments

Donald Trump faced impeachment twice by the House of Representatives, yet was acquitted by the Senate on both occasions. The first impeachment arose from a 2019 whistleblower report accusing Trump of pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to launch investigations into Joe and Hunter Biden, aiming to influence the 2020 presidential race. In December 2019, the House charged Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but the Senate acquitted him in February 2020.

The second impeachment occurred after the January 6 Capitol riot, with the House impeaching Trump on January 13, 2021, for incitement of insurrection. Trump had left office on January 20, and the Senate acquitted him on February 13; notably, seven Republican senators voted in favor of conviction.

2020 presidential election

Shortly after assuming office in 2017, Trump announced his intention to seek reelection and held his inaugural campaign rally within a month. He officially clinched the Republican nomination in August 2020. His campaign focused heavily on crime concerns, warning that a Biden presidency would result in widespread disorder. Trump frequently distorted Biden’s policy stances and employed racially charged rhetoric. Early in 2020, he cast doubt on the election’s legitimacy by claiming—without evidence—that mail-in voting would lead to massive fraud. He obstructed funding for the U.S. Postal Service to restrict mail-in ballot distribution and repeatedly declined to guarantee acceptance of election outcomes or a peaceful transfer of power.

Defeat by Biden and refusal to accept results

In the November 2020 election, Joe Biden secured victory with 81.3 million votes (51.3%) compared to Trump’s 74.2 million (46.8%), earning 306 electoral votes versus Trump’s 232. The Electoral College officially certified Biden’s win on December 14. Despite this, Trump prematurely declared himself the winner and later baselessly alleged widespread fraud after projections favored Biden. Numerous lawsuits initiated by Trump and his supporters aimed at overturning results were dismissed by at least 86 judges across state and federal courts due to lack of evidence or legal merit.

Claims made by Trump were also refuted by state election officials, while the Supreme Court declined to hear challenges seeking to overturn results in four states carried by Biden. Trump persistently pressured Republican officials, lawmakers, the Justice Department, and Vice President Pence to overturn the outcome, urging measures such as replacing electors or “finding” votes in Georgia. Following the election, Trump withdrew from public view and initially resisted cooperating with Biden’s transition team.

After approximately three weeks, the General Services Administration recognized Biden as the “apparent winner,” enabling access to transition resources. Although Trump stated he recommended starting transition procedures, he never formally conceded and abstained from attending Biden’s inauguration on January 20.

January 6 Capitol attack

In December 2020, reports indicated heightened alert among U.S. military leaders amid fears that Trump might impose martial law. CIA Director Gina Haspel and Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed concerns that Trump could pursue a coup or initiate military actions against China or Iran. Milley insisted on being involved in any military orders issued by Trump, including those concerning nuclear weapons.

At noon on January 6, 2021, while Congress was certifying the presidential election results inside the U.S. Capitol, Trump held a rally at the nearby Ellipse. Speaking behind a glass barrier, he urged supporters to overturn the election outcome and exhorted them to "fight like hell" and "take back our country" by marching to the Capitol. His supporters subsequently formed a mob that breached the building, interrupting certification proceedings and forcing lawmakers to evacuate. During the assault, Trump posted messages on social media but initially refrained from calling for dispersal. At approximately 6 p.m., he tweeted urging rioters to "go home with love & in peace," referred to them as "great patriots," and reiterated his unfounded claim of victory. Congress reconvened early on January 7 and confirmed Biden’s win.

The attack resulted in injuries to over 140 law enforcement officers and five fatalities during or following the event. This episode has been characterized as an attempted self-coup by Trump aimed at retaining power through force rather than constitutional processes.

