Donald John Trump, the 47th and current President of the United States, stands as one of the most polarizing figures in modern American history. Born into wealth and propelled by a blend of business acumen, media savvy, and unyielding self-promotion, Trump’s life has been a whirlwind of triumphs, bankruptcies, scandals, and political reinvention. As of October 31, 2025, in his second non-consecutive term, Trump continues to reshape the nation’s landscape, drawing fierce loyalty from supporters and vehement opposition from critics. This biography traces his journey from a Queens upbringing to the Oval Office, highlighting key milestones, controversies, and enduring legacy.
Early Life and Education
Donald Trump entered the world on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in the Queens borough of New York City, the fourth of five children born to Fred Trump, a shrewd real estate developer, and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, a Scottish immigrant and homemaker. The family resided in the affluent Jamaica Estates neighborhood, in a sprawling 23-room mansion that symbolized the Trumps’ ascent from modest immigrant roots to middle-class prosperity. Fred Trump’s business, focused on constructing and managing affordable housing in Brooklyn and Queens, laid the foundation for his son’s future empire. From a young age, Trump was immersed in this world; by age three, his father funneled him $6,000 annually—the maximum allowable without triggering gift taxes—making him a pint-sized landlord who collected rent on family properties.
Trump’s childhood was marked by privilege but also discipline. Described as energetic and occasionally troublesome, he attended the private Kew-Forest School until seventh grade. His parents, concerned about his behavior, enrolled him at the New York Military Academy, a boarding school in upstate New York, where he thrived under its regimented structure. Trump excelled in athletics, captaining the baseball and football teams, and graduated in 1964 with a B average. “Winning was everything,” he later recalled, crediting the academy for instilling a competitive edge.
Higher education followed a circuitous path. Trump spent two years at Fordham University before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1968. Weekends were spent commuting to his father’s office, absorbing lessons in deal-making and negotiation. Notably, Trump received draft deferments during the Vietnam War, citing bone spurs in his heels—a condition that drew scrutiny decades later. Mentors like his father, who dubbed him a “killer,” and the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, whose prosperity gospel emphasized positive thinking, profoundly shaped his worldview. By graduation, Trump was already a millionaire in today’s dollars, primed for the family business.
(Word count so far: 348)
Building the Business Empire
In 1968, Trump joined Trump Management, his father’s firm overseeing thousands of rental units in New York City’s outer boroughs. But the young Trump chafed at the modest scale, eyeing Manhattan’s glittering skyline. By 1971, at age 25, he had relocated the headquarters to the city and rebranded it the Trump Organization, signaling ambitions far beyond middle-class apartments. His early breakthrough came in the late 1970s: partnering with Hyatt to transform the dilapidated Commodore Hotel into the Grand Hyatt New York, secured through a controversial $400 million tax abatement—the largest in city history.
The 1980s marked Trump’s gilded age. Trump Tower, a 58-story Beaux-Arts landmark on Fifth Avenue completed in 1983, became his personal penthouse and a symbol of excess, housing retail giants like Gucci and Bonwit Teller. He snapped up the Plaza Hotel in 1988 for $407 million, only for it to file for bankruptcy four years later amid overleveraged debt. Casinos in Atlantic City followed: Trump Plaza (1984), Trump Castle (1985), and the opulent Taj Mahal (1990), financed with $1.1 billion in high-risk junk bonds. These ventures epitomized Trump’s high-stakes style—bold, flashy, and often precarious.
Yet, hubris bred hardship. Between 1991 and 2009, six of Trump’s businesses sought Chapter 11 protection, including his casino empire and the Plaza. He personally defaulted on $3 billion in loans in 1995, averting individual bankruptcy only through creditor negotiations. Side hustles fared little better: the Trump Shuttle airline collapsed in 1992, and his USFL football team sued the NFL, winning a pyrrhic $3 antitrust verdict. Undeterred, Trump pivoted to branding, licensing his name to over 50 global products—from steaks to vodka—and developing 17 golf courses, including the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, purchased in 1985 and later converted to a private club.
Litigation defined his approach; Trump filed or faced over 4,000 lawsuits in three decades, often for unpaid bills, earning a reputation as a ruthless operator. Tax strategies, including a $916 million loss carryforward from 1995, shielded him from federal income taxes for eight years. By 2015, Forbes pegged his net worth at $4.5 billion; as of 2025, it’s estimated at $5.1 billion, buoyed by real estate and Truth Social stock. Trump’s business mantra, echoed in his 1987 bestseller The Art of the Deal, was leverage and bravado—lessons that would translate seamlessly to politics.
