Served as President: 2017-2021 Vice President: Mike Pence Party: Republican Age at inauguration: 70
Born: June 14, 1946 in
New York City Married: Ivana Zelnickova, Marla Maples, Melania Knauss (First Lady and current wife) Children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, Barron Nickname: The Donald
What is Donald Trump most famous for?
Donald John Trump first became famous for being a businessman and real estate developer in New York City. He later grew to fame as the star of the reality TV show "The Apprentice." In 2016, he shocked the world when he was elected as President of the United States.
Where did Donald Trump grow up?
Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946 in the neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens in New York City. Young Donald grew up in a middle class home with his four siblings and his parents, Fred and Mary Trump.
Donald Trump
Source: New York Military Academy yearbook
Education
As a child, Donald was full of energy and often got into trouble at school. At the age of thirteen, his parents sent him to the New York Military Academy hoping he would learn about discipline and hard work at the school. Their plan worked. Donald developed into a student leader and star athlete while attending the academy.
After graduating from high school, Donald attended Fordham University and then transferred to the Wharton School of Finance (at the University of Pennsylvania) where he graduated in 1968.
Early Career
By the time Donald graduated from college, Fred Trump, Donald's father, had become a successful real estate developer. Donald went to work for his dad in Brooklyn, New York for the next five years. During this time, he learned a lot about the real estate business and how to work deals from his father.
Real Estate Developer
One of Donald Trump's dreams was to develop major buildings like skyscrapers and hotels in downtown New York City (Manhattan). His first major project began in 1976 when he purchased the run-down Commodore Hotel near Grand Central Terminal. He renovated the hotel and turned it into the Grand Hyatt Hotel. It was a great success!
Over the next several years, Donald Trump would build and renovate skyscrapers throughout Manhattan and across the United States. Some of his signature buildings include the Trump Tower, the Trump World Tower, and the Trump International.
The Apprentice
In 2003, Donald Trump became the host of a business reality TV show called The Apprentice. In the show, several contestants competed for a job in Trump's organization. Trump became known for using the catchphrase "You're fired!" when eliminating a contestant. The show was a huge success. He later worked on a similar show called The Celebrity Apprentice which had famous people as the contestants.
Source: whitehouse.gov
Running for President
On June 16, 2015 Trump announced that he would be running for president of the United States. He ran on issues such as securing the borders, lowering the national debt, and providing jobs for middle-class Americans. His campaign slogan was "Make American Great Again." He presented himself as the anti-establishment candidate who wasn't a politician and who personally funded most of his own campaign.
After winning the Republican nomination, Trump went up against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the general election. The election was hard fought and bitter, with both sides becoming embroiled in scandals. In the end, Trump won the election and was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2017.
Trump International Hotel Washington D.C.
Photo by Ducksters
Interesting Facts about Donald Trump
Donald Trump does not drink alcohol. He made this decision when his brother, Fred Jr., died from alcoholism.
Trump has co-written several books including The Art of the Deal, Think Like a Champion, and The Art of the Comeback.
Despite his success, several of Trump's businesses have had to declare bankruptcy in order to reorganize and pay off debt.
He is the first president without prior experience in the government or the military.
He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.
While he won the presidency as a republican, he was a registered democrat between 2001 and 2009.
At the time of his inauguration, Donald Trump had eight grandchildren.
