Donald Trump is an American businessman, television personality, and Republican politician who has served as both the 45th and 47th president of the United States. Born in Queens, New York, on June 14, 1946, he built a public profile through real estate, branding and television before entering presidential politics. He first won the presidency in 2016, lost the 2020 election, and returned to the White House after winning the 2024 election. He was inaugurated for his second term on January 20, 2025.
Trump’s career is unusual because it spans several very different worlds. Before politics, he was associated with New York real estate, hotels, casinos, golf properties and licensing deals. He later became widely recognized through NBC’s The Apprentice. His political career has included two presidential campaigns that resulted in victories, two impeachments during his first term, and a criminal conviction in New York that resulted in an unconditional discharge.
Early Life and Education
Donald John Trump was born in Queens, New York, the second-youngest of five children of Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. His father was a real estate developer whose business focused heavily on residential properties in New York City’s outer boroughs. Growing up around that business gave Trump an early connection to property development and construction.
Trump attended the New York Military Academy during his secondary-school years. He later studied at Fordham University before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. He graduated from Wharton in 1968. The Miller Center at the University of Virginia lists real estate development, business and television among the major stages of his pre-presidential career.
In his twenties, Trump joined the family real estate business and eventually moved toward larger projects in Manhattan. He became president of the firm in the 1970s and expanded its visibility through major developments and a highly recognizable personal brand.
Donald Trump’s Business Career
Real estate was the foundation of Trump’s business career. Among the best-known projects associated with him are the Grand Hyatt New York, which opened in 1980, and Trump Tower, which opened in 1983. During the 1980s, he also became involved in Atlantic City casinos, acquired the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan and purchased the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
His business activities eventually extended well beyond traditional property development. Trump licensed his name for products and properties and became involved in golf courses, hotels, entertainment, beauty pageants and other ventures. This emphasis on branding became an important part of how his public identity developed.
His business history also includes periods of substantial financial difficulty. Several Trump-controlled casino businesses entered bankruptcy proceedings during the financial problems of the early 1990s and again in the 2000s. These were corporate bankruptcies rather than personal bankruptcy proceedings by Trump himself.
Trump also became an author. His 1987 book The Art of the Deal, written with journalist Tony Schwartz, became a bestseller and contributed to his image as a deal-oriented businessman.
The Apprentice and Television Fame
Before becoming president, Trump was already a nationally recognized television personality. In January 2004, he became the star and an executive producer of NBC’s The Apprentice, a reality competition series in which contestants competed for opportunities connected to Trump’s business world.
The program introduced Trump’s business persona to a much larger television audience. Its first season drew more than 20 million weekly viewers, according to Biography.com, and Trump’s on-screen dismissal phrase became closely associated with the program. He later appeared in The Celebrity Apprentice as well.
Television helped establish a level of name recognition that was unusual for a future presidential candidate. By the time Trump entered the 2016 Republican primary, many Americans knew him not only as a businessman but also as a familiar media personality.
Donald Trump’s Political Rise in 2016
Trump announced his presidential campaign on June 16, 2015. He entered a large Republican primary field and ultimately became the party’s nominee in 2016. His campaign emphasized issues including immigration, trade, national borders and a broader “America First” approach to government and foreign policy.
In the November 8, 2016 election, Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College, receiving 304 electoral votes to Clinton’s 227. Clinton received more votes nationwide, while Trump won the Electoral College required to become president.
Trump took office on January 20, 2017, becoming the 45th president. He was the first person elected president who had never previously held public office or military leadership, according to the Miller Center.
Major Features of His First Presidency
Trump’s first administration covered issues ranging from tax policy and immigration to trade, energy, national security and the federal judiciary. One significant legislative achievement was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. His administration also replaced NAFTA with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, commonly known as USMCA.
Another long-term feature of the first term was the appointment of federal judges. The Trump White House highlighted the confirmation of numerous federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, while the Miller Center documents the broader effect of those appointments on the federal judiciary.
His administration also created the United States Space Force in 2019. Foreign policy during the first term included a major focus on relations with China, North Korea, NATO allies, Middle Eastern governments and trade partners.
Impeachments and Major Legal Disputes
Donald Trump was impeached twice by the U.S. House of Representatives during his first presidential term. The first impeachment occurred on December 18, 2019, on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquitted him on February 5, 2020.
The House impeached Trump again on January 13, 2021, on the charge of incitement of insurrection following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Senate again acquitted him, voting on February 13, 2021. The Library of Congress identifies Trump as the only U.S. federal official to have been impeached twice.
