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 and is a member of the Republican Party. Currently, he holds the position of 47th president of the United States. His career spans real estate, television, and politics, marked by significant policy changes and a distinctive communication style. He remains a prominent and often controversial figure in American public life.
1900: Trump granted fewer clemency requests than all presidents since 1900 except two.
During his first term, Trump granted 237 requests for clemency, which is 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, to Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.
1964: Trump Enrolls at Fordham University
In 1964, Donald Trump enrolled at Fordham University.
May 1968: Trump graduates 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: Trump's graduation from the University of Pennsylvania
In 1968, Donald Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in economics.
1968: Trump employed at Trump Management
Starting in 1968, Donald Trump was employed at his father's real estate company, Trump Management.
1970: Trump's Broadway investment
In 1970, Donald Trump invested $70,000 to receive billing as coproducer of a Broadway comedy.
1971: Trump becomes president of his family's real estate business
In 1971, Donald Trump became the president of his family's real estate business, which he renamed the Trump Organization.
1971: Trump becomes president of Trump Organization
In 1971, Donald Trump's father made him president of the company, and he began using the Trump Organization as an umbrella brand.
1973: Trump countersues the U.S. government
In 1973, Donald Trump countersued the U.S. government for $100 million (equivalent to $708 million in 2024) over charges of racially discriminatory practices.
1976: Trump refused to release tax returns
Since 1976, every major candidate released tax returns.
1977: Marriage to Ivana Zelníčková
In 1977, Donald Trump married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková, and they had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric.
1980: Opening of Grand Hyatt Hotel and Development of Trump Tower
In 1980, the Commodore Hotel reopened as the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and Donald Trump obtained rights to develop Trump Tower.
September 1983: Purchase of the 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, Donald Trump opened Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a hotel and casino, with financing and management help from the Holiday Corporation.
1984: Trump posed as "John Barron"
In 1984, Donald Trump, posing as a Trump Organization official named "John Barron", called journalist Jonathan Greenberg in an attempt to get a higher ranking on the Forbes 400 list of wealthy Americans.
1985: Trump's film and television cameos began
From 1985, Donald Trump had cameos in many films and television shows.
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 1985 season, the United States Football League folded, largely due to Donald Trump's attempt to move to a fall schedule.
May 1986: Trump Takes Sole Control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza
In May 1986, Donald Trump paid Holiday $70 million to take sole control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza.
1986: Stock Transactions
From 1986 Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting that he intended to take over the company.
1987: Trump started donating to his foundation
From 1987, Donald Trump gave his foundation $5.4 million, which had been spent by the end of 2006.
1987: Trump placed advertisements in newspapers
In 1987, Donald Trump placed full-page advertisements in major newspapers expressing his views on foreign policy and how to eliminate the federal budget deficit.
1987: Trump registered as a Republican
In 1987, Donald Trump registered as a Republican.
1987: Publication of The Art of the Deal
In 1987, Donald Trump's first book, "The Art of the Deal" by Tony Schwartz, was published and became a New York Times Best Seller.
1988: Acquisition of the Plaza Hotel
In 1988, Donald Trump acquired the Plaza Hotel with a loan from a consortium of 16 banks.
1988: Trump asked to be considered as a running mate
In 1988, Donald Trump approached Lee Atwater, asking to be put into consideration to be Republican nominee George H. W. Bush's running mate.
1988: Purchase of Eastern Air Lines Shuttle
In 1988, Donald Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle and renamed the airline Trump Shuttle.
1988: Establishment of the Donald J. Trump Foundation
In 1988, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a private foundation, was established.
1988: Stock Transactions
Until 1988 Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting that he intended to take over the company.
1989: Tour de Trump cycling stage race
In 1989, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race, an attempt to create an American equivalent of European races.
1989: Central Park jogger case accusations
In 1989, Trump insisted that five Black and Latino teenagers were guilty of raping a white woman in the Central Park jogger case.
1989: Trump became a member of SAG-AFTRA
Since 1989, Donald Trump had been a member of SAG-AFTRA.
April 1990: Opening of the Trump Taj Mahal
In April 1990, the Trump Taj Mahal opened.
1990: Divorce from Ivana Zelníčková
In 1990, Donald Trump divorced Ivana Zelníčková following his affair with Marla Maples.
1990: Tour de Trump cycling stage race
In 1990, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race, an attempt to create an American equivalent of European races.
1990: Trump's self-reported net worth
In 1990, Donald Trump self-reported his net worth as minus $900 million.
1991: Default on Loans for Trump Shuttle
In 1991, Donald Trump defaulted on his loans for Trump Shuttle, and ownership passed to the banks.