Interval Between Presidencies (2021–2025)

Following his departure from the White House, Trump took up residence at Mar-a-Lago, where he established an office pursuant to the Former Presidents Act. He persisted in promoting unfounded assertions regarding the 2020 election, which critics labeled the "big lie"; these claims were subsequently embraced by Trump and his allies as a description of the election itself. The Republican Party leveraged these allegations to introduce new voting laws that aligned with their political objectives. As of July 2022, Trump actively pressured state lawmakers to reverse the election outcomes. Unlike previous former presidents, he retained significant influence over the Republican Party; a 2022 profile in the New York Times depicted him as a contemporary party boss. His fundraising efforts amassed a war chest more than double the size of that held by the Republican Party, with substantial contributions generated through events at Mar-a-Lago. His focus remained on party leadership and appointing loyalists. During the 2022 midterm elections, he endorsed upwards of 200 candidates.

In February 2021, Trump founded Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) with the goal of offering "social networking services" within the United States. By March 2024, TMTG had merged with Digital World Acquisition Corp., becoming a publicly traded company. The following year, in February 2022, TMTG launched Truth Social, a social media platform.

Legal Challenges

In 2019, journalist E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexual assault dating back to the 1990s and initiated a defamation lawsuit after he denied the allegations. Carroll filed an additional lawsuit in 2022 alleging battery and further defamation. Courts found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, ordering him to pay $5 million in one case and $83.3 million in another. In 2022, New York State brought a civil fraud suit accusing Trump of artificially inflating the value of assets owned by the Trump Organization to obtain favorable loans; he was found liable and ordered to pay $350 million plus accrued interest.

Concerning attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and the January 6 Capitol attack, a U.S. House committee recommended criminal charges against Trump for obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and incitement of insurrection. In August 2023, a grand jury in Fulton County indicted him on 13 counts including racketeering related to efforts to subvert Georgia’s 2020 election results.

In January 2022, the National Archives recovered 15 boxes of documents that Trump had taken to Mar-a-Lago following his presidency, some containing classified information. This led to an investigation by the Justice Department culminating in an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, during which 11 sets of classified documents were seized. In June 2023, Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump on 31 charges including willful retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act and other offenses; Trump pleaded not guilty. However, in July 2024, a judge dismissed this case on grounds that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.

In May 2024, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records related to disguising hush-money payments as business expenses during the 2016 campaign to conceal an alleged affair. On January 10, 2025, he received an unconditional discharge without penalty due to concerns regarding presidential immunity. After his reelection, both the cases involving obstruction of the 2020 election and classified documents were dismissed without prejudice in accordance with Justice Department policies prohibiting prosecution of sitting presidents.

2024 presidential election

In November 2022, Trump declared his intention to run for president in the 2024 election and established a fundraising account. By March 2023, his campaign allocated 10% of contributions to his leadership PAC, which had covered $100 million in legal expenses by March 2024.

Throughout the campaign, Trump's rhetoric grew increasingly aggressive and authoritarian, threatening to utilize the FBI, Justice Department, and military as tools against his political adversaries. His language was notably more severe than during his previous term, featuring dehumanizing anti-immigrant remarks and branding opponents as "the enemy" and vermin. Experts characterized this behavior as authoritarian and fascist, marking an unprecedented moment in U.S. political history. Additionally, concerns emerged regarding his age and health due to observable changes in his speech patterns and conduct.

Trump persistently asserted that the election would be fraudulent and declined to promise acceptance of the outcome, reinforcing his "heads I win; tails you cheated" approach.

On July 13, 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. Two days afterward, he secured the Republican nomination for president with Senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential candidate. In September, another assassination attempt occurred in Florida, which he escaped unharmed.

In the November 2024 election, Trump triumphed with 312 electoral votes compared to incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris's 226, earning 49.8% of the popular vote against her 48.3%. His win was seen as part of a global trend of voter dissatisfaction with incumbents amid economic difficulties such as rising inflation. Media sources hailed his reelection as a remarkable political resurgence.

Second presidency (2025–present)

Trump commenced his second term following his inauguration on January 20, 2025. He set records as the oldest person ever sworn into the presidency, became the first president with a felony conviction, and was only the second individual to serve two nonconsecutive presidential terms.

