Today In History logo TIH
Donald Trump

Historical Figure

Donald Trump

b. 1977

President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)

Late 20th Century

Talk to Donald Trump

Have a conversation with this historical figure through AI

Biography

Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.

Read more on Wikipedia

In Their Own Words (5)

Timeline

The story of Donald Trump, told in moments.

1971 Life

Takes control of his father's real estate company at 25 and renames it the Trump Organization. He shifts the focus from outer-borough apartments to Manhattan skyscrapers. Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue opens in 1983. His name, in gold letters, becomes his primary product.

1990 Life

His casino empire collapses. The Taj Mahal in Atlantic City filed for bankruptcy the year it opened. He owes banks roughly $3.4 billion personally and corporately. Banks keep him alive because a bankrupt Trump is worth less than a famous one. He loses the Plaza Hotel, the Trump Shuttle airline, and his yacht.

2004 Life

The Apprentice premieres on NBC. The show, in which contestants compete for a job at the Trump Organization, makes him a household name beyond New York. "You're fired" becomes a catchphrase. The show runs for 14 seasons. By the time it ends, he has spent more time on television than in boardrooms.

2015 Event

Announces his presidential campaign by descending a golden escalator in Trump Tower. Polls give him a 1% chance. Political commentators treat it as a publicity stunt. Sixteen Republican rivals will drop out over the next year.

2016 Event

Elected 45th President of the United States, defeating Hillary Clinton. He loses the popular vote by nearly 3 million but wins the Electoral College 304 to 227. He is 70 years old, the oldest person elected to a first term. He has never held public office or served in the military.

2019 Event

Impeached by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to a phone call with the president of Ukraine. The Senate acquits him. He is impeached again in 2021. Two impeachments, zero convictions. No other president has been impeached twice.

2021 Event

Supporters storm the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the 2020 election results. Lawmakers evacuate. Five people die. Trump is impeached a second time, for incitement of insurrection, making him the only president in American history to be impeached twice. The Senate acquits him both times.

2024 Life

Found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a New York courtroom. He is the first current or former U.S. president convicted of a crime.

2024 Life

Elected 47th President of the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. He becomes the second president in American history to serve non-consecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland in 1892.

More from the Late 20th Century

Explore what happened on the days that shaped Donald Trump's life. Today In History connects historical figures with the events, births, and deaths that defined their era. Browse all historical figures or explore today's events.