1991: Trump Taj Mahal Bankruptcy Filing
In 1991, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the Trump Taj Mahal.
1991: Trump's hotel and casino businesses filed for bankruptcy protection
In 1991, Donald Trump's over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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 services and supplies.
1992: Trump Shuttle Operation Ends
In 1992, Donald Trump operated the Trump Shuttle until 1992.
1992: Bankruptcy Filing for Trump Castle and Trump Plaza
In 1992, both Trump Castle and Trump Plaza casinos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
1992: Plaza Hotel Bankruptcy
In 1992, the Plaza Hotel filed for bankruptcy protection, and a reorganization plan was approved with the banks taking control of the property.
1993: Marriage to Marla Maples
In 1993, Donald Trump married Marla Maples and had one daughter, Tiffany.
January 1994: Formation of Apartment Management Associates
In January 1994, Donald Trump and his siblings formed Apartment Management Associates to take over management fees formerly collected by Trump Management, as well as inflating rents to transfer assets from Fred Trump.
1994: Sale of Interest in Riverside South Project
In 1994, struggling with debt from other ventures, 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: Trump declared loss of $916 million
In 1995, Donald Trump declared a loss of $916 million which could have let him avoid taxes for up to 18 years.
1995: Default on Bank Loans and Seizure of Properties
In 1995, Donald Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, and the lenders seized the Plaza Hotel and most of his other properties.
1995: Founding of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR)
In 1995, Donald Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.
1996: Acquisition and Renovation of 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: Purchase of Miss Universe Pageants
In 1996, Donald Trump purchased the Miss Universe pageants, including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
1996: THCR Purchases Taj Mahal and Trump Castle
In 1996, THCR purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle.
1999: Trump registered as a member of the Independence Party
In 1999, Donald Trump became a member of the Independence Party, the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party.
1999: Start of Building and Buying Golf Courses
In 1999, Donald Trump began building and buying golf courses.
1999: Divorce from Marla Maples
In 1999, Donald Trump divorced Marla Maples.
February 2000: Trump withdrew from Reform Party presidential primaries
In February 2000, Donald Trump withdrew from the 2000 Reform Party presidential primaries after being a candidate for three months.
2001: Trump's film and television cameos ended
Donald Trump's cameos in many films and television shows ended in 2001.
2001: Trump registered as a Democrat
In 2001, Donald Trump registered as a Democrat.
2002: Move of Pageants to NBC
In 2002, due to disagreements with CBS, Donald Trump took the Miss Universe pageants to NBC.
2002: Central Park jogger case exoneration
In 2002, the Central Park Five were exonerated after the actual rapist confessed and his DNA matched the evidence.
2004: Trumped! talk radio program began
From 2004, Donald Trump had his own short-form talk radio program, Trumped!
2004: Trump began hosting The Apprentice
From 2004, Donald Trump hosted The Apprentice (including the variant The Celebrity Apprentice), created by Mark Burnett.
2004: Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) Bankruptcy
In 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) went bankrupt, leaving Donald Trump with 10 percent ownership.
2005: Trump cofounded Trump University
In 2005, Donald Trump cofounded Trump University, a company that offered real estate seminars for prices as high as $35,000.
2005: Marriage to Melania Knauss
In 2005, Donald Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss.
2005: "Hot Mic" Recording
In 2005, a "hot mic" recording surfaced where Donald Trump bragged about kissing and groping women without their consent.
2006: Trump's initial donations to his foundation spent
By the end of 2006, the $5.4 million that Donald Trump had donated to his foundation between 1987 and 2006 had been spent.
2006: Trump's Alleged Affair with Stormy Daniels
Donald Trump allegedly had an affair with Stormy Daniels from 2006 to 2007.
2007: Trump's Alleged Affair with Stormy Daniels
Donald Trump allegedly had an affair with Stormy Daniels from 2006 to 2007.
2007: Trump donated to his foundation
In 2007, Donald Trump donated to his foundation $65,000 in 2007–2008.
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.
2007: Trump appeared at Wrestlemania 23
In 2007, Donald Trump sporadically appeared for the professional wrestling company WWE, including Wrestlemania 23.
2008: Trumped! talk radio program ended
Donald Trump's short-form talk radio program, Trumped!, ended in 2008.
2008: Trump donated to his foundation
In 2008, Donald Trump donated to his foundation $65,000 in 2007–2008.
2009: Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Bankruptcy
In 2009, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts company.
2009: Joining Twitter
In 2009, Donald Trump joined Twitter, marking the beginning of his active social media presence.
2009: Trump registered as a Republican
In 2009, Donald Trump registered as a Republican.
