Who is 2024 Republican nominee Donald Trump?

Who is Donald Trump? Few figures in recent history have dominated the spotlight quite like him.

Known for his role as a real estate mogul, reality TV star, the 45th President of the US, and now the Republican nominee running for the 2024 presidential elections, Trump’s life and career have been marked by bold ventures, towering successes, and high-profile controversies.

- Background -

Born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, he was the fourth of five children of Frederick Fred Christ Trump, a prominent real estate developer, and Mary Anne MacLeod, an immigrant from Scotland. Trump’s family wealth and connections would eventually serve as a foundation for his own ventures, which expanded beyond real estate into various high-profile industries.

Trump attended New York Military Academy during his teenage years, then enrolled at Fordham University before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, where he completed a degree in economics. After graduating in 1968, he joined his father’s company, which managed numerous rental properties in Brooklyn and Queens.

Trump took over the business in 1974, renaming it the Trump Organization, and began focusing on upscale real estate ventures, largely in Manhattan. Over the next two decades, he transformed his family’s business into a sprawling empire that included high-rise luxury developments, casinos in Atlantic City, and significant brand expansion, often using his name as a symbol of opulence and success.

Trump’s business career has been a mix of substantial achievements and high-profile setbacks. His portfolio includes landmark projects like Trump Tower in Manhattan and the renovation of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, which showcased his ambitious vision and knack for strategic deals. However, his ventures in Atlantic City casinos faced financial struggles, resulting in multiple bankruptcies for his companies in the 1990s and 2000s.

Despite these setbacks, Trump continued to grow his brand, branching into licensing agreements, product lines, and entertainment, including his role on The Apprentice, a popular reality television show where he became famous for his catchphrase, “You’re fired.” This show bolstered his reputation as a shrewd businessman and self-made mogul, though critics often pointed to the support he received from his family’s wealth and network.

- Venturing into politics - 

Trump’s political career began in earnest in the 2010s, culminating in his 2016 campaign for the presidency. Running on a platform of nationalist and populist rhetoric, he promised to “Make America Great Again” by cracking down on immigration, renegotiating trade deals, and upending the political status quo. His campaign drew enormous attention for its unconventional approach, controversial statements, and enthusiastic rallies. Despite doubts from political analysts, he won the 2016 presidential election against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

As president, Trump pursued numerous policies that aligned with his campaign promises, notably attempting to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), imposing restrictions on immigration from several Muslim-majority countries, and initiating a trade war with China.

His administration’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy, which led to the separation of children from parents at the US-Mexico border, drew significant controversy and sparked nationwide protests.

Trump also enacted tax cuts, rolled back numerous environmental regulations, and reformed elements of the criminal justice system. His foreign policy took a transactional approach, aiming to reassert U.S. strength and renegotiate deals to favor American interests, as seen in his efforts to renegotiate NAFTA as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Trump’s presidency was marked by intense media scrutiny and frequent clashes with political opponents. His relationship with the press was often antagonistic, and he used Twitter prolifically as a direct channel to his supporters and to criticize opponents.

His term ended amid the COVID-19 pandemic, economic turbulence, and heightened political division.

After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the election results, alleging widespread voter fraud, and was impeached for a second time in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot, where his supporters stormed Congress as it certified Biden’s victory.