Trump was born in Queens, New York City. His father, Fred Trump, was a real estate developer. Trump joined his father's real estate business and later renamed it the Trump Organization. He became wealthy through real estate projects, hotels, casinos, and other businesses. From 2004 to 2015, he was the host of the reality television show The Apprentice. He also owned the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants for many years.
Trump became involved in politics before becoming president. He changed his political party several times and was a Republican, Democrat, and member of the Reform Party at different times. In 2011, he promoted the false claim that President Barack Obama was born outside the United States.
Trump won the Republican nomination in 2016 after defeating a large field of candidates. He then faced Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election.
On November 8, 2016, Trump won the Electoral College and became president-elect. He received fewer votes nationwide than Clinton, but won more electoral votes. He became the fourth person in U.S. history to become president after losing the popular vote.
Trump was sworn in as president on January 20, 2017. During his first term, his administration focused on immigration, trade, tax cuts, and reducing government regulations.
In 2017, Trump ordered a missile strike against Syria after a chemical weapons attack. He also had several meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in an attempt to reduce tensions between the United States and North Korea.
Trump's presidency was controversial. His response to the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was widely criticized. He also faced investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated the issue but did not find enough evidence to charge Trump or his campaign with a criminal conspiracy with Russia.
Trump ran for reelection in 2020 against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Biden won the election and became president-elect.
Trump refused to concede and falsely claimed that widespread voter fraud had caused him to lose. His campaign and supporters filed many lawsuits challenging the results, but the courts rejected the major claims. State officials and election officials, including many Republicans, said there was no evidence of fraud that could have changed the result.
On January 6, 2021, while Congress was counting the electoral votes, a mob of Trump's supporters attacked the United States Capitol. Trump was impeached for a second time by the House of Representatives. The Senate later acquitted him. He is the only U.S. president to have been impeached twice.
Post–presidency
After leaving office in January 2021, Trump remained active in Republican politics. In November 2022, he announced that he would run for president again in 2024.
Trump faced several criminal cases after leaving office. In 2024, he became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records. He also faced federal charges related to classified documents and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as charges in Georgia related to the 2020 election. Some of these cases were dismissed or delayed after Trump returned to office.
Trump was also found liable in civil cases involving writer E. Jean Carroll and financial fraud involving the Trump Organization.
Trump became the Republican nominee for president in 2024. During the campaign, he survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. A bullet injured his ear, one person at the rally was killed, and two others were injured. The gunman was killed by law enforcement.
In the November 2024 election, Trump defeated Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris. He became the second U.S. president, after Grover Cleveland, to serve two non-consecutive terms. He also became the oldest person to be elected president at the time and the first convicted felon to become president.
Trump was sworn in for his second term on January 20, 2025.
Since beginning his second term, Trump has focused on immigration, trade, government spending, and changing the federal government. His administration declared a national emergency at the U.S.–Mexico border and increased immigration enforcement and deportations. He also resumed construction of the border wall and made it harder for some migrants to enter the United States. These policies have been praised by Trump's supporters but criticized by opponents and immigrant rights groups.
Trump also greatly increased tariffs on goods imported into the United States. He said the tariffs would protect American workers and encourage companies to manufacture more goods in the United States. Critics have argued that the tariffs could increase prices and hurt businesses and consumers. The tariff policies have also caused disagreements with other countries.
The Israel–Gaza war has been another major issue during Trump's second term. Trump supported Israel while also calling for an end to the war. His administration later proposed a plan to end the conflict and support the rebuilding of Gaza. The plan received international attention and was controversial because of disagreements over the future government of Gaza and the rights of Palestinians.
Trump's second administration has been controversial. Critics have accused it of weakening government institutions, limiting immigration, and using presidential power too aggressively. Supporters say that Trump is carrying out the policies he promised during his campaign and that his administration is making the government more effective.
Trump's second presidency has also seen major changes in U.S. foreign policy. His administration has taken a more aggressive approach toward countries such as Iran and has continued to support efforts to end major conflicts. His foreign policy has been praised by some supporters and criticized by others.
Trump's first wife was Ivana Zelníčková, whom he married in 1977. They had three children and divorced in 1992. He married actress Marla Maples in 1993, and they had one daughter, Tiffany. They divorced in 1999.
Trump married Melania Knauss in 2005. They have one son, Barron.
Trump was raised as a Presbyterian. He claims that he has never consumed alcohol or smoked cigarettes.
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