2009: Trump Resigns as Chairman
In 2009, Donald Trump remained chairman of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) until 2009.
2009: Trump's hotel and casino businesses filed for bankruptcy protection
In 2009, Donald Trump's over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
2009: Began the longest economic expansion in American history
Since 2009, began the longest economic expansion in American history.
2010: Trump University renamed
In 2010, after being notified by New York State authorities that the use of "university" violated state law because it was not an academic institution, Trump University was renamed the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative.
May 2011: Trump announced he would not run for president in 2012
In May 2011, Donald Trump announced that he would not run for president in the 2012 election.
2011: Trump became a guest commentator on Fox & Friends
From 2011, Donald Trump was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.
2011: Promotion of Birther Conspiracy
In 2011, Donald Trump became a leading proponent of the "birther" conspiracy theory, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
2011: Trump became unaffiliated
In 2011, Donald Trump became unaffiliated.
2012: Trump considered challenging President Barack Obama
In 2012, Donald Trump considered challenging President Barack Obama in the election.
2012: Trump registered as a Republican
In 2012, Donald Trump registered as a Republican.
2013: New York State filed civil suit against Trump University
In 2013, the State of New York filed a $40 million civil suit against Trump University, alleging that the company made false statements and defrauded consumers.
2014: Trump promised to release tax returns
In 2014, Donald Trump promised to release his tax returns if he ran for office.
2014: Trump weakened U.S. sanctions imposed after the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea.
Trump weakened the toughest U.S. sanctions imposed after the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea.
June 2015: Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 election
In June 2015, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 election.
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.
August 2015: Criminal Cases Invoking Trump's Rhetoric
From August 2015 to April 2020, a review identified at least 54 criminal cases in which Donald Trump was invoked in direct connection with violence or threats of violence.
2015: Trump finished his role as guest commentator on Fox & Friends
Donald Trump finished his role as guest commentator on Fox & Friends in 2015.
2015: Trump stopped hosting The Apprentice
Donald Trump stopped hosting The Apprentice (including variant The Celebrity Apprentice) in 2015.
2015: Trump promised to release tax returns
In 2015, Donald Trump promised to release his tax returns if he ran for office.
2015: Trump's self-reported net worth
In 2015, Donald Trump self-reported his net worth as $10 billion. Forbes estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion.
2015: End of "The Apprentice"
In 2015, Donald Trump stopped hosting the reality television show "The Apprentice".
2015: Release of Health Letter
In 2015, Donald Trump's campaign released a letter from his personal physician, Harold Bornstein, stating that he would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency".
March 2016: Trump became the Republican front-runner
In March 2016, Donald Trump became the Republican front-runner in the 2016 election.
July 2016: FBI Launches Crossfire Hurricane
In July 2016, the FBI initiated Crossfire Hurricane, an investigation into potential connections between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.
September 2016: Acknowledgment of Obama's Birthplace
In September 2016, Donald Trump acknowledged that Barack Obama was born in the United States, although he reportedly expressed birther views privately in 2017.
October 2016: Trump participated in presidential debates
In October 2016, Donald Trump participated in three presidential debates with Hillary Clinton.
October 2016: Public Apology
In October 2016, after widespread media coverage of the 2005 "hot mic" recording, Donald Trump issued his first public apology, videotaped during his 2016 presidential campaign.
October 2016: Trump's state filings leaked
In October 2016, portions of Donald Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked to a reporter from The New York Times, revealing he had declared a loss of $916 million.
November 8, 2016: Trump was elected president
On November 8, 2016, Donald Trump was elected president, receiving 306 pledged electoral votes versus 232 for Hillary Clinton.
December 2016: Trump's team announced dissolution of the Donald J. Trump Foundation
In December 2016, Donald Trump's team announced that the Donald J. Trump Foundation would be dissolved.
2016: Emergence of Trumpism
Beginning with his 2016 campaign, Donald Trump's politics and rhetoric led to the creation of a political movement known as Trumpism, characterized by right-wing populism and the mainstreaming of far-right ideas. His actions and rhetoric have been described as authoritarian.
2016: Owning 17 Golf Courses
By 2016, Donald Trump owned 17 golf courses.
2016: Cover Up of Alleged Affair
Donald Trump booked Michael Cohen's hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as business expenses to cover up his alleged affair with Daniels during the 2016 election.
2016: Trump Campaigns: Rigged Election
Donald Trump campaigns mentioned "rigged election" and "election interference" earlier and more frequently in the 2016 campaigns.
2016: Frequent Posting on Twitter
During his 2016 campaign, Donald Trump posted frequently on Twitter.
