Donald Trump
Donald John Trump: A Summary
Donald John Trump, born on June 14, 1946, is an American figure prominent in politics, media, and business. Affiliated with the Republican Party, he holds the distinction of being the 47th president of the United States. His prior presidential term as the 45th president spanned from 2017 to 2021.
Donald John Trump, born into affluence in New York City, pursued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania, culminating in a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1968. In 1971, he assumed leadership of his family’s real estate enterprise, rebranding it as the Trump Organization. Under his guidance, the company expanded its portfolio to include skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump also engaged in various subsidiary ventures, often leveraging the Trump brand through licensing agreements. Despite his business successes, his companies filed for bankruptcy on six occasions between the 1990s and 2000s. His profile rose significantly from 2004 to 2015 during his tenure as the host of the reality television program The Apprentice, which solidified his image as a successful billionaire. Positioning himself as an unconventional political figure, Trump secured victory in the 2016 presidential election, defeating Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s nominee.
Donald Trump’s First Presidential Term: A Summary of Policies and Actions
Donald Trump’s presidency, from 2017 to 2021, was marked by a series of significant policy changes and actions across both domestic and foreign affairs. Early in his term, he implemented a travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries, a move that sparked widespread controversy and legal challenges. His administration also prioritized the expansion of the border wall between Mexico and the United States and enforced a family separation policy at the border, leading to intense criticism. Domestically, Trump oversaw the rollback of numerous environmental and business regulations, arguing they hindered economic growth. A signature legislative achievement was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which significantly altered the federal tax code. He also appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, shifting the court’s ideological balance. In the realm of foreign policy, Trump withdrew the United States from several international agreements, including the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and the Iran nuclear deal. He also initiated a trade war with China, imposing tariffs on various goods. The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in 2020, presented a major challenge. Trump’s response included downplaying the severity of the virus, contradicting public health officials, and signing the CARES Act, a massive economic relief package. Following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, Trump contested the results and attempted to overturn them, culminating in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He faced impeachment twice, once in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine, and again in 2021 for inciting insurrection. He was acquitted by the Senate in both instances.
Donald Trump faced a series of significant legal challenges in the 2020s. In 2023, he was found liable in civil cases involving sexual abuse, defamation, and business fraud. The following year, in 2024, he was convicted of falsifying business records, a landmark event that made him the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. Despite these legal setbacks, Trump won the 2024 presidential election against Kamala Harris. Subsequently, he received a penalty-free discharge for the conviction. Furthermore, two felony indictments against him, related to the retention of classified documents and obstruction of the 2020 election, were dismissed without prejudice. As of the current time, a racketeering case in Georgia, connected to the 2020 election, remains pending.
Donald Trump’s second term in office commenced with substantial policy shifts and immediate executive actions. A significant reduction in the federal workforce was initiated through mass layoffs, coupled with targeted measures against transgender rights and what the administration labeled “gender ideology.” Economically, the president enacted widespread tariffs, reaching levels not seen since the Great Depression, and signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The administration’s operational tactics faced considerable scrutiny, as evidenced by over 300 lawsuits challenging their legality. Specific concerns included the intimidation of political adversaries and civil society organizations, the large-scale deportation of immigrants, and the frequent utilization of executive orders to bypass traditional legislative processes. Several high-profile legal cases highlighted the administration’s expansive interpretation of the unitary executive theory, resulting in notable clashes with the federal judiciary. Numerous judicial rulings found the administration’s actions to be unlawful, with several deemed unconstitutional, underscoring the legal and constitutional challenges faced during this period.
Since 2015, Donald Trump’s emergence as a political figure has profoundly altered the landscape of the Republican Party, with his leadership style and political agenda, frequently labeled “Trumpism,” significantly reshaping the party’s identity and direction. A substantial portion of Trump’s public discourse and actions have been widely criticized and characterized as exhibiting elements of racism and misogyny, contributing to a divisive social and political climate. Furthermore, his tenure has been marked by a consistent pattern of disseminating false or misleading statements, coupled with the promotion of conspiracy theories, reaching a level largely unseen in the history of American presidential leadership. Observers have particularly noted Trump’s actions during his second term as exhibiting authoritarian tendencies, which they argue have contributed to a decline in democratic norms and principles within the United States. Reflecting upon his time in office, numerous scholars and historians have assessed Trump’s presidency unfavorably, ranking him among the least effective and consequential presidents in the nation’s history, based on a variety of factors, including his policy decisions, leadership qualities, and impact on American society and its institutions.
The Early Life and Education of Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City, is the son of Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. As the fourth of five children, he has German and Scottish ancestry. Trump’s upbringing took place in a sizable 23-room mansion located in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood of Queens, where he lived alongside his older siblings Maryanne, Fred Jr., and Elizabeth, as well as his younger brother, Robert. His father, Fred Trump, provided each of his children with an annual income of approximately $20,000, which equates to around $265,000 in 2024 when adjusted for inflation. This financial support contributed to Trump’s status as a millionaire by the age of eight, considering inflation-adjusted dollars.
Donald Trump’s early education began at the private Kew-Forest School, where he attended through the seventh grade. Characterized as a challenging child, he also displayed an initial inclination towards his father’s real estate and business ventures. In an effort to provide a more structured environment, his father subsequently enrolled him in the New York Military Academy, a private boarding school, for his secondary education. This academy placed a strong emphasis on athletic participation, encouraging students to engage in sports, and instilled a competitive spirit, emphasizing the importance of achieving victory. During his time in high school, Trump’s academic performance saw improvement, with his grades averaging around a B.
Collegiate and Early Career Choices
Donald Trump initially contemplated a career in show business but ultimately decided to remain closer to home, leading him to enroll at Fordham University in 1964. During his freshman year, he participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, attending classes in military attire each Wednesday. However, he discontinued his involvement in the program during his second year. His athletic pursuits at Fordham included a brief stint with the football team, which he abandoned after approximately a month, and he described himself as an average squash and tennis player. It was through his Fordham friends that he was introduced to the game of golf. In his junior year, Trump transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, frequently commuting to his father’s office during weekends. He graduated in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. Despite his later claims, his academic performance in college was not exceptional, and he did not appear on any list of students receiving honors at Wharton. By the time he entered Wharton, Trump was already considering a career in real estate. During the Vietnam War, he received a draft exemption due to a medical claim of bone spurs in his heels. Despite having spent five years in military school, Trump expressed no desire to serve in the military during wartime.