Early initiatives, 2025–present

Shortly after assuming office, Trump enacted a series of executive orders, many of which tested the boundaries of his legal authority and immediately faced judicial opposition. He surpassed all predecessors by issuing more executive orders on his inaugural day than any other president. Within just four days, Time reported that nearly two-thirds of these directives closely aligned with or partially reflected proposals from Project 2025. Legal experts noted that several of these measures either disregarded or conflicted with federal statutes and constitutional provisions. During the administration’s first month, a total of ninety executive orders and related directives were released.

Trump leveraged governmental power to target political adversaries, with analysts characterizing these efforts as authoritarian tactics that contributed to erosion of democratic norms. By July 2, more than 300 lawsuits had been filed across the country challenging his executive actions, reflecting widespread legal resistance.

Conflicts of Interest, 2025–Present

During Trump's second term, the administration implemented fewer measures to prevent conflicts of interest compared to his initial presidency, deviating from established ethical standards. He continued to operate a publicly traded entity, Trump Media & Technology Group, which expanded its reach into financial service sectors. Concurrently, he engaged in real estate transactions abroad involving government-linked organizations and secured licensing and branding deals for products bearing the Trump name. Profits were generated from events hosted at his hotels and golf resorts, and unlike previous presidents, Trump did not transfer his assets into a blind trust.

The administration rescinded ethics policies and anti-bribery enforcement established by the preceding government without introducing new formal ethics regulations for appointees, many of whom faced considerable conflict-of-interest risks. Charges of corruption against politicians associated with Trump were dropped, and enforcement of statutes prohibiting U.S. corporations from bribing foreign officials was suspended.

Trump initiated and endorsed two cryptocurrency tokens—$Trump and $Melania—from which he personally gained financial benefits. His family's cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial, illustrated a significant intertwining of private business interests with government policy influence.

In July 2025, Qatar gifted a $400 million luxury aircraft to be used as Air Force One throughout the remainder of Trump's presidency; following his term, the plane was slated for transfer to his presidential library. The conversion of this jet into Air Force One is projected to require expenditures up to $1 billion.

Mass Terminations of Federal Employees

Trump implemented a freeze on federal hiring and terminated telework arrangements within a 30-day timeframe. A review was ordered to reclassify numerous civil service roles as at-will positions, effectively removing traditional job security protections. The administration commenced large-scale dismissals of federal personnel—actions characterized by legal experts as unprecedented and potentially unlawful—with the objective of replacing staff with individuals supportive of the administration’s priorities. By late February, more than 30,000 federal workers had been terminated. To facilitate further reductions, the administration broadened the scope of national security agencies, labeled many federal employee unions as "hostile," and excluded multiple departments from federal labor-management relations programs, triggering lawsuits that could revoke union rights for approximately one million workers.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government were discontinued under Trump’s leadership; DEI office employees were placed on leave and the 1965 executive order mandating affirmative action for federal contractors was revoked.

Under the joint oversight of Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, several agencies—including USAID and the Department of Education—were substantially dismantled. Thousands of employees were dismissed without consultation, and administrative operations were curtailed to their statutory minimums. Some attempts to dismantle independent bodies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were blocked by judicial rulings. Many initiatives aimed to reduce the autonomy of traditionally independent institutions by bringing them under tighter executive branch control.

Pardons and Commutations, 2025–Present

Continuing the pattern from his initial term, Trump often circumvented the Office of the Pardon Attorney, appointing political ally Ed Martin, who advocated a "No MAGA left behind" philosophy. His clemency decisions predominantly favored political supporters and loyalists, disproportionately assisting "the powerful, famous, well-connected and wealthy" individuals implicated in white-collar offenses. On his very first day back in office, Trump granted pardons to more than 1,500 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the January 6 insurrection, including those involved in violent confrontations with law enforcement.