Trump also faced criminal proceedings after leaving office. In May 2024, a New York jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records connected to a payment made during the 2016 presidential campaign. On January 10, 2025, Judge Juan Merchan imposed an unconditional discharge, meaning there was no jail sentence, fine or probation, while the conviction itself remained in place at that time.
The 2020 Election and Return to Politics
Trump sought reelection in 2020 but lost to Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The National Archives records Biden with 306 electoral votes and Trump with 232.
The period following the 2020 election became one of the most consequential parts of Trump’s political career. Trump challenged the election results and continued to dispute the outcome, while the certification process culminated in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. His second impeachment followed shortly afterward.
After leaving the White House in January 2021, Trump remained a central figure in Republican politics. He continued holding rallies, influencing party debates and preparing for another presidential campaign.
The 2024 Presidential Election
Trump returned as the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, with JD Vance as his running mate. The general election was held on November 5, 2024, against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
The National Archives records Trump’s Electoral College victory at 312 votes to Harris’s 226. The Miller Center also records Trump winning the national popular vote in 2024, making his return to office different from his 2016 victory.
The 2024 result made Trump only the second person in U.S. history, after Grover Cleveland, to win presidential elections in two non-consecutive terms. He was inaugurated again on January 20, 2025, as the 47th president.
Donald Trump in His Second Term
As of October 3, 2026, Trump is serving his second presidential term. The current White House identifies border security, economic growth, national security, government reform and artificial intelligence leadership among its major priorities. These descriptions are the administration’s stated objectives rather than an independent assessment of their results.
Immigration enforcement has been a prominent part of the administration’s second-term agenda. On January 20, 2025, Trump issued executive actions addressing border enforcement and immigration, while other orders sought to reverse or modify policies adopted during Joe Biden’s presidency.
Artificial intelligence has also become an increasingly visible policy area. The White House has issued second-term actions related to AI innovation and national-security applications. On October 3, 2026, Reuters reported that Trump announced a voluntary AI safety agreement involving several major technology companies.
Because his second term is still underway, assessments of its long-term political and historical significance remain subject to change.
Donald Trump’s Age, Family and Personal Life
Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946, which makes him 80 years old as of October 3, 2026. The Miller Center lists his full name as Donald John Trump and records his education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Trump has been married three times. His first wife was Ivana Trump, followed by Marla Maples, and he is currently married to Melania Trump, whom he married in 2005. He has five children: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump. The White House currently lists 11 grandchildren.
Trump also maintains substantial business interests. Forbes estimated his net worth at approximately $7 billion in September 2026, while noting that the figure can change as the value of real estate, investments and other assets changes. Forbes identified real estate as his main source of wealth and also noted his interests in golf properties and other businesses.
What Makes Donald Trump’s Career Unusual?
Trump’s public career combines several areas that rarely appear together in the biography of a U.S. president. He built a business identity before entering politics, became a recognizable television figure, entered national politics without prior government experience, won the presidency, lost reelection, and then returned to office after a four-year break.
His political history also includes two impeachments, two Senate acquittals, multiple major legal disputes and a criminal conviction before the beginning of his second presidential term. At the same time, his electoral victories in both 2016 and 2024 established him as one of the most consequential Republican figures of the modern era. These are documented aspects of his career, while interpretations of his broader political impact vary across historians, political analysts and the public.
Frequently Asked Questions About Donald Trump
How old is Donald Trump?
Donald Trump was born June 14, 1946. He is 80 years old as of October 3, 2026.
Is Donald Trump currently president?
Yes. As of October 3, 2026, Trump is serving his second term as president of the United States. He is the 47th president and previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
How many times has Donald Trump been president?
Trump has been elected president twice. He served his first term from 2017 to 2021 and began his second term on January 20, 2025. His two terms are non-consecutive.
Who is Donald Trump’s wife?
Donald Trump’s current wife is Melania Trump. They married in 2005 and have one child together, Barron Trump.
How many children does Donald Trump have?
Donald Trump has five children: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump.
What did Donald Trump do before becoming president?
Before entering politics, Trump worked in real estate development and branding, later becoming involved in hotels, casinos, golf properties, entertainment and television. He became especially well known nationally through The Apprentice.
What were Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2024 election results?
In 2016, Trump won 304 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton’s 227. In 2024, he won 312 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’s 226.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s life has moved from New York real estate and television to the center of American national politics. His career includes business expansion, media fame, two presidential victories, a failed 2020 reelection campaign, two impeachments and a return to the White House in 2025. As of October 2026, he remains president while his administration continues to pursue policies involving immigration, the economy, national security, government reform and technology.
Understanding Trump’s career requires looking at both his business and media background and the documented events of his political life. His long-term impact is still being debated, particularly as his second presidency continues, so current descriptions should be separated from later historical judgments.
