Biography
Born on June 14, 1946 in New York, NY, Donald Trump represented the third generation of businessmen in his family. His grandfather, Friedrich Drumpf, emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1885 and started his career by running the Arctic Restaurant and Hotel in British Columbia during the Yukon Gold Rush of 1896-97. His father, Frederick Trump, was a successful real estate developer and builder of affordable housing. Young Donald assisted his father with various business ventures, and in the process, learned how to recognize the art of a good deal. After graduating from New York Military Academy in 1964, Trump studied finance at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon returning to New York, Trump eased his way through the upper crust. He became one of the premier real estate tycoons in the early 1980s by amassing properties in New York City, including Trump Tower and Trump Plaza. He also delved into the casino business. Throughout the 1980s, the mogul also saw the downside of fame firsthand, watching his name continually splashed across tabloids due to his relationships with Ivana Zelnícková and Marla Maples. Not one to miss the hottest trend, Trump jumped on board the reality television bandwagon, starring in and producing the NBC series "The Apprentice" (2004-2015), a surprise hit that forever etched Trump's infamous catchphrase, "You're fired!" into the cultural lexicon. Though he waged public feuds with celebrities like Rosie O'Donnell and former beauty queens like Carrie Prejean, there was no denying that Trump was a massive force in both business and entertainment for decades. In 2015, Trump acted on a long-term flirtation with American politics when he announced himself as a Republican candidate for president in the 2016 election. In July 2016, he officially became the nominee of the Republican party. After a contentious campaign, Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017. His presidency ended after one term in office after losing to former Democratic vice president Joe Biden. Trump announced his campaign for the 2024 U.S. presidential election in 2022. In July of 2024, Former President Trump selected Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his GOP running mate. Trump was inaugurated for his second term January 20, 2025.
