Born in 1946 and grew up in the New York City borough of Queens, Donald John Trump earned an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and followed his grandmother Elizabeth and father Fred in running the family real estate company. He renamed it The Trump Organization, and ran it from 1971 until his 2017 inauguration.
Trump’s real estate career focused on building or renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. He has also started multiple side ventures, branded and licensed his name for real estate and various products, and co-authored several books.
Trump had expressed interest in politics as early as 1987. He entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican and defeated sixteen opponents in the primaries. Commentators described his political positions as populist, protectionist, and nationalist. His campaign received extensive free media coverage; many of his public statements were controversial or false.
Trump won the general election on November 8, 2016 against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. He became the oldest and wealthiest person ever to assume the presidency, the first without prior military or government service, and the fifth to have won the election despite getting less of the popular vote. His election and policies have sparked numerous protests.
Before entering politics, take a look at these images to see the life of the 45th and current President of the United States Donald Trump when he was a businessman and television personality.
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| Donald Trump and Ivana at Studio 54, NYC, 1982 |
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| New Jersey Generals owner and real estate businessman Donald Trump posing during photo shoot in his office at Trump Tower, January 12th, 1984 |
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| Donald and Ivana Trump (right), Nov 1985 |
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| Donald Trump in Atlantic City, July 1985 |
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| Donald Trump poses with New York City's Parks Commissioner, Henry Stern, holding a pair of ice skates that are intended for use at the Wollman Rink in Central Park on August 7th, 1986 |
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| Joe DiMaggio, Victor Borge, Anita Bryant, Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, and Donald Trump (left-right) pose for a photograph after receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York City, October 27th, 1986 |
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| Donald and Ivana Trump attend the Miss America Pageant, in Atlantic City, NJ, Sept 19th, 1987 |
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| Donald Trump autographs copies of his book, 'The Art of the Deal', Atlantic City, Dec 5th, 1987 |
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| Donald Trump receives Ultimate Achiever Award at the AC Magazine Restaurant Gala, NJ, March 19th, 1987 |
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| Donald Trump speaks during Press of Atlantic City editorial board meeting in Pleasantville, NJ, July 23th, 1987 |
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| Donald Trump with mayor James Usry (left) and Stephen Hyde, President of the Plaza (right) watch the topping-off ceremony for the Trump Plaza Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, March 20th, 1987 |
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| Donald Trump, real estate mogul, entrepreneur, and billionare spends most of his day attending board meetings in which he manages the construction of his buildings in his offices, New York City, Aug 1987 |
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| Donald Trump, right, pictured with his father, Fred Trump, far left, and boxing promoter Don King at a press conference in Atlantic City, NJ, December 1987 |
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| Donald Trump with Whitney Houston (left), Cissy Houston, and Michael Houston in Atlantic City, NJ, Dec 16th, 1988 |
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| Trump and Gene Epstein, during a settlement between tenants of Farley Marina and NJ in Atlantic City, Aug 21st, 1988 |
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| Donald Trump and his wife, Ivana, pose outside the Federal Courthouse after she was sworn in as a United States citizen, May 1988 |
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| Donald Trump at Offshore Grand Prix, Atlantic City, NJ, Sept 24th, 1988 |
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| Donald Trump joins his wife, Ivana, when she left her job as president of Trump Castle, Atlantic City, May 18, 1988 |
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| Donald Trump speaks during the NJ Bar Association convention in Atlantic City, May 13th, 1988 |
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| Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson with his wife, actress Robin Givens and Donald Trump leave the New York State Supreme Court building, July 22nd, 1988 |
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| Mike Tyson puts an arm around his wife Robin Givens as her mother, Ruth Roper, left, looks on accompanied by real estate tycoon Donald Trump at a press conference in New York, July 12th, 1988 |
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| Real estate magnate Donald Trump poses in front of one of three Sikorsky helicopters at New York Port Authority's West 30 Street Heliport on March 22th, 1988 |
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| Donald Trump in Atlantic City, NJ, 1989 |
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| Donald Trump sits in with contestants at the Miss America competition in Atlantic City, Sept 1989 |
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| Donald Trump with NJ Governor Tom Kean on the Trump Princess, Atlantic City, July 17th, 1989 |
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| Ivana, Donald Trump, and Merv Griffin at Miss America Pageant, Sept 1989 |
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| Donald Trump (center left) at Boardwalk rally, NJ, June 16th, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump and his brother, Robert, during a hearing at the Casino Control Commission concerning the Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, March 30th, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump and Michael Jackson in a private jet on their way to visit to young HIV patient Ryan White, April 1st,1990 |
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| Donald Trump at Boardwalk rally, NJ, June 16th, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump at Casino Control Commission meeting, Atlantic City, NJ, Aug 21st, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump during a hearing at the Casino Control Commission concerning the Taj Mahal Casino license, Atlantic City, March 30th, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump speaks during a hearing on State involvement in Atlantic City, April 29th, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump speaks in Atlantic City, Aug 21st, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump with Ivana in Atlantic City, Feb 16th, 1990 |
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| Donald Trump (center) with Marla Maples (left) and Leonard Horn on Sept 15th, 1991 |
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| Donald Trump and Marla Maples at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City for Evander Holyfield vs George Foreman Fight, April 19th, 1991 |
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| Donald Trump speaks about the upcoming boxing match between Evander Holyfield (left) and George Foreman (right) at the Taj Mahal Imperial Ballroom, NJ, April 16th, 1991 |
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| George Foreman, Donald Trump and Evander Holyfield pose during a press conference to promote their upcoming fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey on April 19th,1991 |
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| Marla Maples and Donald Trump attend a fight where James Tillis is knocked out by Tommy Morrison at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, Sept 15th, 1991 |
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| Marla Maples and Donald Trump attend the fight between Evander Holyfield and George Foreman at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, April 19th, 1991 |
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| Donald Trump at a Casino Control Commission meeting, Atlantic City, NJ, 1992 |
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| Donald Trump attends a Casino Control Commission hearing on the financial stability of the Taj Mahal resort, Atlantic City, April 6th, 1992 |
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| Donald Trump attends a Casino Control Commission hearing on the financial stability of the Taj Mahal resort, Atlantic City, April 6th, 1992 |
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| Donald Trump speaks during a Greater Atlantic City Hotel-Motel Association meeting at the Taj Mahal resort, Atlantic City, May 28th, 1992 |
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| Donald Trump, tees off at the Stephen Hyde Scholarship Boy Scout Golf Classic at the Seaview Country Club, April 21st, 1992 |
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| Donald Trump during an interview with host Jay Leno on November 19th, 1997 |