Donald Trump (b.1946)

He was preceded in his first term as President by Barack Obama and defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Choosing Mike Pense as his Vice-President, he served one term in office for the Republicans before losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden. In 2024, with J.D. Vance as his Vice-President, he defeated Kamala Harris to become the current incumbent of the White House as the 47th U.S. President.

He was born in Queens, New York, and attended both Fordham University and the Wharton (Business) School at the University of Pennsylvania. His academic records have not been publicly released. He was exempted from the draft during the Vietnam War due to a claim of bone spurs in his heels, receiving five deferments, and in 1968 he joined his father's considerable real estate empire that built and managed rental housing in the outer boroughs of New York City. In 1971, his father gave him control of the company which he renamed the "Trump Organization" and shifted the focus from middle/working-class housing to luxury Manhattan real estate. His first major deal came in 1980, renovating what became known as the Grand Hyatt Hotel near Grand Central Station and in 1983 he built Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue along with several casinos in Atlantic City, etc. But, despite public appearances, by 1990 he was in serious financial trouble and by 1995 he was reporting an annual loss of $916-million. He had defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, and his lenders seized the Plaza Hotel along with most of his other properties in a 'vast and humiliating restructuring,' although it saved him from personal bankruptcy.

After 1995, he undertook a strategic rebranding that transformed him from a distressed real estate developer into "Trump," a global celebrity, readily available for any PR opportunity. His big break came when he got the lead role in the reality TV show "The Apprentice" (2004-2015) which saw him become a household name, reinforcing his new image as a successful, no-nonsense businessman using the catchphrase, "You're Fired!"

Although having never held any political office, he had been mulling with the idea of running for president since as early as 1988. After 2011, he started to promote the Birther Movement conspiracy theory against Barack Obama. This coincided with a growing anti-establishment sentiment among Republican voters which helped to create an appetite for outsider candidates. Trump's acute understanding of how to generate media attention and controversy now placed him for a serious run for the White House. Underestimated by serious politicians, he led an aggressive campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton fuelling division, conspiracies, and unrest to surprise everyone by winning the 2016 election.

His first presidential term (2017-2021) was marked by significant policy changes and unprecedented controversy. Major achievements included tax cuts, deregulation, criminal justice reform, and the Abraham Accords (2020) that established diplomatic normalization between Israel and several Arab states. His "America First" approach reshaped trade policy and immigration enforcement, part of a highly polarizing presidency that featured constant battles with the media, two impeachment proceedings, and divisive rhetoric. The term ended dramatically with his refusal to accept the 2020 election results, leading to the January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack. His unconventional leadership style and use of social media fundamentally changed presidential communication norms and deepened political divisions nationwide. But once again, against the odds, he won the 2024 election. But once again, his second term looks to be no less controversial and chaotic than his first, already complicated by the Epstein files, the nature of his friendship with Epstein, and - since read by his Attorney General - his u-turn on the repeated hints he made to release the files.

He bought Mar-a-Lago in Florida as a summer residence for his family before it was re-organized into a club in 1995 to satisfy his creditors. Maintaining an apartment there, since 2019 this has been his permanent residence. He has been married three times: (1) In 1977, he married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková by whom he has three children, Don Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. They divorced in 1992. (2) In 1993, he married actress Marla Maples, and they have one daughter together, Tiffany. They divorced in 1999. (3) In 2005, he married Slovenian model Melanija Knavs, and they have one son, Barron Trump. The unofficial coat-of-arms adopted by the president is an all-but identical copy of the Davies family's official coat-of-arms that he found emblazoned throughout Mar-a-Lago by a former resident. The president erased the Davies' motto "Integrity" and replaced it with "Trump."