(Word count so far: 712)
Rise to Fame in Entertainment
Trump’s charisma transcended boardrooms, catapulting him into pop culture. In the 1980s and 1990s, he cameo’d in films like Home Alone 2 (1992), advising Kevin McCallister on the Plaza’s opulence, and TV shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His radio show Trumped! (2004–2008) and frequent Howard Stern appearances honed a bombastic persona. But it was The Apprentice (2004–2015) that immortalized him. As host of the NBC reality series, Trump’s catchphrase “You’re fired!” fired up audiences, blending faux-corporate drama with his tycoon image. The show earned him $400 million and aired in over 100 countries, though critics lambasted it as scripted fiction.
Beauty pageants added glamour; Trump acquired Miss Universe in 1996, staging events until selling in 2015 amid backlash over his remarks on women. Wrestling ties ran deep—he “battled” Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 23 (2007) in a staged spectacle. These ventures amplified his brand, turning Trump from developer to icon. Post-NBC fallout in 2015, he launched Truth Social in 2022, a platform for unfiltered rants that now boasts millions of users. Follow his latest posts on X or Truth Social for real-time insights into his media empire.
(Word count so far: 852)
Entry into Politics and First Presidency
Politics beckoned early. A registered Republican in 1987, Trump flirted with runs in 1988, 2000, and 2012, decrying trade deals and immigration. His 2015 announcement—”to make America great again”—ignited a populist firestorm. Campaigning as an anti-establishment billionaire, he promised a border wall, Muslim ban, and trade wars, winning the GOP nomination and presidency with 304 electoral votes against Hillary Clinton, despite losing the popular vote.
Inaugurated in 2017, Trump’s first term was chaotic. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act slashed corporate rates, ballooning the deficit by $1.9 trillion. He rolled back 100+ environmental rules, withdrew from the Paris Agreement, and imposed China tariffs sparking a trade war. Immigration crackdowns included family separations affecting 4,400 children and a travel ban upheld by the Supreme Court. Foreign wins: Abraham Accords normalizing Israel-Arab ties; summits with Kim Jong Un. Domestically, COVID-19 response faltered—downplaying the virus, he oversaw 1 million U.S. deaths. Two impeachments followed: Ukraine aid pressure (2019) and January 6 Capitol riot incitement (2021), both ending in Senate acquittals.
High turnover plagued the White House—four chiefs of staff in four years. Trump appointed three conservative Supreme Court justices, paving Roe v. Wade’s 2022 overturn. Approval hovered below 50%, ending at 34% after the 2020 loss to Joe Biden (232–306 electoral votes). Fraud claims, rejected in 86 lawsuits, fueled the “Big Lie.”
(Word count so far: 1,098)
Post-Presidency, Legal Battles, and 2024 Comeback
Exiled to Mar-a-Lago, Trump dominated the GOP, endorsing candidates and pushing voting restrictions. Legal woes mounted: a $25 million Trump University settlement (2016), E. Jean Carroll defamation awards ($88 million total by 2024), and New York fraud liability ($355 million, appealed). In 2024, he was convicted on 34 felonies for falsifying records over Stormy Daniels hush money, receiving an unconditional discharge in January 2025—the first convicted felon elected president.
Undeterred, Trump announced his 2024 bid in 2022. Assassination attempts—in Butler, Pennsylvania (July 2024, grazing his ear) and Florida (September)—burnished his martyr image. He triumphed over Kamala Harris with 312 electoral votes and 49.8% popular vote, blending nativism and economic nostalgia.
Second Presidency and Personal Life
Sworn in January 20, 2025, at 78—the oldest ever—Trump’s return echoed authoritarian blueprints like Project 2025. Over 90 executive orders in month one targeted DEI programs, mass layoffs (30,000+ feds), and agency dismantlings via Elon Musk’s DOGE. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (July 2025) extended tax cuts, slashing Medicaid for 11.8 million. Immigration raids invoked the Alien Enemies Act; pardons freed January 6 rioters. Foreign policy brokered a Gaza ceasefire (October 9, 2025) but alienated NATO allies with tariffs. Controversies rage: White House East Wing demolition (October 20, 2025) for a ballroom, ignored court rulings, and crypto ventures benefiting kin. Approval sits at 45%, polarized along partisan lines.
Personally, Trump’s three marriages—Ivana (1977–1990, sons Donald Jr., Eric; daughter Ivanka), Marla Maples (1993–1999, daughter Tiffany), and Melania (2005–, son Barron)—yielded a sprawling family active in his orbit. A teetotaler who golfs obsessively and sleeps little, he claims Presbyterian roots but faces skepticism on faith. Ties to Jeffrey Epstein linger unresolved.
Trump’s legacy? A disruptor who weaponized media and grievance, eroding norms while energizing a base. As he posts defiantly on X, his story—raw ambition amid chaos—remains unfinished, a testament to American reinvention.