Donald Trump

Born into affluence on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City’s most expansive borough, Donald John Trump is of American nationality with German roots. He was not the inaugural offspring of Fred and Mary; the household comprised five progeny altogether. During his early years, Donald’s boisterous nature necessitated his attendance at a military academy for stricter discipline.

Confronted with the choice of higher education, Trump initially contemplated a career in the dramatic arts but swiftly discerned the lucrative potential in property development, prompting his admission to Fordham University. Dissatisfied with the regional academic offerings, he transferred after two years to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, securing an economics degree in 1968. Joining his father’s enterprise, the nascent magnate felt an immediate affinity for the business, embarking on a path that would define his professional ascent.

The inaugural transaction netted the aspiring property baron $6 million, fueling his confidence and future ambitions. Among Trump’s early significant endeavors were the Grand Hyatt hotel construction and the iconic Trump Tower, a 58-story edifice featuring an 80-foot cascade. He later initiated the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino development.

Despite stumbling into fiscal turmoil in the early 1990s, Trump embarked on the Trump World Tower construction, a 262-meter edifice across from the UN headquarters in Manhattan. Financial woes resurfaced in the mid-2000s, culminating in a bankruptcy declaration and his resignation from the board. By 2009, however, the tycoon had realized the completion of a towering hotel in Chicago, ranking as the third loftiest in the nation and the tenth worldwide.

Throughout the decades, Trump has consistently authored publications, dispensing his commercial acumen and delving into political discourse. Notable titles include “The Art of the Deal,” “How to Get Rich,” and “Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life.” Collaborative efforts also feature in Trump’s repertoire, such as the joint venture with Robert Kiyosaki on the bestseller “Why We Want You to Be Rich,” a guide to wealthy living. As his political interests burgeoned, Trump’s written material expanded to encompass prevailing domestic concerns, with releases like “The America We Deserve.”

Trump’s foray into acting yielded cameos in several cinematic pieces, with a standout role in the Christmas film “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” In this feature, protagonist Kevin McCallister, portrayed by Macaulay Culkin, resides at the “Plaza,” then under Trump’s proprietorship, prompting a memorable cameo. Trump’s screen appearances continued to diversify with participation in additional cinematic ventures.

Beyond his ventures in commerce, authorship, and cinematic appearances, this magnate was a familiar face on television. From 2004 until 2015, he helmed the hit series “The Apprentice” as both executive producer and host, where aspirants vied for a managerial role within one of his enterprises. His television presence extended to guest spots on shows like “Larry King Live,” where he shared unfiltered views on political adversaries, the conflict in Iraq, and various current affairs. Some of his commentary sparked widespread reaction, notably his dissent to the popular opinion of Angelina Jolie as the epitome of global beauty.

Since 1988, Trump was touted as a prospective presidential contender in successive elections, yet he refrained from formally declaring his bid. It wasn’t until 1999 that he voiced an intention to seek the presidency as a Reform Party candidate, only to retract shortly thereafter.

In 2015, the wealthy American declared his presidential aspirations, uniquely funding his campaign independently, thus not advocating for any sponsors’ agendas. He made audacious assertions about his potential to be the foremost leader for America, promising prosperity for its citizens. His campaign also highlighted a potential rapport with Russia, proposing that he could foster positive relations with its leader, Vladimir Putin.

His campaign trail was marked by a series of polarizing pronouncements, yet he consistently presented himself as a staunch nationalist. His patriotic rhetoric and affirmations of American resolve were frequently echoed.

Domestically, he proposed stringent immigration regulations and opposed the prevailing policies, including President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul and advocated for the repatriation of manufacturing operations to American soil.

His political manifesto was encapsulated in his 2015 publication “Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again.” The electorate’s faith in his vision was evident when he secured the presidency on November 8, 2016, with a substantial electoral margin.

The U.S. Congress ratified the electoral outcome on January 6, 2017, and Trump embarked on his presidential duties on January 20. Entering office, he was acknowledged as the most affluent leader in the nation’s history, with a net worth of $4.1 billion.

In a controversial move in September 2019, he suspended all military aid to Ukraine, rationalizing that European nations were under-contributing compared to the U.S. and citing concerns over endemic corruption in Ukraine. During a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he referenced Hunter Biden, son of then-presidential hopeful Joe Biden, alluding to potential financial improprieties linked to Petro Poroshenko’s regime.