Influences and Mentorship in Early Life
Throughout his formative years, he looked up to his father and Norman Vincent Peale, the family’s pastor, as significant mentors. His father consistently instilled in him a sense of self-importance, emphasizing his inherent worth by declaring him “a king” and simultaneously urging him to adopt a fiercely competitive mindset, telling him to be “a killer.” Complementing this paternal influence, Peale, as a pastor, promoted self-confidence as a fundamental driver for achieving prosperity and success in life. This combination of influences shaped his early worldview, emphasizing both a strong sense of personal value and the importance of assertive action in the pursuit of his goals.
Donald Trump’s Early Career and Business Practices
Donald Trump’s career began in 1968 at Trump Management, his father Fred’s real estate company, which focused on managing middle-class apartment complexes in Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. For approximately five years, Trump’s primary responsibilities included rent collection and property maintenance. However, drawn to the perceived glamour and potential riches of Manhattan, Trump urged his father to expand their business to the borough, where real estate prices were significantly higher. While his father remained content with the outer boroughs, Trump moved to Manhattan in 1971 with the intention of shifting the company’s focus. That same year, Fred Trump appointed himself chairman and Donald Trump president, entrusting him with the oversight of 48 private corporations and 15 family partnerships. Subsequently, Trump began consolidating his father’s business ventures under the umbrella of the Trump Organization.
A pivotal figure in Trump’s early career was Roy Cohn, who served as his fixer, lawyer, and mentor for 13 years, beginning in the 1970s. Cohn instilled in Trump the belief that life is fundamentally transactional. In 1973, Cohn assisted Trump in a $100 million countersuit against the U.S. government, which had accused Trump’s properties of discriminatory practices against Black applicants and tenants. While Trump’s counterclaims were ultimately dismissed, the government’s case concluded with the Trumps signing a consent decree to desegregate their properties. Nevertheless, the Trumps faced further legal challenges in 1977 when they were found in contempt of the decree. Cohn also facilitated connections for Trump, including introducing him to political consultant Roger Stone in 1979, who was enlisted to navigate interactions with the federal government.
As Trump’s career progressed in the mid-1970s, he acquired a real estate broker’s license and moved into a penthouse. Even before turning 30, he demonstrated a penchant for litigation, often engaging in lawsuits regardless of the potential outcome or cost. By 2018, Trump had been involved in over 4,000 lawsuits, liens, and other legal filings, frequently initiated against him for nonpayment by employees, contractors, real estate brokers, and even his own attorneys. Furthermore, between 1991 and 2009, six of Trump’s businesses, including the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan and his Atlantic City casinos, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
In 1992, Trump, along with his siblings Maryanne, Elizabeth, and Robert, and his cousin John W. Walter, established All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp, with each holding a 20 percent share. This company, lacking physical offices, has been alleged to be a shell corporation used to inflate the costs of services and supplies for Trump’s rental units. The scheme involved marking up vendor bills by 20–50 percent or more and then billing those costs to Trump Management. The owners then shared the profits generated by these markups. The inflated costs were used to get state approval for increasing the rents of his rent-stabilized units. Later, in January 1994, the siblings created Apartment Management Associates, which took over the management fees previously collected by Trump Management. Beyond increasing rents, these arrangements facilitated the transfer of assets from Fred Trump to his children and nephew while simultaneously reducing their tax burden.
Trump’s Real Estate Ventures
Donald Trump’s foray into Manhattan real estate began in 1978 with the renovation of the Commodore Hotel, situated near Grand Central Terminal. This project, his family’s first major venture in the area, was made possible by a $400 million city property tax abatement secured by his father. Additionally, his father, along with Hyatt, guaranteed a $70 million bank construction loan. The hotel was subsequently reopened in 1980 as the Grand Hyatt Hotel. That same year, Trump obtained the rights to develop Trump Tower, a mixed-use skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan. This building became the headquarters of the Trump Corporation and Trump’s PAC, also serving as his primary residence until 2019.
In 1988, Trump expanded his portfolio with the acquisition of the Plaza Hotel, financed through a loan from a consortium of 16 banks. However, the hotel faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992. A reorganization plan was approved a month later, which resulted in the banks taking control of the property. By 1995, Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, leading to the seizure of the Plaza Hotel and most of his other properties by lenders in a restructuring deal that allowed him to avoid personal bankruptcy. Despite these setbacks, Trump acquired and renovated the 71-story skyscraper at 40 Wall Street in 1996, later rebranded as the Trump Building. In the early 1990s, he also secured the right to develop a 70-acre tract in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. However, facing debt from other ventures, he sold most of his interest in the project to Asian investors in 1994, who then financed the completion of Riverside South. Trump’s last major construction project was the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, which opened in 2008. Later, in 2024, The New York Times and ProPublica reported that the Internal Revenue Service was investigating whether he had twice written off losses incurred through construction cost overruns and lagging sales of residential units in the building.
Trump’s Atlantic City Casino Ventures
In 1984, Donald Trump ventured into the Atlantic City casino market with the opening of Harrah’s at Trump Plaza, a hotel and casino project financed and managed in collaboration with the Holiday Corporation. However, the venture proved unprofitable, leading Trump to buy out Holiday’s stake for $70 million in May 1986, thereby assuming sole control. A year later, in 1985, Trump acquired the yet-to-be-opened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel, which he subsequently rebranded as Trump Castle. Both Trump Plaza and Trump Castle eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1992, marking the beginning of a tumultuous period for Trump’s casino holdings.
Undeterred, Trump expanded his Atlantic City portfolio with the 1988 acquisition of a third venue, the Trump Taj Mahal. This ambitious project was financed through $675 million in junk bonds and ultimately cost $1.1 billion to complete, with its grand opening taking place in April 1990. However, the Taj Mahal also faced financial difficulties, leading to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing in 1991. As part of the restructuring agreement, Trump relinquished half of his initial stake in the property and provided personal guarantees for its future performance. To alleviate his personal debt burden, which amounted to $900 million, Trump divested assets such as the Trump Shuttle airline and his megayacht, the Trump Princess, which had been leased to his casinos.
