History of Donald Trump in Timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman. He served as the 45th U.S. President from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Trump is also known for his real estate development and branding ventures. He is a controversial figure known for his populist rhetoric, policies, and frequent use of social media.
1900: Fewer requests for clemency than all presidents since 1900.
Trump granted 237 requests for clemency, fewer than all presidents since 1900 with the exception of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
June 14, 1946: Donald Trump's Birth
On June 14, 1946, Donald John Trump was born at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City.
1964: Enrolled at Fordham University
In 1964, Donald Trump enrolled at Fordham University.
May 1968: Graduation from Wharton School
In May 1968, Donald Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in economics.
1968: Graduation from the University of Pennsylvania
In 1968, Donald Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in economics.
1968: Employed at Trump Management
In 1968, Donald Trump started working at his father's real estate company, Trump Management.
1970: Coproducer of Broadway Comedy
In 1970, Donald Trump invested $70,000 to receive billing as coproducer of a Broadway comedy.
1971: President of Trump Management
In 1971, Donald Trump became the president of Trump Management.
1971: President of Family's Real Estate Business
In 1971, Donald Trump became the president of his family's real estate business, later renaming it the Trump Organization.
1973: Countersuit Against U.S. Government
In 1973, Donald Trump countersued the U.S. government for $100 million over charges of racial discrimination at his properties.
1980: Grand Hyatt Hotel Reopening and Trump Tower Development
In 1980, the Commodore Hotel reopened as the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and Donald Trump obtained rights to develop Trump Tower.
September 1983: Purchase of New Jersey Generals
In September 1983, Donald Trump purchased the New Jersey Generals, a team in the United States Football League.
1984: Opening of Harrah's at Trump Plaza
In 1984, Trump opened Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a hotel and casino, with the help of the Holiday Corporation.
1985: Acquisition of Mar-a-Lago Estate
In 1985, Donald Trump acquired the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
1985: Purchase of Atlantic City Hilton Hotel
In 1985, Donald Trump bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump Castle.
1985: League Folded
In 1985, after the season ended, the United States Football League folded after Trump's attempt to merge with the NFL.
May 1986: Sole Control of Trump Plaza
In May 1986, Donald Trump paid Holiday Corporation $70 million to take sole control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza.
1986: Purchased significant blocks of shares
From 1986, Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies.
1988: Purchase of Trump Taj Mahal
In 1988, Donald Trump acquired a third Atlantic City venue, the Trump Taj Mahal.
1988: Acquisition of the Plaza Hotel
In 1988, Donald Trump acquired the Plaza Hotel with a loan from a consortium of banks.
1988: Purchase of Eastern Air Lines Shuttle
In 1988, Donald Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle and renamed the airline Trump Shuttle.
1988: Purchased significant blocks of shares
Until 1988, Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies.
1989: Tour de Trump Cycling Stage Race
In 1989, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
April 1990: Opening of Trump Taj Mahal
In April 1990, the Trump Taj Mahal opened, financed with $675 million in junk bonds and completed for $1.1 billion.
1990: Tour de Trump Cycling Stage Race
In 1990, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
1991: Bankruptcy Protection Filing
In 1991, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for his businesses.
1991: Bankruptcy Filing for Trump Taj Mahal
In 1991, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the Trump Taj Mahal.
1992: Formation of All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp.
In 1992, Donald Trump and his siblings formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp., alleged to be a shell company for marking up vendor costs.
1992: End of Trump Shuttle Operation
In 1992, Donald Trump ceased operating the Trump Shuttle after defaulting on his loans.
1992: Bankruptcy Filings for Trump Plaza and Trump Castle
In 1992, both Trump Plaza and Trump Castle casinos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
1992: Plaza Hotel Bankruptcy Filing
In 1992, the Plaza Hotel filed for bankruptcy protection.
1994: Sale of Interest in Riverside South
In 1994, struggling with debt, Donald Trump sold most of his interest in the Riverside South project to Asian investors.
1995: Conversion of Mar-a-Lago into a Private Club
In 1995, Donald Trump converted the Mar-a-Lago estate into a private club.
1995: Default on Bank Loans and Seizure of Properties
In 1995, Donald Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, leading to the seizure of the Plaza Hotel and other properties.
1995: Founding of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
In 1995, Donald Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.