2016: Urging or Praising Physical Attacks
During his 2016 campaign, Donald Trump urged or praised physical attacks against protesters or reporters.
2016: Trump pledged that 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.
2016: Trump vowed to protect Medicare and other social safety-net programs
During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs.
2016: Identification as Presbyterian
In 2016, Donald Trump identified as a Presbyterian and a Protestant.
2016: Trump wins the presidential election
In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton.
2016: Trump's campaign platform
In 2016, Donald Trump's campaign platform emphasized renegotiating U.S.–China relations and free trade agreements such as NAFTA and strongly enforcing immigration laws.
2016: Trump supported the use of interrogation torture methods.
In 2016, Trump said he supported the use of interrogation torture methods "a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding."
2016: Media Coverage in 2016 Campaign
In the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump benefited from a record amount of free media coverage and accused the press of bias, labeling it as "fake news media" and "the enemy of the people".
2016: Trump settled Trump University lawsuits
Shortly after winning the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump agreed to pay a total of $25 million to settle three cases related to Trump University.
January 2017: Trump signs executive order denying entry to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.
In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order that temporarily denied entry to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, causing protests and legal challenges.
January 2017: Intelligence Agencies Report on Russian Interference
In January 2017, U.S. intelligence agencies jointly stated with "high confidence" that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor Donald Trump.
January 20, 2017: Trump's inauguration
On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as president.
February 2017: Seizure of Medical Records
In February 2017, three of Donald Trump's agents reportedly seized his medical records in a raid on Harold Bornstein's office.
May 2017: Trump dismissed FBI director James Comey.
In May 2017, Trump dismissed FBI director James Comey, saying he was concerned about Comey's role in the Trump-Russia investigations.
May 2017: FBI Opens Second Investigation After Comey Firing
In May 2017, following the firing of James Comey, the FBI launched a second investigation into Donald Trump's personal and business dealings with Russia.
October 2017: Hundreds of sub-cabinet positions remain without a nominee.
In October 2017, hundreds of sub-cabinet positions remained without a nominee in the Trump administration.
December 2017: Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In December 2017, Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, reducing tax rates for businesses and individuals.
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.
2017: Trump's Presidential Inauguration
In 2017, Donald Trump assumed office as the 45th President of the United States.
2017: Trump Files for Reelection
In 2017, Donald Trump filed to run for reelection shortly after becoming president, holding his first reelection rally less than a month after taking office.
2017: Reported Birther Views
In 2017, Donald Trump reportedly expressed birther views privately.
2017: Tweets as Official Statements
In 2017, Donald Trump's press secretary stated that his tweets constituted official presidential statements.
2017: Decline in U.S. Leadership Approval
In 2017, international estimation of U.S. leadership declined most among allies, during Donald Trump's first term.
2017: Reduction in Press Briefings
In 2017, the first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings from about one hundred.
2017: Trump comments on Unite the Right rally.
Trump's comments on the 2017 Unite the Right rally, condemning "this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" and stating that there were "very fine people on both sides", were criticized as implying a moral equivalence between the white supremacist demonstrators and the counter-protesters.
January 2018: Trump refers to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries."
In January 2018, during a discussion of immigration legislation, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries." His remarks were widely condemned as racist.
June 2018: Trump mandates migrant families be detained together.
In June 2018, Trump acceded to public pressure and mandated that migrant families be detained together unless there is a concern of risk for the child, in response to public outrage over family separations at the border.
June 2018: Trump meets with Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
In June 2018, as North Korea's nuclear weapons were increasingly seen as a serious threat, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader, meeting Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
June 2018: New York attorney general's office filed civil suit against Trump Foundation
In June 2018, the New York attorney general's office filed a civil suit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation, Donald Trump, and his adult children, seeking $2.8 million in restitution and additional penalties.
June 2018: Trump administration argues to eliminate Obamacare
In June 2018, the Trump administration joined 18 Republican-led states in arguing before the Supreme Court that eliminating the financial penalties associated with the individual mandate had rendered the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. Their pleading would have eliminated health insurance coverage for up to 23 million Americans, but was unsuccessful.
July 2018: High staff turnover in the Trump administration.
By early July 2018, 61 percent of Trump's senior aides had left, and 141 staffers had left in the previous year, setting a record for recent presidents.
December 2018: Government shutdown begins due to border wall funding dispute.
In December 2018, Trump's refusal to sign any spending bill unless it allocated funding for the border wall resulted in the longest-ever federal government shutdown, lasting 35 days.
December 2018: Trump Foundation ceased operation
In December 2018, the Donald J. Trump Foundation ceased operation and disbursed its assets to other charities.