In 1995, Trump established Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza. THCR further expanded its holdings with the acquisition of the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle in 1996. Despite these efforts, THCR ultimately faced financial collapse, filing for bankruptcy in both 2004 and 2009. As a result, Trump’s ownership stake in the company was reduced to 10 percent. He remained chairman of the board until 2009, marking the end of his direct involvement in the struggling casino empire.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago and Golf Course Investments
In 1985, Donald Trump expanded his real estate portfolio with the acquisition of the Mar-a-Lago estate, situated in Palm Beach, Florida. A decade later, in 1995, he transformed the opulent estate into a private club, establishing a revenue stream through initiation fees and annual membership dues. Despite the conversion, Trump retained a section of the mansion for his personal use as a private residence.
Later, in 2019, Trump officially declared Mar-a-Lago as his primary residence. Beyond real estate and clubs, Trump ventured into the golf industry in 1999, initiating a period of significant investment in golf courses. By 2016, his portfolio had grown to include ownership of 17 golf courses, marking a substantial presence in the golf and leisure sector.
Trump Organization’s Licensing Ventures
The Trump Organization frequently engaged in licensing agreements, allowing third-party companies to use the “Trump” name for a variety of consumer products and services. These ventures spanned diverse sectors, including foodstuffs, apparel, educational programs, and home furnishings.
The organization entered into more than 50 licensing or management deals centered around the Trump name. These arrangements proved financially lucrative, generating at least $59 million for Trump’s various companies. However, the prevalence of these licensing deals diminished over time. By 2018, only a small fraction of consumer goods companies, specifically just two, maintained licensing agreements to use his name.
In addition to consumer goods, the Trump Organization also extended its licensing activities to residential property developments across the globe during the 2000s. While numerous deals were struck, a significant number of these projects, approximately 40 in total, were ultimately never realized or constructed.
Donald Trump’s Side Ventures
Donald Trump engaged in diverse business ventures spanning various industries. In 1970, he invested $70,000 of his father’s funds in a Broadway comedy, unfortunately resulting in a loss. His foray into sports involved unsuccessful bids for the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians before acquiring the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL) for approximately $6 million in 1983. The USFL’s demise in 1985 was partly attributed to Trump’s strategy to compete with the NFL and his antitrust suit. He also ventured into entertainment, hosting boxing matches at the Atlantic City Convention Hall and sponsoring the Tour de Trump cycling race in 1989 and 1990, an attempt to emulate European cycling events.
Between 1986 and 1988, Trump accumulated substantial shares in public companies, hinting at potential takeovers, which he then sold for profit, a practice that drew comparisons to greenmail. While initially successful, The New York Times reported that these gains diminished as investors grew skeptical of his takeover intentions. In 1988, he acquired the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, financed by $380 million in loans, and rebranded it as Trump Shuttle. However, he defaulted on the loans in 1991, leading to the banks taking ownership. In 1996, Trump purchased the Miss Universe Organization, which included Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. After disagreements with CBS, he moved the pageants to NBC in 2002. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 for his role as producer of Miss Universe. However, NBC and Univision severed ties with the pageants in 2015 following controversial comments he made about Mexican immigrants.
In 2005, Trump co-founded Trump University, offering real estate seminars priced up to $35,000. Following concerns raised by New York State authorities regarding the use of “university” in its name, the company was renamed the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative in 2010. In 2013, New York State filed a $40 million civil suit against Trump University, alleging false statements and consumer fraud. Additional class-action lawsuits were filed in federal court. Evidence, including internal documents and former employee testimonies, suggested deceptive practices and misrepresentation to students. In 2016, after winning the presidential election, Trump agreed to a $25 million settlement to resolve the lawsuits.
The Donald J. Trump Foundation: Formation, Activities, and Dissolution
The Donald J. Trump Foundation was established in 1988 as a private foundation. Between 1987 and 2006, Donald Trump contributed $5.4 million to the foundation, which was fully spent by the end of that period. After contributing $65,000 in 2007–2008, Trump ceased making personal donations to the charity. Subsequently, the foundation received millions of dollars from other donors, including a significant $5 million contribution from Vince McMahon.
The foundation’s charitable activities included donations to health- and sports-related charities, conservative groups, and organizations that held events at Trump-owned properties. However, in 2016, The Washington Post reported potential legal and ethical violations, such as self-dealing and tax evasion. The New York attorney general also stated that the foundation had violated state law by soliciting donations without undergoing the mandatory annual external audits, leading to an order to cease fundraising activities in New York.
In December 2016, Trump’s team announced the foundation’s dissolution. By June 2018, the New York attorney general’s office filed a civil suit against the foundation, Trump, and his adult children, seeking $2.8 million in restitution and additional penalties. The foundation officially ceased operations in December 2018 and disbursed its remaining assets to other charities. In November 2019, a New York state judge ordered Trump to pay $2 million to a group of charities for misusing the foundation’s funds, partly to benefit his presidential campaign.
Legal and Financial History of Donald Trump
According to a 2018 review of state and federal court files by USA Today, Donald Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal actions at the state and federal levels. Although he never filed for personal bankruptcy, several of his hotel and casino enterprises in Atlantic City and New York sought Chapter 11 protection six times between 1991 and 2009; these entities continued operating while creditors restructured debt and reduced his ownership stakes. During the 1980s, more than 70 banks extended approximately $4 billion in loans to Trump, but following the corporate bankruptcies of the early 1990s, most major lenders—aside from Deutsche Bank—refused further financing. After the January 6 Capitol attack, Deutsche Bank announced it would no longer do business with him or his affiliated companies.
Donald Trump’s Financial Background and Net Worth
Donald Trump has made claims regarding his initial capital and net worth throughout his career. He stated that he started his business ventures with “a small loan of a million dollars” from his father, which he supposedly repaid with interest. However, investigations have revealed that he borrowed significantly more, at least $60 million, from his father, and largely did not repay these loans. Furthermore, he received an additional $413 million (in 2018 equivalent, adjusted for inflation) from his father’s company.