1996: Acquisition of 40 Wall Street
In 1996, Donald Trump acquired and renovated the skyscraper at 40 Wall Street, later rebranded as the Trump Building.
1996: Purchase of Miss Universe Pageants
In 1996, Donald Trump purchased the Miss Universe pageants, including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
1996: THCR Purchase of Taj Mahal and Trump Castle
In 1996, THCR purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle.
1999: Started Building and Buying Golf Courses
In 1999, Donald Trump began building and buying golf courses.
2002: Pageants moved to NBC
In 2002, Donald Trump took the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants to NBC.
2004: Hosting The Apprentice
In 2004, Donald Trump began hosting the reality television show "The Apprentice".
2004: THCR Bankruptcy
In 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts went bankrupt.
2005: Cofounding of Trump University
In 2005, Donald Trump cofounded Trump University, a company that sold real estate seminars.
2007: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2007, Donald Trump received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work as producer of Miss Universe.
2009: Bankruptcy Protection Filing
In 2009, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for his businesses.
2009: THCR Bankruptcy
In 2009, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts went bankrupt. Donald Trump remained chairman until 2009.
2010: Name Change to Trump Entrepreneur Initiative
In 2010, Trump University was renamed the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative after being notified that the name was in violation of state law.
2013: Civil Suit Against Trump University
In 2013, the State of New York filed a $40 million civil suit against Trump University, alleging false statements and consumer fraud.
2014: Weakened U.S. sanctions imposed after Russia's annexation of Crimea
Trump weakened the toughest U.S. sanctions imposed after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
June 2015: NBC and Univision Drop Pageants
In June 2015, NBC and Univision dropped the Miss Universe pageants in reaction to Donald Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants.
2015: End of Hosting The Apprentice
In 2015, Donald Trump stopped hosting the reality television show "The Apprentice".
July 2016: FBI launched Crossfire Hurricane
In July 2016, the FBI initiated Crossfire Hurricane, an investigation into potential connections between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
2016: Owning 17 Golf Courses
By 2016, Donald Trump owned 17 golf courses.
2016: Pledged Roe v. Wade would be overturned
During the 2016 campaign, Trump pledged that Roe v. Wade would be overturned "automatically" if he were elected and given the opportunity to appoint two or three anti-abortion justices to the Supreme Court.
2016: Settlement of Trump University Lawsuits
In 2016, Donald Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits related to Trump University.
2016: Won the 2016 presidential election
In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton.
2016: Rigged Election Claims
In 2016, Trump mentioned 'rigged election' and 'election interference'.
2016: Supported the use of interrogation torture methods
In 2016, Trump voiced his support for using interrogation torture methods, including waterboarding. His stance reflected a tough-on-terror approach during his campaign.
2016: Affair Alleged
In 2016, during the election cycle, Trump allegedly had an affair with Stormy Daniels.
January 2017: Travel ban executive order
In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order temporarily denying entry to citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. This action sparked widespread protests and legal challenges, leading to nationwide injunctions.
January 2017: Intelligence Agencies State Russia Favored Trump
In January 2017, three U.S. intelligence agencies jointly stated with 'high confidence' that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor Trump.
May 2017: FBI Opened Second Investigation After Comey Firing
After Trump fired Comey in May 2017, the FBI commenced a second investigation into Trump's personal and business dealings with Russia.
May 2017: Dismissal of FBI director James Comey
In May 2017, Trump dismissed FBI Director James Comey. Initially, he cited Comey's conduct in the Hillary Clinton email investigation, but later stated concerns about Comey's role in the Trump-Russia investigations.
September 2017: Resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price
In September 2017, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to resign due to excessive use of private charter jets and military aircraft, which sparked public and ethical concerns.
October 2017: Hundreds of sub-cabinet positions without a nominee
In October 2017, there were hundreds of sub-cabinet positions within the Trump administration without a nominee. The slow pace of appointments raised concerns about the functioning of the executive branch.
December 2017: Supreme Court allows travel ban to go into effect
In December 2017, the Supreme Court allowed Trump's revised travel ban to go into effect, pending further legal challenges. This decision marked a partial victory for the administration's efforts to restrict immigration.
2017: 45th President of the United States
In 2017, Donald Trump began his term as the 45th President of the United States.