Domestic Policy, 2025–Present

Trump assumed control over a robust economy left by the Biden administration, marked by solid expansion, low joblessness, and easing inflation rates. He halted and rescinded federal grant programs and enacted substantial reductions in funding for scientific research. His government embraced climate change skepticism, appointing lobbyists from oil, gas, and chemical sectors to the EPA to roll back environmental regulations and pollution controls. Declaring a national energy emergency, Trump suspended environmental safeguards to relax fossil fuel extraction policies and restrict renewable energy initiatives. He ordered a reassessment of the EPA’s greenhouse gas endangerment determination and once again withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement.

In efforts to weaken agencies that enforce laws against political corruption, Trump downsized the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section from thirty attorneys to five, removed seventeen independent inspectors general along with twelve oversight board members, and disbanded the FBI’s specialized public corruption unit in Washington. He also pardoned or dismissed charges against officials accused of corruption.

Blaming societal challenges on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and what he labeled "wokeness," Trump equated diversity efforts with lowered competence and reversed federal policies supporting inclusion. His administration aggressively targeted transgender rights and "gender ideology," issuing executive orders that restricted transgender participation in sports and other areas. Through executive actions, he sought to reshape civil society by pressuring cultural organizations and approximately sixty universities over DEI policies and allegations of antisemitism. Furthermore, he compelled law firms to conform to his political objectives.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

In July 2025, Trump enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, permanently extending the tax cuts introduced by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and introducing approximately $4.5 trillion in additional tax deductions. These benefits largely favored high-income earners while imposing an estimated annual cost of about $1,600 on low-income individuals. The legislation increased allocations for national defense, immigration enforcement including deportations and border wall funding, as well as missile defense systems. It eliminated tax incentives for renewable energy projects and purchasers of electric vehicles. Additionally, it reduced funding for Medicaid and SNAP, introduced work requirements for eligibility, and established a $35 co-payment for certain Medicaid services; these provisions are set to commence following the 2026 election. According to projections by the Congressional Budget Office, this bill will increase the budget deficit by $3.4 trillion by 2034 while causing approximately 11.8 million people to lose Medicaid coverage and three million to lose SNAP benefits.

Immigration, 2025–present

At the outset of his second term, Trump instructed Border Patrol agents to immediately deport undocumented immigrants crossing the border and discontinued the CBP One application, which was used to arrange border crossings. He reinstated the "remain in Mexico" policy, labeled drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and restarted construction on the border wall.

Initially, deportation focused on individuals listed as criminals, but later expanded to include asylum seekers who did not meet eligibility criteria and those whose parole status was revoked under the CBP One and CHNV humanitarian parole initiatives. The administration pursued efforts to eliminate birthright citizenship and halted the Refugee Admissions Program. In March 2025, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to detain undocumented immigrants without trial—most lacking criminal convictions—at a facility in El Salvador. His enforcement measures also targeted activists, lawful immigrants, tourists, and visa-holding students who opposed his policies or supported pro-Palestinian causes.

Foreign policy, 2025–present

Trump’s foreign policy during his second term has been characterized as imperialist, expansionist, isolationist, and autarkic, all rooted in an "America First" framework. His interactions with allied nations were largely transactional and at times hostile, including threats of annexation. He ordered a halt to U.S. funding and collaboration with the World Health Organization, declaring intentions to formally withdraw.

In February 2025, Trump and Vice President Vance engaged in a highly publicized and confrontational meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office—an unprecedented public dispute between a sitting U.S. president and a foreign leader.

Prior to his inauguration, Trump’s administration collaborated with the Biden administration to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict; however, Israel violated this ceasefire in March.

On the economic front, Trump implemented protectionist measures by imposing steep tariffs on key trading partners such as China, Canada, and Mexico. This sparked a global trade war with tariff rates reaching levels unseen since the 1930 Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act. Economists criticized these policies for relying on flawed assumptions that equate trade deficits with tariff strategies. Furthermore, Trump suspended U.S. financial support for the World Trade Organization.