Trump’s self-reported net worth has varied considerably over the years, ranging from a negative $900 million in 1990 to $10 billion in 2015. In 1984, Trump also impersonated a Trump Organization official named “John Barron” in a call to journalist Jonathan Greenberg, in an attempt to inflate his ranking on the Forbes 400 list of wealthy Americans. Forbes estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion in 2015, based on interviews with over 80 sources. By 2025, the magazine estimated his net worth at $5.1 billion, ranking him as the 700th wealthiest person in the world.
Donald Trump’s Media Presence
Donald Trump has a significant history in media and entertainment, extending beyond his political career. He has published 19 books under his name, most of which were written or co-written by ghostwriters. His first book, The Art of the Deal (1987), achieved New York Times Best Seller status and, according to The New Yorker, played a crucial role in establishing Trump’s image as a successful business figure. Tony Schwartz is credited as a co-author of this book.
Trump also made numerous appearances in films and television shows between 1985 and 2001. Furthermore, his political style has been linked to professional wrestling, particularly its emphasis on staged conflicts and provocative language. He was involved with the WWE from the late 1980s, including an appearance at Wrestlemania 23 in 2007. Starting in the 1990s, Trump was a frequent guest on the Howard Stern Show, making 24 appearances. He also hosted his own short-form talk radio program, Trumped!, from 2004 to 2008, and served as a guest commentator on Fox & Friends from 2011 to 2015. In 2021, Trump resigned from SAG-AFTRA, where he had been a member since 1989, to avoid a disciplinary hearing related to the January 6 attack. Subsequently, the union permanently barred him from membership.
The Apprentice and the Remaking of Donald Trump
Mark Burnett’s creation of The Apprentice television show in 2004 proved pivotal in transforming Donald Trump into a household name. Hosting the show, including its Celebrity Apprentice variant, from 2004 to 2015, Trump embodied the role of a super-rich CEO, famous for dismissing contestants with the iconic phrase “you’re fired.”
This portrayal, as noted by The New York Times, presented “a highly flattering, highly fictionalized version” of Trump. The show effectively reshaped Trump’s public image for a vast national audience. Beyond the show itself, related licensing agreements generated over $400 million in revenue for Trump.
Political Affiliations and Early Political Activities
Donald Trump’s political affiliations have shifted several times throughout his career. He initially registered as a Republican in 1987. Later, in 1999, he became a member of the Independence Party, which is the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party. In 2001, he switched his affiliation to the Democratic Party. He then returned to the Republican Party in 2009, followed by a period of being unaffiliated in 2011. Finally, he re-registered as a Republican in 2012.
Before his presidential campaigns, Trump engaged in various political activities. In 1987, he published full-page advertisements in major newspapers, outlining his perspectives on foreign policy and strategies for reducing the federal budget deficit. In 1988, he expressed interest in becoming George H.W. Bush’s running mate, a request that Bush reportedly found unusual. Trump also briefly participated in the 2000 Reform Party presidential primaries before withdrawing from the race in February 2000. In 2011, he contemplated challenging Barack Obama in the 2012 election, making appearances at the Conservative Political Action Conference and delivering speeches in key primary states. However, he ultimately announced in May 2011 that he would not be running for president.
Announcement and Campaign Themes
Donald Trump officially announced his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election in June 2015. His campaign was characterized by his image as a wealthy and accomplished businessman, positioning himself as an outsider to the established political system. He frequently alleged bias against him in the media. Trump’s campaign statements were often ambiguous, and a significant number of them were later found to be factually incorrect. By March 2016, he had become the leading candidate for the Republican nomination, and in May, he was declared the presumptive Republican nominee.
Policy Positions and Controversies
Trump’s campaign platform included a range of policy positions. He criticized NATO as “obsolete” and advocated for what The Washington Post described as noninterventionist and protectionist policies. He emphasized the need to renegotiate trade relations with China and existing free trade agreements like NAFTA, as well as stricter enforcement of immigration laws. Other key positions included pursuing energy independence while opposing climate change regulations, improving services for veterans, repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, abolishing Common Core education standards, investing in infrastructure, simplifying the tax code while reducing taxes, and imposing tariffs on companies that move jobs overseas. He also advocated for increased military spending and stricter vetting or a ban on immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. A central promise of his campaign was the construction of a wall on the Mexico–U.S. border, with the assertion that Mexico would pay for it. He pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and criticized birthright citizenship. His campaign also faced criticism for what was described as “explicitly racist and sexist appeals to win over white voters,” particularly his remarks about Mexican immigrants during his campaign launch speech, which led to NBC firing him from Celebrity Apprentice.
Financial Disclosures and Tax Returns
Trump’s financial reports filed with the FEC disclosed assets exceeding $1.4 billion and outstanding debts of at least $315 million. Breaking with decades of tradition, he refused to release his tax returns, despite previous promises to do so. He cited ongoing audits as the reason, claiming his lawyers advised against it. After a protracted legal battle, including two appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, his tax records were eventually released to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation in February 2021. In October 2016, portions of his 1995 state filings were leaked, revealing a declared loss of $916 million, which could have allowed him to avoid taxes for up to 18 years.
Election Results and Aftermath
Ultimately, Trump won the 2016 election with 304 electoral votes compared to Hillary Clinton’s 227. He became the fifth person in U.S. history to win the presidency despite losing the popular vote, receiving nearly 2.9 million fewer votes than Clinton, with 46.3% to her 48.25%. He was also unique as the only president who had not served in the military or held any prior government office. His election resulted in a Republican-controlled government and sparked widespread protests across major U.S. cities.