The discourse reached the halls of Congress, where legislators construed his remarks as compromising national security and electoral integrity. The House Speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, advocated for impeachment proceedings, a motion previously introduced by John Lewis. Trump countered by offering to disclose the complete transcript of the call with Zelensky. While many leading news outlets dismissed the impeachment calls as political maneuvering, given Trump’s re-election bid in 2020, the early part of that year revealed that the Senate had dismissed the charges, effectively nullifying the impeachment efforts.

The United States held its presidential election on November 3, 2020, with the Democratic contender Joe Biden as the primary challenger to Trump. On November 7, prior to the formal declaration of the electoral outcome, it emerged that Donald Trump did not secure reelection, obtaining 214 electoral votes against Biden’s minimum of 290, clinched by a decisive win in the pivotal state of Pennsylvania.

Trump initiated legal challenges to the vote counts in various states. The electoral outcome also ignited demonstrations and unrest nationwide. On January 6, 2021, just before Congress was to ratify Biden’s triumph, a faction of Trump’s advocates besieged the Capitol, penetrating the edifice. This upheaval resulted in five fatalities, including that of a law enforcement officer. Subsequently, authorities quelled the disturbance, and Biden’s electoral success was ratified.

The turmoil and protests led to Trump’s exclusion from several social media platforms, notably Instagram (prohibited in Russia and owned by the Meta corporation, labeled as extremist in Russia) and Twitter. This ban extended to many of his proponents, with the platforms’ administrations condemning any incitement to violence.

Shortly thereafter, the House of Representatives moved to impeach Trump, charging him with incitement of insurrection, marking him as the only U.S. president to face impeachment twice.

On February 21, 2021, Donald Trump launched Truth Social, a social media platform, as a response to his bans from mainstream networks. Positioned as a bastion for free speech, Truth Social aims to provide a space where discourse can flow without the constraints that Trump contends limited his voice on other platforms.

Into 2022, Trump maintained his commercial pursuits and political presence. In June, reports surfaced of a pending criminal indictment against him related to the Capitol breach in January 2021, which resulted in fatalities. Detractors of the 45th U.S. president broadcasted that they possessed ample evidence of his complicity in the incident.

By autumn, Trump broadcasted his plans to vie for the presidency again in 2024.

Trump’s private life has been as colorful as his professional path. The statuesque entrepreneur (standing at 191 cm) has consistently been drawn to women with model-esque stature. His initial nuptials were in 1977 with Czechoslovakian model Ivana Zelníčková, with whom he fathered Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr.

Despite this, the marriage dissolved in 1992 amidst Trump’s liaison with actress Marla Maples. The pair wed in 1992, and welcomed their daughter, Tiffany, the following year. Yet, this union too unraveled, culminating in a divorce after six years.

In July 2022, Trump mourned the passing of Ivana Trump, who died at 73 due to a tragic mishap involving a staircase.

That autumn, Tiffany celebrated her marriage to magnate Michael Boulos, with the festivities hosted at her father’s Palm Beach estate.

In 2005, Trump entered matrimony with model Melania Knauss, despite a 24-year age gap. He consistently praises his third spouse as his lifelong paramount affection. For their wedding, he gifted Melania a lavish 13-carat diamond ring valued at $1.5 million, a prepayment from Graff jewelers. The following year, they were blessed with a son, Barron William Trump, expanding the billionaire’s brood to five.

Amidst his campaign, Trump’s private life was marred by scandal when risqué photographs of Melania, captured for Max magazine in 1998, surfaced. Trump addressed the images with equanimity, noting they were from before their acquaintance.

Trump, having declared his intention to compete in the 2024 electoral race, has been vocal in his critique of Biden’s administration. In a significant 2023 interview, he chastised the incumbent for the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Donald asserted that under his presidency, such a conflict would have been averted, as he believed Vladimir Putin “would not have dared to confront him.”

These remarks are just a fraction of the numerous instances where the ex-president has censured the current governance. He pinpointed the botched military exit from Afghanistan as Biden’s most egregious blunder, one that undermined America’s stature on the world stage.

Amidst making headline-grabbing declarations, Trump found himself at the center of a brewing scandal. Allegations of fraudulent conduct were leveled against him, with investigations delving into over 30 incidents. Donald dismissed these allegations as a politically motivated witch hunt, linked to his electoral ambitions. During a court session on April 4, he maintained his innocence, refusing to admit any wrongdoing.

In May 2023, a legal proceeding concluded with a jury finding Trump culpable of sexual misconduct against Jean Carroll. She claimed that in 1996, Donald assaulted her in a department store dressing area, and when she later accused him, he repudiated the occurrence of the assault. The jury mandated a restitution of $5 million to Jean.