2017: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
In 2017, Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
2017: Comments on Unite the Right rally
In 2017, Trump's comments on the Unite the Right rally, where he condemned "this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" and stated that there were "very fine people on both sides", drew criticism for seemingly equating white supremacists and counter-protesters.
2017: Gallup Poll: Trump Second to Obama
In 2017, according to Gallup's annual poll, Donald Trump ranked second to Barack Obama as the man Americans admired most.
2017: Trump Files for Reelection
In 2017, only hours after becoming president, Trump filed to run for reelection.
January 2018: Remarks about "shithole countries"
In January 2018, during an immigration legislation discussion, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries." These remarks were widely condemned as racist and sparked international outrage.
June 2018: First meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore
In June 2018, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, in Singapore. This historic meeting aimed to address North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
June 2018: Reversed family separation policy
In June 2018, amidst public outcry, Trump reversed the administration's policy of separating migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. He mandated that families be detained together unless there were concerns about the child's safety.
July 2018: High turnover of senior aides
As of early July 2018, 61 percent of Trump's senior aides had left their positions, and 141 staffers had left in the previous year. These figures set a record for recent presidential administrations.
December 2018: Government shutdown over border wall funding
In December 2018, Trump's refusal to sign a spending bill without border wall funding led to the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, lasting 35 days. The shutdown highlighted the conflict between Trump's campaign promises and congressional opposition.
2018: Decline in Licensing Deals
By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license Donald Trump's name.
2018: Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt resigned
In 2018, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt resigned amid multiple investigations into their conduct.
2018: Gallup Poll: Trump Second to Obama
In 2018, Gallup's annual poll indicated that Donald Trump was second to Barack Obama in the ranking of men Americans admired most.
2018: Signed legislation to increase funding for drug treatments
In 2018, Trump signed legislation aimed at increasing funding for drug treatments in response to the opioid epidemic, but faced criticism for lacking a concrete strategy. The legislation was meant to combat the ongoing drug crisis.
2018: APSA Ranking
In 2018, members of the American Political Science Association (APSA) ranked Donald Trump as the worst president.
January 8, 2019: Key positions unfilled in the executive branch
By January 8, 2019, of 706 key positions in the executive branch, 433 had been filled, and there was no nominee for 264. The large number of unfilled positions hindered the administration's ability to implement its policies effectively.
January 2019: Resignation of Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke
In January 2019, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke resigned amid multiple investigations into his conduct. These investigations raised questions about his ethical and professional behavior.
January 2019: End of government shutdown without border wall funding
In January 2019, the 35-day government shutdown ended after Trump agreed to fund the government without securing funds for the border wall. The resolution marked a temporary setback for his administration's immigration policies.
February 2019: Second meeting with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi
In February 2019, Trump met with Kim Jong Un for a second time in Hanoi. The talks aimed to further negotiations on denuclearization but ultimately did not result in a comprehensive agreement.
March 2019: Mueller Report Finds Russian Interference
In March 2019, Mueller submitted his final report which found that Russia interfered in 2016 to favor Trump, and Trump's campaign welcomed this interference, but there was no established conspiracy.
April 2019: House Oversight Committee Issues Subpoenas
In April 2019, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas seeking financial details from Trump's banks and accounting firm. He sued to prevent the disclosures.
June 2019: Third meeting with Kim Jong Un in Korean Demilitarized Zone
In June 2019, Trump met with Kim Jong Un for a third time in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This impromptu meeting continued diplomatic efforts, but no significant progress was made on denuclearization.
July 2019: Tweeted that Democratic congresswomen should "go back" to the countries they "came from"
In July 2019, Trump tweeted that four Democratic congresswomen, all minorities, should "go back" to the countries they "came from." The House of Representatives later condemned these comments as racist.
October 2019: Talks with North Korea broke down
In October 2019, talks between the U.S. and North Korea broke down, and no denuclearization agreement was reached. This setback highlighted the difficulties in achieving a lasting resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue.
December 2019: House Votes to Impeach Trump
In December 2019, the House voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine.
2019: Mar-a-Lago Declared Primary Residence
In 2019, Donald Trump declared the Mar-a-Lago club his primary residence.
2019: Gallup Poll: Trump Tied with Obama
In 2019, Donald Trump tied with Barack Obama for the top spot in Gallup's annual poll of the men Americans admired most.
