Early Life and Education of Donald Trump: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Donald Trump, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman. As a member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th U.S. President from 2017 to 2021. He is also the 47th president of the United States.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

June 14, 1946: Donald John Trump was born

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 and participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.

May 1968: Graduated from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

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 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

Starting in 1968, Donald Trump was employed at Trump Management, his father's real estate company.

1969: Registered as a Republican

In 1969, Donald Trump registered as a Republican in Queens.

1971: Became president of family's real estate business

In 1971, Donald Trump became the president of his family's real estate business, which he later renamed the Trump Organization.

1971: Moved to Manhattan and became president of Trump Organization

In 1971, Donald Trump moved to Manhattan to expand the family business and became president of the Trump Organization.

1973: Countersued the U.S. government

In 1973, Donald Trump, with the help of Roy Cohn, countersued the U.S. government for $100 million over charges of discrimination against Black applicants and tenants, though the counterclaims were dismissed and the case was settled.

1977: Marriage to Ivana Zelníčková and birth of Donald Jr.

In 1977, Donald Trump married Ivana Zelníčková, and their first child, Donald Jr., was born.

1978: Launched the renovation of the Commodore Hotel

In 1978, Donald Trump launched his family's first Manhattan venture: the renovation of the derelict Commodore Hotel, which was adjacent to Grand Central Terminal.

1979: Roger Stone enlisted.

In 1979, Roy Cohn introduced political consultant Roger Stone to Donald Trump, who enlisted Stone's services to deal with the federal government.

1980: Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower development

In 1980, the Commodore Hotel reopened as the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and Donald Trump obtained rights to develop Trump Tower.

1981: Birth of Ivanka Trump

In 1981, Ivanka Trump, the second child of Donald Trump and Ivana Zelníčková, was born.

1984: Harrah's at Trump Plaza opened

In 1984, Donald Trump opened Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a hotel and casino, with financing and management help from the Holiday Corporation.

1984: Birth of Eric Trump

In 1984, Eric Trump, the third child of Donald Trump and Ivana Zelníčková, was born.

1985: Acquired the Mar-a-Lago estate

In 1985, Donald Trump acquired the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

1985: Bought the Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump's Castle

In 1985, Donald Trump bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump's Castle.

May 1986: Took Sole Control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza

In May 1986, Donald Trump took sole control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza, paying Holiday Corporation $70 million.

1987: Registered as a Republican in Manhattan

In 1987, Donald Trump registered as a Republican in Manhattan.

1988: Acquired the Plaza Hotel

In 1988, Donald Trump acquired the Plaza Hotel with a loan from a consortium of 16 banks.

1988: Bought a third Atlantic City venue, the Trump Taj Mahal

In 1988, Donald Trump bought a third Atlantic City venue, the Trump Taj Mahal.

April 1990: Trump Taj Mahal Opened

In April 1990, Donald Trump's Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City opened, financed with $675 million in junk bonds.

1990: Divorce from Ivana Zelníčková

In 1990, Donald Trump and Ivana Zelníčková divorced following his affair with Marla Maples.

1991: Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

In 1991, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses, including the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.

1991: Trump Taj Mahal filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

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 have been a shell company for marking up the costs of services and supplies for Trump's rental units.

1992: Trump's Castle and Harrah's at Trump Plaza filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

In 1992, both Trump's Castle and Harrah's at Trump Plaza filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

1992: The Plaza Hotel filed for bankruptcy protection

In 1992, the Plaza Hotel, owned by Donald Trump, filed for bankruptcy protection, and the banks took control of the property.

1993: Marriage to Marla Maples and birth of Tiffany Trump

In 1993, Donald Trump married Marla Maples, and their daughter, Tiffany, was born.

January 1994: Formation of Apartment Management Associates

In January 1994, Donald Trump and his siblings formed Apartment Management Associates to take over the management fees formerly collected by Trump Management, which served to inflate rents and transfer assets from Fred Trump.

1994: Sold 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: Converted Mar-a-Lago into a private club

In 1995, Donald Trump converted the Mar-a-Lago estate into a private club with an initiation fee and annual dues.

1995: Defaulted on bank loans and lenders seized properties

In 1995, Donald Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, and the lenders seized the Plaza Hotel along with most of his other properties.

1995: Founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR)

In 1995, Donald Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.

1996: Acquired and renovated 40 Wall Street

In 1996, Donald Trump acquired and renovated the mostly vacant 71-story skyscraper at 40 Wall Street, later rebranded as the Trump Building.