Inauguration and Early Actions
Donald Trump assumed the presidency on January 20, 2017. The following day, widespread protests known as the Women’s Marches took place globally, with an estimated 2.6 million participants, including approximately 500,000 in Washington, D.C., demonstrating against his presidency. During his initial week in office, Trump signed six executive orders addressing key policy areas. These included initiating processes for repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often referred to as “Obamacare”), withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, expediting the development of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline projects, and commencing planning for the construction of a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Business Interests and Emoluments
Before his inauguration, Trump placed his business holdings into a revocable trust, a move that differed from establishing a blind trust or an equivalent arrangement designed to completely separate him from his business interests. Despite this arrangement, he continued to benefit financially from his businesses and was aware of how his administration’s policies impacted them. Despite his pledge to avoid “new foreign deals,” the Trump Organization actively pursued operational expansions in various international locations, including Scotland, Dubai, and the Dominican Republic. Lobbyists, representatives of foreign governments, and Trump’s donors and allies contributed significant revenue, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, to his resorts and hotels. These financial dealings led to lawsuits alleging violations of the Domestic and Foreign Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, marking the first substantive litigation involving these clauses. While one case was dismissed in a lower court, two others were dismissed by the Supreme Court as moot following the conclusion of his term.
Salary and Foreign Patronage Donations
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump committed to donating his presidential salary and profits derived from foreign patronage to the U.S. government. He fulfilled this pledge by donating his salary to various federal agencies and publicly announcing each donation until July 2020. However, a survey conducted by The Washington Post in July 2021 revealed that federal agencies reported not receiving any further donations after that month. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington reported in 2024 that he had donated $448,000 of an estimated $13.6 million in payments from foreign governments in his first term.
Economic Policies and Outcomes
Donald Trump assumed the presidency amidst the longest economic expansion in American history, a period that had commenced in 2009. A significant legislative achievement was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced tax rates for both businesses and individuals and eliminated penalties related to the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. Contrary to the administration’s projections, government revenue decreased following the act’s implementation. During Trump’s tenure, the federal budget deficit saw a substantial increase, reaching nearly $1 trillion by 2019. By the end of his presidency, the national debt had risen by 39 percent, amounting to $27.75 trillion, and the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reached a post-World War II high. Furthermore, Trump did not fulfill his campaign promise of a $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan.
Environmental and Energy Policies
Trump is unique among modern U.S. presidents for leaving office with a smaller workforce than when he entered. His administration also demonstrated a clear divergence from the scientific consensus on climate change. The budget for renewable energy research was reduced, and Obama-era policies aimed at curbing climate change were reversed. The United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement under his leadership, becoming the only nation not to ratify the accord. Trump’s administration aimed to increase the production and export of fossil fuels. While natural gas production expanded, coal production continued to decline. Over 100 federal environmental regulations were rolled back, impacting greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and the use of toxic substances. Protections for animals and environmental standards for federal infrastructure projects were weakened, and permitted areas for drilling and resource extraction were expanded, including allowing drilling in the Arctic Refuge.
Deregulation and Healthcare
The Trump administration pursued a policy of dismantling federal regulations across various sectors, including health, labor, and the environment. This included revoking an Obama-era regulation restricting firearm sales to severely mentally ill individuals. During his initial weeks in office, numerous federal regulations were delayed, suspended, or reversed, often following requests from the regulated industries. A significant portion of these proposals faced legal challenges, with many being blocked by courts or failing to prevail over litigation. Despite a campaign promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Trump’s administration instead scaled back the Act’s implementation through executive orders. Efforts were made to undermine the Act, including halving the enrollment period and reducing funding for enrollment promotion. The administration also joined a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the Act, a move that could have resulted in the loss of health insurance coverage for millions of Americans. While pledging to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs during his campaign, Trump later expressed a willingness to consider cuts to these programs.
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Social Issues
In response to the opioid epidemic, President Trump signed legislation in 2018 aimed at increasing funding for drug treatment programs. However, he faced considerable criticism for not developing a comprehensive and concrete strategy to combat the crisis effectively.
On social issues, Trump barred organizations that provide abortions or abortion referrals from receiving federal funding. While stating his support for “traditional marriage,” he acknowledged the nationwide legality of same-sex marriage as “settled law.” Despite this, his administration rolled back key components of the Obama administration’s workplace protections against discrimination targeting LGBTQ individuals.
An attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients in August 2020 was halted by a federal judge. This decision came after a Supreme Court ruling that extended employees’ civil rights protections to include gender identity and sexual orientation. Regarding gun control, Trump has expressed opposition, although his views on the matter have reportedly shifted over time. His administration adopted an anti-marijuana stance, revoking Obama-era policies that had provided protections for states that had legalized marijuana.
Trump has been a long-time advocate of capital punishment. His administration oversaw the execution of 13 federal prisoners, a number exceeding the total executions carried out in the previous 56 years combined, effectively ending a 17-year moratorium on federal executions. Furthermore, in 2016, he voiced his support for the use of interrogation techniques considered to be “a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.”
Controversial Statements and Actions
Donald Trump’s presidency was marked by numerous controversial statements and actions that sparked widespread criticism and debate. His response to the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, drew significant condemnation. Following the rally, which included white supremacist demonstrators, Trump stated that there was “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides” and that there were “very fine people on both sides.” This statement was widely interpreted as creating a moral equivalence between the white supremacists and those protesting against them, leading to accusations of downplaying the significance of white supremacist ideology.
In January 2018, during a discussion about immigration legislation, Trump reportedly used derogatory language to describe El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations, referring to them as “shithole countries.” These remarks were swiftly denounced as racist and further fueled the ongoing debate about his views on immigration and race.
In July 2019, Trump ignited another controversy when he tweeted that four Democratic congresswomen, all of whom were minorities and three of whom were native-born Americans, should “go back” to the countries they “came from.” The House of Representatives formally condemned these remarks as racist in a vote that largely followed party lines. White nationalist publications and social media outlets praised Trump’s statements, and he continued to make similar remarks during his 2020 campaign.
During the George Floyd protests in June 2020, federal law enforcement officials used tear gas and other crowd control tactics to disperse a largely peaceful crowd of protesters in Lafayette Square, near the White House. Subsequently, Trump posed for a photo opportunity holding a Bible at St. John’s Episcopal Church, a move that was condemned by religious leaders who criticized both the treatment of the protesters and the use of the church for a political photo-op. Furthermore, Trump’s proposal to deploy the U.S. military against anti-police-brutality protesters drew criticism from many retired military leaders and defense officials.