Personnel, 2025–present

During his second term, Trump emphasized personal allegiance over professional qualifications when appointing members to his cabinet. In February 2025, Elon Musk was appointed as a special government employee, granting his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access across numerous federal agencies. Within just one month, Musk’s teams were active in eighteen departments, including the Treasury Department’s $5 trillion payment infrastructure,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name the Small Business Administration, Office of Personnel Management, and General Services Administration. Additionally, Trump named 23 former Fox News personnel to prominent government positions.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Judiciary, 2025–present

After experiencing legal defeats, Trump escalated his criticism of the judicial system and advocated for the impeachment of federal judges ruling unfavorably against him. He enacted executive directives and initiated probes aimed at political adversaries and groups aligned with the Democratic Party. By mid-July, an analysis by the Washington Post revealed that he resisted court orders in roughly one-third of the cases involving him, marking an unprecedented degree of judicial defiance for any U.S. administration. This pattern of noncompliance sparked alarm among legal scholars regarding the possibility of a constitutional crisis.

Research conducted by academics and reported by The New York Times indicated that judicial appointees from both Republican and Democratic backgrounds identified multiple constitutional and legal deficiencies in policies implemented during Trump's administration. Additionally, he undertook an unprecedented campaign targeting law firms and attorneys who had previously represented opposing interests, causing concern within the legal profession.

Political practice and rhetoric

Trump's political style and rhetoric, beginning with his 2016 presidential bid, gave rise to what is now known as Trumpism—a movement characterized by broadly populist, specifically right-wing populist ideologies. He has been described as endorsing far-right extremist views and facilitating the normalization of fringe far-right groups and ideas. Numerous observers have labeled his conduct and language as authoritarian, contributing to a decline in democratic norms within the United States. Trump championed a broad expansion of executive authority grounded in a maximalist reading of the unitary executive theory. His political following has often been likened to a cult of personality.

His public discourse has been criticized for exacerbating social polarization through a divisive "us versus them" framework. Trump frequently disparages racial, ethnic, and religious minorities; racial hostility toward Black people, immigrants, and Muslims has been identified as a significant predictor of his support base. His communication methods rely heavily on fearmongering and demagogic tactics, which intensified during his 2024 presidential campaign. He has openly suggested that true power stems from instilling fear. The alt-right movement rallied around his candidacy in part due to shared opposition to multiculturalism and immigration policies. Trump enjoys strong backing from evangelical Christians and Christian nationalist groups, with his events prominently featuring their symbols and messaging.

Moreover, Trump regularly employs anti-communist rhetoric by branding his opponents as "communists" or "Marxists," thereby invoking long-standing anti-communist sentiments within the U.S. electorate to galvanize support.

Racial and gender views

Numerous statements and actions by Trump have been widely labeled as racist. A 2018 national survey found that approximately half of respondents considered him racist; an even larger segment believed he encouraged racist behavior. Research indicates that racial prejudice was a more powerful factor than economic concerns in driving his political ascent among voters. Support for Trump strongly correlates with racist and Islamophobic attitudes. He faced accusations of racism for maintaining that the Central Park Five were guilty despite their exoneration.

In 2011, Trump spearheaded the "birther" conspiracy questioning Barack Obama's American birth, claiming responsibility for pressuring the release of Obama's birth certificate—which he alleged was fraudulent. Although he publicly acknowledged Obama's U.S. birth in 2016, reports suggest he privately continued to express birther beliefs afterward. During his 2024 campaign, Trump launched false attacks on Kamala Harris’s racial identity reminiscent of birther tactics. His 2024 campaign rhetoric included dehumanizing language and racial stereotypes. In 2025, he promoted unfounded claims about white genocide in South Africa and initiated the White South African refugee program.

Trump has a documented history of publicly disparaging women through lewd remarks, derogatory nicknames, and criticisms of their appearance on social media platforms. At least 25 women have come forward accusing him of sexual misconduct—including rape and groping—which he denies. In October 2016, a 2005 "hot mic" recording emerged capturing Trump boasting about non-consensual kissing and groping women, dismissing it as "locker-room talk." This revelation prompted his first public apology during the 2016 presidential race.