1996: THCR purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle

In 1996, THCR purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle.

1999: Divorce from Marla Maples

In 1999, Donald Trump and Marla Maples divorced.

1999: Joined the Independence Party

In 1999, Donald Trump became a member of the Independence Party, the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party.

1999: Started building and buying golf courses

In 1999, Donald Trump began building and buying golf courses.

2001: Registered as a Democrat

In 2001, Donald Trump registered as a Democrat.

2004: Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts went bankrupt

In 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts went bankrupt, leaving Donald Trump with 10 percent ownership.

2005: Marriage to Melania Knauss

In 2005, Donald Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss.

2006: Birth of Barron Trump

In 2006, Barron Trump, the son of Donald Trump and Melania Knauss, was born.

2008: Trump International Hotel and Tower opened

In 2008, Donald Trump's last major construction project, the 92-story mixed-use Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, opened.

2009: Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

In 2009, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses, including the Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts company.

2009: Registered as a Republican Again

In 2009, Donald Trump registered as a Republican again.

2009: Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts went bankrupt and Trump resigned as chairman

In 2009, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts went bankrupt and Donald Trump resigned as chairman.

2011: Unaffiliated Registration

In 2011, Donald Trump became unaffiliated with any political party.

2012: Registered as a Republican Again

In 2012, Donald Trump registered as a Republican again.

2015: Reshaping the Republican Party's identity

Since 2015, Donald Trump's leadership style and political agenda have reshaped the Republican Party's identity.

2016: Owned 17 golf courses

By 2016, Donald Trump owned 17 golf courses.

2016: Trump identifies as Presbyterian

In 2016, Donald Trump stated that he was a Presbyterian and a Protestant.

2016: Won the 2016 presidential election

In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton.

2017: Americans Question Trump's Religiosity

Between 2017 and 2021 during Trump's first presidency, 63 percent of Americans did not believe that he was religious, despite his professed Christian affiliation.

2017: Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States.

In 2017, Donald Trump started his term as the 45th president of the United States.

2018: Lawsuits

As of 2018, Donald Trump had been involved in more than 4,000 lawsuits, liens, and other filings.

2018: Only two consumer goods companies continued to license his name

By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license Donald Trump's name.

2019: Declared Mar-a-Lago his primary residence

In 2019, Donald Trump declared the Mar-a-Lago club his primary residence.

2019: First impeachment

In 2019, Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but was acquitted by the Senate.

2019: Trump Tower was Trump's primary residence until 2019

Trump Tower housed the headquarters of the Trump Corporation and Trump's PAC and was his primary residence until 2019.

2020: Trump identifies as nondenominational Christian

In 2020, Donald Trump stated that he was a nondenominational Christian.

2020: Response to COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Trump downplayed its severity, contradicted health officials, and signed the CARES Act.

2021: Americans Question Trump's Religiosity

Between 2017 and 2021 during Trump's first presidency, 63 percent of Americans did not believe that he was religious, despite his professed Christian affiliation.

2021: Donald Trump's presidency ends

In 2021, Donald Trump's term as the 45th president of the United States came to an end.

2021: January 6 Capitol attack and second impeachment

In 2021, following his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, the January 6 Capitol attack occurred, and Donald Trump was impeached for incitement of insurrection, though he was later acquitted.

2023: Liable in civil cases for sexual abuse, defamation and business fraud

In 2023, Donald Trump was found liable in civil cases for sexual abuse, defamation, and business fraud.

July 13, 2024: Assassination Attempt on Trump

On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania.

2024: 708 million dollars in 2024

In 1973, Cohn helped Trump countersue the U.S. government for $100 million, equivalent to $708 million in 2024.

2024: Conviction for falsifying business records

In 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records, making him the first U.S. president convicted of a felony.

2024: Fred Trump paid his children about $265,000 a year in 2024 dollars.

In 2024, Fred Trump paid his children each about $20,000 a year, equivalent to $265,000 a year.

2024: IRS investigation on losses incurred through construction cost overruns

In 2024, The New York Times and ProPublica reported that the Internal Revenue Service was investigating whether Donald Trump had twice written off losses incurred through construction cost overruns and lagging sales of residential units in the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago he had declared to be worthless on his 2008 tax return.

January 20, 2025: Trump's Second Term Begins

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump began his second term as president, becoming the oldest individual to assume the presidency, the first president with a felony conviction, and the second person to serve two nonconsecutive terms.