Pardons and Commutations
During his presidency, Donald Trump exercised his clemency powers by granting 237 requests for pardons and commutations. This number is relatively low compared to most presidents since 1900, with the exception of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. A notable aspect of Trump’s clemency decisions is that only a small fraction, 25 cases, were reviewed by the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney. Many of the pardons and commutations were granted to individuals with personal or political connections to Trump, his family, or his allies, or based on recommendations from celebrities. On his final full day in office, Trump issued 73 pardons and commuted 70 sentences. Some of Trump’s allies were not eligible for pardons under Justice Department guidelines, and in other instances, the department had expressed opposition to clemency. Furthermore, the pardons of three military service members convicted of or charged with violent crimes faced opposition from military leaders.
Immigration Policies
Immigration was a central focus of the Trump administration, marked by a significant increase in enforcement and the implementation of strict policies. Trump frequently characterized illegal immigration as an “invasion” and took measures to drastically escalate enforcement efforts. His administration introduced harsh policies targeting asylum seekers and deployed approximately 6,000 troops to the U.S.–Mexico border to deter illegal crossings. The number of refugees admitted to the United States was reduced to historically low levels, decreasing from an annual limit of 110,000 before Trump took office to 15,000 in 2021. Additionally, the administration placed greater restrictions on granting permanent residency to immigrants who might require public assistance.
A key campaign promise of Trump was the construction of a wall along the U.S.–Mexico border. During his term, 73 miles (117 km) of new wall were built in areas previously lacking barriers, and 365 miles (587 km) of older barriers were replaced. In 2018, Trump’s insistence on securing funding for the border wall led to the longest federal government shutdown in history, lasting 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019. The shutdown concluded when he agreed to fund the government without wall funding. Subsequently, Congress passed a funding bill in February that allocated $1.4 billion for border fencing to avert another shutdown. Trump then declared a national emergency on the southern border, redirecting $6.1 billion in funding to the border wall, despite congressional opposition.
In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order that restricted entry to the United States for citizens of six Muslim-majority countries for a period of four months, and indefinitely for citizens of Syria. This order sparked widespread protests and legal challenges, resulting in nationwide injunctions. Although a revised order was issued with some exceptions, it was also blocked by the courts. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the ban could be enforced on individuals lacking “a bona fide relationship with a person or entity” in the U.S. In September, Trump replaced the ban with a presidential proclamation that extended travel restrictions to North Koreans, Chadians, and certain Venezuelan officials, while removing Iraq and Sudan from the list. The Supreme Court allowed this version to take effect in December 2017 and ultimately upheld the ban in 2019.
From 2017 to 2018, the Trump administration implemented a policy of family separation at the U.S.–Mexico border, resulting in the separation of over 4,400 children of illegal immigrants from their parents. This unprecedented policy led to public outcry across the country. Initially, Trump blamed Democrats and claimed he could not end the policy through executive action. However, in response to public pressure, he mandated in June 2018 that illegal immigrant families be detained together, unless there was a concern of risk for the child. A judge later ordered the reunification of the separated families and an end to further separations, except in limited circumstances. Despite this order, over 1,000 additional children were separated from their families.
Trump’s Foreign Policy Approach
Donald Trump characterized himself as a “nationalist” and framed his foreign policy under the banner of “America First.” His administration’s approach often leaned towards populism, neo-nationalism, and support for governments considered authoritarian. A defining feature of his foreign policy was its unpredictability, uncertainty, and inconsistency, which often strained international relations.
Key Relationships and Actions
Relations between the United States and its European allies faced considerable strain during Trump’s presidency. He openly criticized NATO allies and even contemplated the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from the organization. Conversely, Trump maintained a supportive stance towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A significant achievement was the brokering of the Abraham Accords in 2020, which led to the normalization of relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Trump initiated a trade war with China in 2018, imposing tariffs and trade barriers aimed at compelling China to cease what he considered unfair trade practices and intellectual property infringement. While he weakened some of the U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia after the 2014 annexation of Crimea, he also opposed certain actions of the Russian government. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing alleged Russian noncompliance, and expressed support for Russia’s potential return to the G7. Addressing the growing threat of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, Trump engaged in unprecedented diplomatic efforts, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on three separate occasions. However, these talks ultimately failed to produce a denuclearization agreement.
High Staff Turnover
During Donald Trump’s presidency, there was a notably high rate of staff turnover. By the end of his first year, 34 percent of his original staff had either resigned, been fired, or been reassigned. By early July 2018, this figure had risen to 61 percent of his senior aides, with 141 staffers departing within the previous year. These numbers set records in comparison to recent presidential administrations. Several close personal aides to Trump either quit or were forced out, and he publicly criticized a number of his former top officials.
Trump’s administration saw considerable change in key leadership positions. He appointed four White House chiefs of staff, and in some cases, these individuals were marginalized or pushed out. In May 2017, he dismissed FBI director James Comey, later stating his concern over Comey’s involvement in the Trump–Russia investigations. Additionally, within Trump’s first year, three of his original 15 cabinet members either left or were compelled to resign. The appointment of second-tier officials in the executive branch was also slow, with Trump expressing the view that many of these positions were unnecessary. As of October 2017, hundreds of sub-cabinet positions remained without a nominee, and by January 8, 2019, out of 706 key positions, 433 had been filled, leaving 264 positions without a nominee.
Judicial Appointments
During his presidency, Donald Trump appointed a significant number of federal judges, totaling 226 individuals. This included 54 appointments to the United States Courts of Appeals, which are the intermediate appellate courts in the federal system. Furthermore, he appointed three justices to the Supreme Court of the United States: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. These appointments marked a notable shift in the Supreme Court’s political alignment, generally considered to be towards the right.
Impact on Roe v. Wade
Throughout his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump made a public commitment that, if elected and allowed to appoint two or three justices who opposed abortion rights, the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade would be overturned “automatically.” In 2022, the Supreme Court, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturned Roe v. Wade. Subsequently, Trump took credit for this outcome, noting that all three of his Supreme Court nominees voted with the majority in the Dobbs case.