Connection to Violence and Hate Crimes

Donald Trump has been recognized as a prominent figure contributing to the rise of political violence within the United States, both by endorsing and inciting such actions. His longstanding use of aggressive language includes urging followers to confront hecklers physically, threatening looters and undocumented immigrants, ridiculing an assassination attempt targeting a Democratic leader’s spouse, and advocating for the execution of disloyal military generals. Compared to recent presidents, he has shown greater affinity for extremist groups, conspiracy theories like QAnon, and far-right militia organizations, employing tactics often described as stochastic terrorism.

Studies have associated Trump's rhetoric with a surge in hate crimes and a normalization of explicit racial language that emboldens prejudicial attitudes. During his 2016 campaign, he either encouraged or applauded physical confrontations against protesters and journalists. Numerous defendants in hate crime and violent incidents have cited his rhetoric as justification. An ABC News review in 2020 identified at least 54 criminal cases where Trump was referenced in connection with acts of violence or threats, predominantly involving white male perpetrators targeting minority groups.

Trump's failure to denounce the white supremacist group Proud Boys during the 2020 presidential debate, coupled with his "stand back and stand by" remark, reportedly facilitated increased recruitment for this organization. Experts in counterterrorism have expressed concern that his reinterpretation of the January 6 Capitol riot and his clemency grants to participants serve to encourage further political violence. His open endorsement of the Capitol insurrection has become a significant element of his campaign approach for the 2024 presidential race.

Promotion of Conspiracy Theories

Throughout his presidency and prior, Trump actively propagated numerous conspiracy theories, including the false claim questioning President Obama's birthplace ("birtherism"), dismissing climate change as fabricated, and alleging Ukrainian interference in American elections. Following his defeat in the 2020 election, he spread unfounded theories regarding electoral fraud, which have been collectively labeled as "the big lie."

Dissemination of False or Misleading Information

During his time in office, Trump made an unparalleled number of inaccurate statements during public appearances. These falsehoods became a hallmark of his political persona and were characterized by fact-checkers as firehosing. Over 30,000 false or misleading claims were documented during his first term alone, with their frequency increasing over time.

While some inaccuracies were relatively trivial, others had serious consequences—such as advocating unproven antimalarial drugs for COVID-19 treatment, which led to global shortages. Additional misinformation was used to advance domestic political objectives, including misrepresenting crime surges as driven by radical Islamic terrorism. His persistent attacks on mail-in voting undermined public trust in the legitimacy of the 2020 election results, while pandemic-related misinformation delayed effective national responses. Apologies for these falsehoods were rare. Until around 2018, many media outlets refrained from explicitly labeling his statements as lies despite clear evidence.

Use of Social Media

Trump’s social media activity attracted worldwide attention starting with his Twitter debut in 2009. He maintained prolific posting during both his 2016 campaign and presidency until Twitter permanently suspended him following the January 6 Capitol attack. Through Twitter, he communicated directly with the public, often circumventing traditional news channels; in 2017, his press secretary confirmed that tweets from Trump represented official presidential statements.

After facing criticism for permitting misinformation on his platform, Twitter began adding fact-check labels to some of his tweets in May 2020. In response, Trump accused social media companies of censoring conservatives and threatened to impose strict regulations or shut them down entirely. Subsequent to the Capitol riot, he was banned from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and several other platforms—a move that significantly curtailed his capacity to shape public discourse and coincided with a marked drop in misinformation on Twitter.

In February 2022, Trump introduced Truth Social, a new social media site which attracted only a small fraction of his former Twitter followers. Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter later that year, Trump’s account was reinstated in November 2022. Additionally, Meta Platforms’ two-year suspension expired in January 2023, enabling Trump to resume activity on Facebook and Instagram.