2019: First Impeachment
In 2019, Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
2019: Trump Tower No Longer Primary Residence
In 2019, Trump Tower ceased being Donald Trump's primary residence.
2019: E. Jean Carroll Accuses Trump of Rape
In 2019, journalist E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her in the 1990s and sued him for defamation over his denial.
2019: Supreme Court upheld the travel ban
In 2019, the Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration's travel ban. This decision marked a significant victory for the administration's immigration policies and led to further enforcement of the ban.
February 2020: Senate Acquits Trump in First Impeachment
In February 2020, the Senate acquitted Trump in his first impeachment trial.
April 2020: Encouraged anti-lockdown protests
In April 2020, Trump encouraged anti-lockdown protests on Twitter, despite the targeted states not meeting his administration's guidelines for reopening. This action contradicted public health recommendations and sparked controversy.
June 2020: Controversial removal of protesters from Lafayette Square
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, federal law enforcement officials controversially removed a largely peaceful crowd of protesters from Lafayette Square outside the White House. Trump then posed with a Bible for a photo-op at St. John's Episcopal Church, sparking condemnation from religious leaders and retired military leaders.
July 2020: Handling of COVID-19 pandemic became a major issue
By July 2020, Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic had become a major issue in the presidential election. His response to the crisis faced widespread criticism and affected public perception of his leadership.
August 2020: Trump Becomes Republican Nominee
In August 2020, Trump officially became the Republican nominee for the presidential election.
August 2020: Attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections
In August 2020, Trump's administration attempted to roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients. However, a federal judge halted the rollback after a Supreme Court ruling extended civil rights protections to gender identity and sexual orientation.
October 2, 2020: Tested positive for COVID-19
On October 2, 2020, Trump tweeted that he had tested positive for COVID-19, part of a White House outbreak. His diagnosis highlighted the severity of the pandemic and raised concerns about his administration's handling of the crisis.
November 2020: Biden Wins 2020 Election
In November 2020, Joe Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes to Trump's 74.2 million and 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232.
December 2020: Military on 'Red Alert' Over Trump's Actions
In December 2020, reports emerged that the U.S. military was on 'red alert', with concerns among ranking officers about Trump potentially declaring martial law or initiating military actions.
2020: Cases Dismissed
After his reelection, the 2020 election obstruction case and the classified documents case were dismissed without prejudice due to Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
2020: Trump's False Claims Concerning the Election
After leaving the White House, Trump's continuing false claims concerning the 2020 election were commonly referred to as the 'big lie'.
2020: Losing the 2020 presidential election
In 2020, Donald Trump lost the presidential election to Joe Biden and attempted to overturn the outcome.
2020: Gallup Poll: Trump First
In 2020, Donald Trump ranked first in Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire the most.
2020: Rigged Election Claims
In 2020, Trump mentioned 'rigged election' and 'election interference'.
2020: Trump's Efforts to Overturn the Election
In 2020, Trump was involved in efforts to overturn the election and was later investigated for these activities and his involvement in the January 6 attack.
January 6, 2021: Trump Rally Precedes Capitol Attack
On January 6, 2021, Trump held a rally in Washington, D.C., calling for the election to be overturned and urging supporters to march to the Capitol, which resulted in an attack on the Capitol building.
January 13, 2021: House Charges Trump with Incitement of Insurrection
On January 13, 2021, the House charged Trump with incitement of insurrection following the January 6 attack.
February 2021: Trump Registers New Company
In February 2021, Trump registered Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG).
May 2021: Trump Supporters Embrace Election Term
In May 2021, Donald Trump's supporters began to embrace the term 'big lie' to refer to the election itself.
2021: Inflation Surge
From 2021-2023, the economy saw an inflation surge.
2021: C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey
In 2021, C-SPAN's survey of presidential historians ranked Donald Trump as the fourth-worst president based on leadership characteristics like moral authority and administrative skills.
2021: Second Impeachment
In 2021, Donald Trump was impeached for incitement of insurrection.
2021: End of Presidential Term
In 2021, Donald Trump's term as the 45th President of the United States concluded.
2021: January 6 Capitol Attack
In 2021, Trump's attempts to overturn the election culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack.
2021: Reduced number of refugees admitted to record lows
In 2021, the Trump administration reduced the number of refugees admitted to the United States to a record low of 15,000. This action continued the administration's trend of restricting immigration and tightening border control policies.