Criticism of the Judiciary
Trump frequently voiced his disapproval of courts and judges whose decisions he disagreed with, often resorting to personal attacks. He also questioned the constitutional authority of the judiciary. These attacks on the courts drew criticism from various observers, including sitting federal judges, who expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of his statements on judicial independence and public confidence in the judiciary.
Trump’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Initially, President Trump disregarded public health warnings and appeals for action from health officials within his own administration. Despite this initial stance, the White House Coronavirus Task Force was established on January 29 to address the growing concerns.
On March 27, Trump signed the CARES Act into law. This $2.2 trillion bipartisan economic stimulus bill represented the largest stimulus package in U.S. history, aimed at mitigating the economic fallout from the pandemic. However, in April, following weeks of criticism regarding his administration’s response, Trump suspended funding to the World Health Organization.
In April 2020, Republican-affiliated groups organized protests against state-level lockdown measures implemented to combat the pandemic. Trump voiced his support for these protests on Twitter, even though the states targeted did not meet his administration’s own guidelines for reopening. Furthermore, he consistently exerted pressure on federal health agencies to pursue actions he supported, including the approval of unproven treatments. In October, Trump was hospitalized for three days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to a severe case of COVID-19.
Crossfire Hurricane and the Mueller Investigation
Following Donald Trump’s assumption of office, he faced increasing scrutiny from both the Justice Department and Congress. These investigations encompassed a wide range of areas, including his election campaign, transition, and inauguration, as well as actions taken during his presidency, his private businesses, personal taxes, and charitable foundation. In total, there were ten federal criminal investigations, eight state and local investigations, and twelve congressional investigations into Trump and his associates.
In July 2016, the FBI initiated Crossfire Hurricane, an investigation focused on potential connections between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign. This investigation was followed by a second one, opened in May 2017 after Trump fired Comey, which examined Trump’s personal and business dealings with Russia. Earlier, in January 2017, U.S. intelligence agencies jointly assessed with “high confidence” that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor Trump. Numerous suspicious links were discovered between Trump associates and Russian officials, and Trump himself reportedly told Russian officials that he was unconcerned about Russia’s election interference. Crossfire Hurricane was later integrated into Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation. The Mueller investigation concluded that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election to benefit Trump and that Trump and his campaign welcomed and encouraged these efforts. However, the report stated that the evidence “did not establish” that Trump campaign members conspired or coordinated with Russia. While Trump claimed the report exonerated him, Mueller stated that it did not. The report also detailed potential obstruction of justice by Trump but refrained from drawing definitive conclusions, leaving the decision to Congress.
Financial Investigations and Subpoenas
In April 2019, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas to Deutsche Bank, Capital One, and Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, seeking financial details. Trump responded by suing the banks, Mazars, and committee chair Elijah Cummings to block the disclosures. While initial rulings in May favored compliance with the subpoenas, Trump’s attorneys appealed. Ultimately, in September 2022, a settlement was reached between Trump and the committee regarding Mazars, leading to the firm beginning to turn over documents.
Impeachment of Donald Trump
Donald Trump faced impeachment twice during his presidency by the House of Representatives. However, he was acquitted by the Senate in both instances. The first impeachment stemmed from a whistleblower’s complaint alleging that, in July 2019, Trump exerted pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. This was perceived as an attempt to gain an advantage in the upcoming 2020 presidential election. In December 2019, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The subsequent trial in the Senate resulted in his acquittal in February 2020.
The second impeachment occurred in the aftermath of the January 6th Capitol attack. On January 13, 2021, the House charged Trump with incitement of insurrection related to the events at the Capitol. Trump’s term in office concluded on January 20, 2021, and the Senate trial followed, leading to his acquittal on February 13, 2021. Notably, seven Republican senators voted in favor of conviction during this second impeachment trial.
2020 Presidential Election and Trump’s Campaign and Response
Donald Trump launched his bid for reelection almost immediately after taking office in 2017, holding a reelection rally within weeks and ultimately securing the Republican nomination in August 2020. His campaign emphasized law-and-order themes, warning that Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s victory would lead to increased crime in American cities, while frequently mischaracterizing Biden’s policy positions and employing racially charged rhetoric. Beginning in early 2020, Trump repeatedly cast unsubstantiated doubts on the integrity of the upcoming election, asserting without evidence that widespread mail-in voting would produce massive fraud, and took steps—such as opposing additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service—that critics said were intended to limit mail-ballot access. He also declined to commit to accepting the election outcome or to guaranteeing a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose. In November 2020, Joe Biden won both the popular vote and the Electoral College, receiving approximately 81.3 million votes and 306 electoral votes to Trump’s roughly 74.2 million votes and 232 electoral votes; the Electoral College certified Biden’s victory in mid-December. Trump prematurely declared victory on election night and, after Biden was projected the winner, advanced baseless claims of widespread fraud. Trump and his allies pursued numerous legal challenges and sought assistance from state and federal officials to overturn the result, but courts, state election officials, and the Supreme Court rejected those efforts for lack of evidence or legal merit. Despite pressure and attempts to alter outcomes—ranging from urging state officials to “find” votes to asking the Justice Department and his vice president to intervene—these efforts failed. Trump limited public appearances in the weeks following the election, delayed cooperation with the presidential transition until the General Services Administration designated Biden the “apparent winner,” and ultimately did not attend Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
The January 6 Capitol Attack
In December 2020, concerns arose among U.S. military leaders regarding potential actions by then-President Trump. Reports indicated that high-ranking officers were on high alert and had deliberated on how to respond if Trump were to declare martial law. CIA Director Gina Haspel and Army General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly grew apprehensive about the possibility of Trump attempting a coup or initiating military actions against China or Iran. General Milley asserted that he needed to be consulted on any military orders issued by Trump, including directives concerning the use of nuclear weapons. On January 6, 2021, a pivotal day for the certification of the presidential election results, Trump addressed a rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. He spoke to a crowd of supporters, reiterating claims of a stolen election and urging them to “fight like hell” to “take back our country.” He encouraged them to march to the Capitol building, where Congress was in session. Subsequently, a large mob of Trump’s supporters breached the Capitol, disrupting the certification process and prompting the evacuation of members of Congress. As the attack unfolded, Trump made posts on social media but refrained from calling on the rioters to disperse. Later, at 6 p.m., he posted a tweet instructing them to “go home with love & in peace,” referring to them as “great patriots,” and again asserting his claim of having won the election. Congress eventually reconvened in the early hours of January 7 and certified Biden’s victory. The attack resulted in injuries to over 140 police officers, and five individuals lost their lives during or in the immediate aftermath. The events of that day have been characterized by some as an attempted self-coup orchestrated by Trump.
