Donald Trump
Born 1946 · Age 79
American businessman, media personality, and politician; 45th and 47th president of the United States; developer and brand licensor; author and TV personality.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Queens, New York
Born at Jamaica Hospital in the Queens borough of New York City to Frederick (Fred) Christ Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.
Reported millionaire by age eight (family wealth)
Reported that Fred Trump paid his children about $20,000/year and Donald was a millionaire in inflation-adjusted dollars by age eight.
Enrolled at New York Military Academy
Sent by his parents to New York Military Academy to instill discipline; attended through 1964.
Entered Fordham University
Enrolled at Fordham University in the Bronx (attended 1964–1966).
Transferred to Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Transferred to the Wharton School to study finance and commerce (attended 1966–1968).
Joined father's real-estate business full-time
Began working full-time for Fred Trump's real estate company (Trump Management), helping manage thousands of rental units.
Graduated from Wharton with B.S. in Economics
Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in May 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics.
Became president of family's real-estate business
Moved operations toward Manhattan and became president of his father's real-estate conglomeration that would become the Trump Organization.
DOJ lawsuit alleging Fair Housing Act violations
U.S. Justice Department sued Fred and Donald Trump and their company for alleged discrimination in operation of 39 apartment buildings; the Trumps settled with a consent decree.
Acquired Commodore Hotel (Grand Hyatt project)
Arranged complex financing and a 40-year property tax abatement to renovate the Commodore Hotel, which reopened as the Grand Hyatt in 1980.
Grand Hyatt Hotel reopened
Commodore Hotel refurbishment completed and reopened as the 1,400-room Grand Hyatt (major early Manhattan success).
Opened Trump Tower (Midtown Manhattan)
Trump Tower, a 58-story mixed-use skyscraper on Fifth Avenue, opened and became Trump's residence and company headquarters.
Purchased New Jersey Generals (USFL)
Bought the New Jersey Generals professional football team for about $6 million; USFL folded after 1985.
Opened Harrah's at Trump Plaza (Atlantic City)
Launched casino-hotel in Atlantic City (later renamed Trump Plaza); continued expansion into casinos.
Acquired Mar-a-Lago estate
Purchased Mar-a-Lago, a 118-room Palm Beach mansion (later converted into private club in 1995).
Bought Trump Castle (Atlantic City)
Acquired the Atlantic City Hilton and renamed it Trump Castle; expanded Atlantic City casino holdings.
Published 'The Art of the Deal'
Coauthored with Tony Schwartz; became a New York Times bestseller and boosted Trump's public profile.
Purchased Eastern Air Lines Shuttle (Trump Shuttle)
Paid $380 million in loans to purchase the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle and operated it as Trump Shuttle until 1992.
Purchased the Plaza Hotel
Acquired the landmark Plaza Hotel in Manhattan for over $400 million (later financial troubles led to loss of control).
Built and opened Trump Taj Mahal
Opened what was then the world's largest casino in Atlantic City (completed for about $1.1 billion; financed with $675M junk bonds).
Severe financial problems; estimated large personal debt
By 1990 many Trump businesses suffered in the recession; personal guarantees on roughly $900 million and total debts around $5 billion made payments difficult.
Personal debt restructuring and asset sales
To reduce $900M personal debt and avoid personal bankruptcy, surrendered airline (Trump Shuttle), sold yacht (Trump Princess), and mortgaged properties.
Trump Taj Mahal declared bankruptcy (Chapter 11)
One of multiple casino bankruptcies in early 1990s as debt pressures mounted; restructuring required.
Trump Plaza and other businesses file for Chapter 11
Multiple Atlantic City casinos and the Plaza Hotel faced bankruptcy and restructuring; lenders assumed control of some assets.
Formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp (with siblings)
Along with siblings formed a company alleged to be used in billing markups and rent-stabilization schemes (reported by investigative sources).
Converted Mar-a-Lago into private club and opened
After a proposed housing conversion was blocked by local opposition, Mar-a-Lago became a private club which opened in 1995.
Purchased Miss Universe Organization
Partnered with NBC to acquire Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants (later controversies & sale/exit in 2015–16).
Began building/ buying golf courses
Started expanding golf-course portfolio; owned 17 golf courses by 2016.
Trump World Tower completed (NYC)
Deutsche Bank and others financed later projects such as Trump World Tower (opened ~2001).
Launched The Apprentice (TV)
NBC reality show premiered with Trump as host; later enhanced his public brand and generated large revenues over its run (2004–2015).
Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts filed for bankruptcy
Company that held several casino properties filed for Chapter 11 in 2004 amid mounting debts.
Cofounded Trump University
Launched a real-estate seminar company charging up to $35,000; later faced lawsuits alleging fraud.
Married Melania Knauss
Married Melania Knauss; their son Barron was born in 2006.
Celebrity Apprentice revamp and Hollywood Walk of Fame star
The Apprentice revamped as Celebrity Apprentice; received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 for Miss Universe production work.
Opened Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago
92-story mixed-use tower in Chicago opened in 2008 (project later subject to IRS inquiry re: tax write-offs).
Trump Entertainment Resorts bankruptcy (again)
Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, later renamed Trump Entertainment Resorts, filed for Chapter 11 again (2009), leaving Trump with small ownership stake.