January 2022: National Archives Retrieves Documents from Mar-a-Lago
In January 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration retrieved 15 boxes of documents, some classified, from Mar-a-Lago.
February 2022: TMTG Launches Truth Social
In February 2022, TMTG launched Truth Social, a social media platform.
July 2022: Trump Pressures State Legislators to Overturn Election
As of July 2022, Trump continued to pressure state legislators to overturn the 2020 election.
August 8, 2022: FBI Searches Mar-a-Lago
On August 8, 2022, FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago and collected 11 sets of classified documents.
September 2022: Settlement Reached with Mazars USA
In September 2022, Trump and the House Oversight Committee reached a settlement regarding Mazars USA, and the firm began turning over documents.
November 2022: Trump Announces 2024 Candidacy
In November 2022, Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.
December 2022: House Committee Recommends Criminal Charges
In December 2022, the U.S. House committee on the January 6 attack recommended criminal charges against Trump.
2022: Roe v. Wade was overturned
In 2022 Roe v. Wade was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization; all three of Trump's Supreme Court nominees voted with the majority.
2022: New York Files Civil Lawsuit Against Trump
In 2022, New York filed a civil lawsuit against Trump accusing him of inflating the Trump Organization's value to gain an advantage with lenders and banks.
2022: Siena College Research Institute Survey
In 2022, the Siena College Research Institute's survey ranked Donald Trump as the third-worst president, with low ratings in most categories.
March 2023: Campaign Diverts Funds to Leadership PAC
In March 2023, Trump's campaign began diverting 10 percent of donations to his leadership PAC.
June 2023: Trump Indicted on Espionage Act Charges
In June 2023, Trump was indicted on 31 counts of 'willfully retaining national defense information' under the Espionage Act.
August 2023: Trump Indicted in Georgia
In August 2023, Trump was indicted on 13 charges in Fulton County, Georgia, for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election in the state.
December 2023: Colorado Court Rules Trump Disqualified
In December 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump disqualified for the Colorado Republican primary.
2023: Inflation Surge
From 2021-2023, the economy saw an inflation surge.
2023: Held Liable in Civil Cases
In 2023, Donald Trump was held liable in civil cases for sexual abuse, defamation, and business fraud.
March 2024: TMTG Merges and Becomes Public
In March 2024, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) merged with Digital World Acquisition and became a public company.
March 2024: Supreme Court Restores Trump to Ballot
In March 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court restored Trump's name to the ballot, ruling that Colorado lacked the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
May 2024: Trump Convicted on 34 Felony Counts
In May 2024, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments.
July 13, 2024: Assassination Attempt on Trump
On July 13, 2024, Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally.
July 2024: Case Dismissed
In July 2024, a judge dismissed the Espionage Act case against Trump, ruling that the special prosecutor's appointment was unconstitutional.
November 2024: Trump Wins 2024 Election
In November 2024, Trump won the election with 312 electoral votes to Kamala Harris's 226.
2024: Convicted of Falsifying Business Records
In 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records, becoming the first U.S. president convicted of a felony.
2024: Value of Fred Trump's Payments to Children
In 2024, Fred Trump's payments of $20,000 a year to each of his children was equivalent to $265,000 a year.
2024: Refusal to Commit
In 2024, Trump refused to commit to accepting the election results.
2024: APSA Ranking
In 2024, members of the American Political Science Association ranked Donald Trump as the worst president.
2024: Value of 1988 purchase of Eastern Air Lines Shuttle
In 2024, the value of the $380 million used to purchased Eastern Air Lines Shuttle in 1988 was equivalent to $1010 million.
2024: Value of 1973 countersuit
In 2024, the value of the 1973 countersuit against the US government for $100 million was equivalent to $708 million.
January 10, 2025: Trump Receives No-Penalty Sentence
On January 10, 2025, the judge gave Trump a no-penalty sentence known as an unconditional discharge.
January 20, 2025: Trump Begins Second Term
On January 20, 2025, Trump began his second term, becoming the oldest individual to assume the presidency and the first president with a felony conviction.
2025: Executive Orders and Legal Challenges
In 2025, upon taking office, Trump signed a series of executive orders that tested the limits of executive authority and drew immediate legal challenges.