Interaction with the media

Throughout his career, Trump exhibited a complex "love-hate" dynamic with the press. During the 2016 election cycle, he secured roughly $2 billion worth of unpaid media exposure. Both as a candidate and while in office, he frequently charged the media with partiality, branding it as "fake news" and referring to it as "the enemy of the people."

Under the Trump administration, official press briefings sharply declined from nearly one hundred in 2017 to only two by 2019. Additionally, press credentials were revoked for certain journalists, although courts later reinstated them. The 2020 Trump campaign initiated defamation lawsuits against prominent news organizations concerning their coverage of Russian election meddling; all these cases were ultimately dismissed. By 2024, Trump pushed for banning political dissent and proposed legal action against journalists protecting confidential sources, even suggesting that media companies could lose their broadcast licenses if their reporting was unfavorable.

Following his reelection, Trump pursued legal actions and created blacklists targeting select media outlets, controlling which organizations could gain access through the White House Correspondents' Association. Despite judicial rulings, his administration restricted wire service access. The Federal Communications Commission launched probes into media entities accused of exhibiting bias against him.

Family

Trump wed Czech model Ivana Zelníčková in 1977. Together they had three children: Donald Jr. (born 1977), Ivanka (born 1981), and Eric (born 1984). Their marriage ended in divorce in 1990 following his affair with model and actress Marla Maples. Trump married Maples in 1993; they divorced six years later in 1999. They share one daughter, Tiffany (born 1993), who was raised in California. In 2005, he married Slovenian model Melania Knauss, with whom he has a son, Barron (born 2006).

Health

Trump has stated that he has never consumed alcohol, smoked cigarettes, or used drugs. His typical sleep duration is four to five hours per night. Golf serves as his main form of physical activity; however, he generally opts to ride a golf cart instead of walking the course. He perceives exercise as a drain on the body's limited energy reserves. In 2015, his campaign publicized a letter from his longtime personal physician, Harold Bornstein, asserting that Trump would be "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." In 2018, Bornstein disclosed that Trump had dictated the letter’s content and that his medical records were confiscated during a 2017 search of Bornstein’s office.

Religion

In 2016, Trump identified as a Presbyterian and Protestant, but by 2020 he described himself as a nondenominational Christian. Nevertheless, many questioned the authenticity of his religious commitment. During his presidency (2017–2021), surveys indicated that 63 percent of Americans doubted his religiosity, with only 44 percent viewing him as Christian. Critics highlighted his limited understanding of Christian teachings, and few biographers portrayed him as genuinely devout.

Public perception

During Trump's initial term (2017–2020), global approval ratings for U.S. leadership dropped from approximately 22% in a Gallup survey covering 134 nations to 16% according to a Pew Research poll spanning 13 countries—figures lower than those for leaders such as China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin. The most significant declines occurred among allied nations.

Within the United States, support for Trump was sharply divided along partisan lines: he received an 88% approval rating from Republicans but only 7% from Democrats. A Gallup poll conducted in 2021 revealed that he never surpassed a 50% approval mark and was the first president not to be named most admired during his initial year.

In the first quarter of his second term, Gallup reported a 45% approval rating—an improvement over his first term but still below the typical presidential average of around 60%. Support remained highly polarized: approximately 90% among Republicans, 37% among independents, and just 4% among Democrats.

Academic Assessments

According to the 2021 survey conducted by C-SPAN among presidential historians, Trump was ranked as the fourth-least effective president, receiving the lowest evaluations in areas such as moral authority and executive competence. The 2022 poll by the Siena College Research Institute positioned him as the third-lowest president, with poor ratings across most criteria except for luck, willingness to take risks, and leadership within his party, while ranking last in several other categories. Additionally, in both 2018 and 2024, the American Political Science Association designated him as the least successful president.

External links

Archive of Donald Trump's tweets (Input 2021-01-09 in the End Date box to access tweets prior to suspension)
Donald Trump on the Internet Archive