Stopped operating Trump University (ceased 2011)
Trump University ceased operations in 2011; later sued by students and NY AG for alleged fraud.
Published multiple business/self-help books (ongoing)
Coauthored and published many books including Trump: The Art of the Deal (1987) and others through 2011–2015; cultivated public/business persona.
NY Attorney General filed $40M civil suit against Trump University
State of New York alleged false statements and fraud; two class actions were filed in federal court as well.
Univision and NBC drop Miss Universe broadcasts
Major broadcasters cut ties with the pageants in June 2015 in reaction to Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants; contributed to later sale/exit from pageants.
Announced candidacy for president (2016 election)
Declared candidacy for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination; campaigned as a political outsider.
Reportedly earned large sums from TV and licensing
Over decades, Trump earned substantial income from The Apprentice and licensing the Trump name; different reports cite roughly $200M–$400M from the show and at least $59M from licensing deals through 2018.
Leaked 1995 tax filings show $916M loss
Portions of Trump's 1995 filings leaked to NYT showing a $916 million loss that could shelter taxes for up to 18 years.
Settled Trump University and related suits for $25M
Shortly after winning the 2016 election, agreed to a $25 million settlement resolving three cases alleging fraud by Trump University.
Elected 45th President of the United States
Defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College (won 306 pledged EVs initially; later official count 304 to 227 after faithless electors; lost popular vote by ~2.9M).
Inaugurated as 45th President
Sworn in on January 20, 2017; first week signed multiple executive orders including immigration/travel measures and trade policy moves.
Withdrew U.S. from Paris Agreement
Announced U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement on June 1, 2017.
Signed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Major tax reform legislation enacted, reducing corporate and individual tax rates; critics said it increased federal deficits.
NY attorney general sued Trump Foundation; foundation dissolved
NY AG filed civil suit in June 2018 alleging misuse; foundation ceased operations Dec 2018; in Nov 2019 judge ordered Trump to pay $2M in damages.
The New York Times reported $413M transfers from Fred Trump
Investigative report documented Fred Trump transferred vast sums to his children; Donald was reported main beneficiary (~$413M in 2018 dollars by early 2000s).
Appointed three Supreme Court Justices (Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett)
Nominated and saw confirmation of Neil Gorsuch (2017), Brett Kavanaugh (2018), and Amy Coney Barrett (2020) — shifted Court's ideological balance.
Major media profile and controversies escalate
Continued high-profile legal, tax, and business investigations including NYT investigations on tax avoidance and wealth transfers.
Impeached by House (first impeachment)
House adopted two articles of impeachment (abuse of power, obstruction of Congress) related to Ukraine; Senate acquitted Feb 2020.
Operation Warp Speed (vaccine acceleration)
Administration's public–private program accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines; two approved vaccines were developed with federal support.
Declared COVID-19 a national emergency (Proclamation 9994)
Declared national emergency enabling allocation of funds and measures to respond to pandemic; later signed CARES Act on March 27, 2020.
Lost 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden
Defeated in popular and electoral vote by Democratic nominee Joe Biden; Trump disputed results and pursued legal challenges.
Resigned / expelled from SAG-AFTRA
Resigned from the actors' union in 2021 to avoid a disciplinary hearing related to January 6; two days later union permanently barred him.
January 6 Capitol attack followed attempt to overturn 2020 election
A violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol during certification of the Electoral College; led to second impeachment.
Impeached a second time by House (incitement of insurrection)
Impeached over actions related to Jan 6; Senate later acquitted.
Found liable in civil cases for sexual abuse/defamation and business fraud
Civil verdicts found Trump liable in E. Jean Carroll cases and in a major New York business fraud suit.
Special counsel requests dropping election-related charges after 2024 election
Following Trump's 2024 election victory, Special Counsel Jack Smith requested that the election-related charges be dropped and that Trump be removed from codefendant status in classified-documents case, citing DOJ policy on prosecutions of sitting presidents.
Two felony indictments dismissed without prejudice after 2024 election
After election victory, two felony indictments — retention of classified documents and obstruction related to 2020 — were dismissed without prejudice per Special Counsel's request/policy; a Georgia racketeering case remained pending.
Criminal conviction for falsifying business records (New York)
Found guilty on 34 felony counts connected to hush-money payment (Stormy Daniels) — first U.S. president convicted of a felony (NY state jury verdict).
Shot during campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
Reported shooting incident at a campaign rally in Butler, PA on July 13, 2024 (reporting indicates he was shot).
Elected to second, nonconsecutive term as president (2025 inauguration)
Won 2024 presidential election defeating Vice President Kamala Harris; reports cite 312 electoral votes and plurality of popular vote.
Initiated mass federal layoffs and tariffs, signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Early actions in second term included mass layoffs of federal workers, imposition of broad tariffs at high levels, and passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; actions prompted over 300 lawsuits.
Inaugurated as 47th President
Assumed office January 20, 2025 — second nonconsecutive term, becoming the second U.S. president to do so.
Held military parade in Washington, D.C.
Staged a military parade on Flag Day (June 14, 2025) to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army; reported cost $30M.
Key Achievement Ages
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