Donald Trump’s Activities Between Presidencies (2021-2025)
Post-Presidency Life and Political Activities
Upon departing the White House in 2021, Donald Trump took up residence at Mar-a-Lago, establishing a formal office as permitted by the Former Presidents Act. He continued to propagate false claims regarding the 2020 election, which critics often labeled the “big lie,” although Trump and his supporters later began applying the term to the election itself. These unsubstantiated claims were utilized by the Republican Party to justify the implementation of new voting restrictions. Trump also maintained pressure on state legislators in an attempt to overturn the election results. Unlike many of his predecessors, Trump remained a dominant figure within the Republican Party, exerting considerable influence over party governance and endorsing over 200 candidates in the 2022 midterm elections. He amassed a significant fundraising war chest, exceeding that of the Republican Party itself, and profited from Republican candidate fundraisers held at Mar-a-Lago. In February 2021, Trump established Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), aimed at providing social networking services. TMTG later merged with Digital World Acquisition and became a public company in March 2024. In February 2022, TMTG launched the social media platform Truth Social.
Legal Issues and Lawsuits
Donald Trump faced numerous legal challenges during this period. In 2019, journalist E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of rape in the 1990s and subsequently sued him for defamation after his denial. Carroll filed a second lawsuit in 2022, alleging battery and further defamation. Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in court orders to pay $5 million and $83.3 million in damages in the separate cases. Federal appeals courts later upheld these findings and awards. In 2022, New York filed a civil lawsuit accusing Trump of inflating the Trump Organization’s value to secure favorable terms from lenders and banks. He was found liable and initially ordered to pay nearly $355 million plus interest; however, the appeals court upheld his liability and nonmonetary penalties, but voided the monetary penalty as excessive in August 2025.
Mar-a-Lago Documents and Criminal Investigations
Following his departure from office, questions arose regarding Trump’s handling of classified materials. In January 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration retrieved 15 boxes of documents, some classified, that Trump had taken to Mar-a-Lago. Further investigation by the Justice Department led to the retrieval of additional classified documents. On August 8, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, seizing 11 sets of classified documents, some marked top secret. A federal grand jury, under Special Counsel Jack Smith, indicted Trump in June 2023 on multiple counts, including violations of the Espionage Act related to the willful retention of national defense information. Trump pleaded not guilty. However, in July 2024, the presiding judge, Aileen Cannon, dismissed the case, deeming Smith’s appointment as special prosecutor unconstitutional. Additionally, stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his alleged involvement in the January 6 attack, the U.S. House committee recommended criminal charges against Trump in December 2022. In August 2023, a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, indicted him on 13 charges, including racketeering, for his attempts to subvert the 2020 election in the state.
In May 2024, Donald Trump faced legal repercussions, being convicted on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. This conviction arose from the handling of Michael Cohen’s payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, which were documented as business expenses. These payments were alleged to have been made to conceal a purported affair between Trump and Daniels in 2006–2007, during the 2016 election cycle. However, on January 10, 2025, the judge issued an unconditional discharge, a no-penalty sentence, citing concerns that punitive measures would impede presidential immunity. Following his reelection, cases concerning obstruction of the 2020 election and the handling of classified documents were dismissed without prejudice, in accordance with the Justice Department’s policy regarding the prosecution of sitting presidents.
2024 Presidential Campaign Announcement and Fundraising
In November 2022, Donald Trump formally declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, simultaneously establishing a fundraising account to support his campaign efforts. By March 2023, a notable shift in fundraising strategy occurred as the campaign began allocating ten percent of all donations to Trump’s leadership PAC. Financial records indicated that, by March 2024, the campaign had expended a substantial $100 million towards covering Trump’s accumulating legal expenses.
Rhetoric and Controversies During the Campaign
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump’s rhetoric became increasingly strident, marked by statements that were interpreted as violent and authoritarian by many observers. He asserted intentions to utilize federal law enforcement agencies, specifically the FBI and the Justice Department, against his political adversaries and suggested deploying the military against Democratic politicians and individuals who did not express support for his candidacy. His anti-immigration rhetoric intensified, employing more dehumanizing language than during his previous term as president. Describing his political opponents as “the enemy,” vermin, and fascists, Trump’s rhetoric was characterized by some historians and scholars as authoritarian, fascist, and unprecedented in American political discourse. Concerns regarding his age and health were also raised, with medical experts noting an increase in rambling, tangential speech patterns and signs of behavioral disinhibition.
Claims of Election Interference and Rigged Election
Continuing a theme from previous campaigns, Trump frequently and early on in the 2024 campaign asserted claims of a “rigged election” and “election interference.” He also declined to commit to accepting the outcomes of the 2024 election. The New York Times characterized this as an intensification of his “heads I win; tails you cheated” rhetorical strategy, noting that the claim of a rigged election had become a central tenet of his campaign.
Assassination Attempts and Republican Nomination
On July 13, 2024, an assassination attempt occurred at a campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, resulting in Trump being shot in the ear. Following this incident, the Republican National Convention formally nominated Trump as their presidential candidate two days later. In September, another assassination attempt targeted Trump in Florida, but he was unharmed.
Election Victory and Contributing Factors
In November 2024, Donald Trump secured victory in the presidential election, garnering 312 electoral votes against incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris’s 226. He also won the popular vote with 49.8% compared to Harris’ 48.3%. Trump’s victory was considered part of a broader global trend of dissatisfaction with incumbent parties, largely attributed to the inflation surge experienced between 2021 and 2023. Several news outlets described his reelection as a remarkable political comeback.
