Donald Trump is one of the most famous and influential figures in the world. He is the 45th president of the United States, a billionaire businessman, a reality TV star, and a polarizing personality. His presidency has been marked by unprecedented events, controversies, achievements, and challenges. In this article, we will explore some of the facts and aspects of his life and career that make him a unique and fascinating leader.
Early Life and Education
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in New York City, New York. He is the second youngest of five children of Frederick Christ Trump and Mary MacLeod Trump, who were both immigrants from Germany and Scotland, respectively. His family’s name was originally Drumpf or Drumpft, but it was changed to Trump in the 1600s, during the Thirty Years’ War.
Trump grew up in a wealthy and privileged environment, living in a mansion in Queens. He attended the New York Military Academy, where he excelled in academics and sports, and developed a competitive and assertive personality. He credits the academy for much of his success in life. He then transferred to Fordham University, and later graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics in 1968.
Trump avoided being drafted into the military during the Vietnam War by getting four student deferments and a medical deferment for bone spurs in his heels. He later said that he felt “very, very guilty” for not serving in the military, but also claimed that his experience in the real estate business was “more brave” than fighting in Vietnam.
Business Career
Trump followed his father’s footsteps and joined the family business, Elizabeth Trump and Son, which he renamed The Trump Organization in 1971. He expanded the company’s portfolio from residential properties in Brooklyn and Queens to luxury hotels, casinos, golf courses, resorts, and skyscrapers in Manhattan and around the world. He also ventured into other fields, such as sports, entertainment, media, and education. He became famous for his flamboyant style, aggressive negotiations, and lavish lifestyle. He also faced several challenges, such as bankruptcies, lawsuits, scandals, and controversies, throughout his career.
One of his most notable achievements was the renovation of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and the construction of the Trump Tower in the 1980s, which established him as a prominent figure in the New York City skyline. He also acquired several iconic properties, such as the Plaza Hotel, the Mar-a-Lago estate, and the Taj Mahal casino. He also launched his own airline, Trump Shuttle, and his own board game, Trump: The Game. He also wrote several best-selling books, such as Trump: The Art of the Deal, Trump: The Art of the Comeback, and The America We Deserve.
Trump also became a celebrity in his own right, appearing in various movies, TV shows, and commercials. He also hosted and produced his own reality TV series, The Apprentice, from 2004 to 2015, which popularized his catchphrase “You’re fired!” and featured contestants competing for a job in his organization. He earned millions of dollars and fans from the show, as well as several awards and nominations.
Political Career
Trump had been involved in politics since the 1980s, when he donated money and supported various candidates and causes, mostly from the Republican Party, but also from the Democratic Party and the Reform Party. He also considered running for president several times, but never officially entered the race until 2015, when he announced his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election as a Republican. He ran on a populist and nationalist platform, promising to “Make America Great Again” by renegotiating trade deals, building a wall on the southern border, banning Muslims from entering the country, repealing Obamacare, and defeating ISIS. He also appealed to many voters with his unconventional and controversial style, often insulting and mocking his opponents, the media, and other critics.
Trump won the Republican nomination, despite facing strong opposition from the party establishment and other candidates. He then faced Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and the Democratic nominee, in the general election. The campaign was one of the most divisive and contentious in U.S. history, marked by scandals, allegations, investigations, and controversies on both sides. Trump was widely seen as the underdog, as most polls and pundits predicted a Clinton victory. However, he managed to pull off a stunning upset, winning 304 electoral votes to Clinton’s 227, although he lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. He became the first president in U.S. history who had never held any prior public office or military service.
Trump’s presidency has been equally turbulent and unprecedented. He has faced several challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the impeachment trials, the racial justice protests, the economic recession, the foreign policy crises, and the 2020 presidential election, which he refused to concede, alleging widespread fraud and irregularities. He has also achieved some of his goals, such as appointing three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, renegotiating the NAFTA into the USMCA, withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement, moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and brokering peace deals between Israel and several Arab countries. He has also maintained a loyal and passionate base of supporters, who admire his charisma, strength, and defiance of the political establishment and the mainstream media.
Personal Life and Family
Trump has been married three times and has five children and ten grandchildren. His first wife was Ivana Zelnickova, a Czech model, whom he married in 1977 and divorced in 1992. They had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, who are all involved in the family business and the political campaign. His second wife was Marla Maples, an actress, whom he married in 1993 and divorced in 1999. They had one daughter: Tiffany, who is a socialite and a singer. His third and current wife is Melania Knauss, a Slovenian model, whom he married in 2005. They have one son: Barron, who is the youngest child to live in the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump is of German and Scottish ancestry. He had a famous uncle, John G. Trump, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who had the distinction of being allowed by the FBI to examine the papers and equipment of the famed inventor Nikola Tesla when he died in 1943. Trump’s family fortune began when his grandfather, Frederick Trump, made a fortune by operating restaurants and boarding houses in the boom towns of Seattle and Klondike, Canada.
Trump does not smoke or drink. He said that he was influenced by the death of his older brother, Fred Jr., who died of alcoholism in 1981. He also said that he has never used drugs, and that he does not like to shake hands, because he is a germaphobe. He is a Presbyterian, but he does not attend church regularly. He is also an avid golfer, and owns several golf courses around the world. He is known for his love of fast food, especially McDonald’s, and his dislike of exercise, except for golf.
Conclusion
Donald Trump is a remarkable and controversial figure, who has left a lasting impact on the world. He is a successful and wealthy businessman, a famous and influential celebrity, and a powerful and unconventional president. He is loved and hated, admired and despised, praised and criticized, by millions of people. He is a man of many contradictions and complexities, who defies easy categorization and analysis.