2018: Reduction in Licensing Deals
By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license Donald Trump's name.
2018: Amount received from father's company
In 2018 equivalent, Donald Trump received $413 million (adjusted for inflation) from his father's company.
2018: Bornstein's Statements on the Health Letter
In 2018, Harold Bornstein said that Donald Trump had dictated the contents of the 2015 health letter.
2018: Trump signed legislation to increase funding for drug treatments.
In 2018, Trump signed legislation to increase funding for drug treatments in response to the opioid epidemic but was criticized for lacking a concrete strategy.
2018: USA Today review of Trump's legal actions
In 2018, USA Today conducted a review of state and federal court files, revealing that Donald Trump and his businesses had been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions.
2018: Characterization as Racist
In 2018, approximately half of respondents in a national poll considered Donald Trump to be racist, with a greater proportion believing he emboldened racists. Studies indicated that racist attitudes were significant in his political ascent.
2018: American Political Science Association Ranks Trump as Worst President
In 2018, members of the American Political Science Association ranked Donald Trump as the worst president.
2018: 2018 revenues were 7.6 percent lower than projected
In 2018, revenues were 7.6 percent lower than projected.
2018: Reduction in Press Briefings
In 2018, the first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings to about half that in 2017.
2018: Media Response to Falsehoods
Until 2018, the media rarely referred to Donald Trump's falsehoods as lies, even when he repeated demonstrably false statements.
January 8, 2019: Many key positions in the executive branch remained unfilled.
By January 8, 2019, of 706 key positions in the executive branch, 433 had been filled, and there was no nominee for 264.
January 2019: Government shutdown ends without border wall funding.
In January 2019, the government shutdown ended after Trump agreed to fund the government without any funds for the wall.
February 2019: Trump meets with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi.
In February 2019, Trump met with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi.
March 2019: Mueller Submits Final Report
In March 2019, Robert Mueller submitted his final report, which found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to favor Donald Trump, who welcomed the effort, but that evidence did not establish a conspiracy.
April 2019: House Oversight Committee Issues Subpoenas
In April 2019, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas seeking financial details from Donald Trump's banks, Deutsche Bank and Capital One, and his accounting firm, Mazars USA, leading to legal challenges.
June 2019: Trump meets with Kim Jong Un in the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
In June 2019, Trump met with Kim Jong Un in the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
July 2019: Trump's racist comments against Democratic congresswomen.
In July 2019, Trump tweeted that four Democratic congresswomen, all minorities, should "go back" to the countries they "came from." The House of Representatives condemned his "racist comments".
October 2019: Talks between US and North Korea break down.
In October 2019, talks between the U.S. and North Korea broke down and no denuclearization agreement was reached.
November 2019: Trump ordered to pay charities for misusing foundation funds
In November 2019, a New York state judge ordered Donald Trump to pay $2 million to a group of charities for misusing the Donald J. Trump Foundation's funds, in part to finance his presidential campaign.
December 2019: House Votes to Impeach Trump
In December 2019, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, stemming from his interactions with the Ukrainian president.
2019: Declaration of Mar-a-Lago as Primary Residence
In 2019, Donald Trump declared the Mar-a-Lago club his primary residence.
2019: Trump Impeachment
In 2019, Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress; the Senate acquitted him.
2019: E. Jean Carroll Accuses Trump of Rape
In 2019, journalist E. Jean Carroll accused Donald Trump of raping her in the 1990s and sued him for defamation over his denial.
2019: Supreme Court upholds travel ban.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld Trump's travel ban.
2019: Federal budget deficit increased
In 2019, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, to nearly $1 trillion.
2019: Reduction in Press Briefings
In 2019, the first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings to two.
2019: Trump Tower as Primary Residence
Until 2019, Trump Tower was Donald Trump's primary residence.
January 2020: Trump considers cuts to Medicare and social safety-net programs
In January 2020, Trump expressed a willingness to consider cuts to Medicare and other social safety-net programs, going back on his 2016 campaign promises.
February 2020: Trump Acquitted by the Senate
In February 2020, Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate following his impeachment by the House of Representatives.
February 2020: COVID-19 recession began
In February 2020, the COVID-19 recession began, ending the longest economic expansion in American history that started in 2009.
April 2020: Criminal Cases Invoking Trump's Rhetoric
From August 2015 to April 2020, a review identified at least 54 criminal cases in which Donald Trump was invoked in direct connection with violence or threats of violence.
April 2020: Trump halted funding of the World Health Organization.
In April 2020, after weeks of attacks to draw attention away from his slow response to the Coronavirus, Trump halted funding of the World Health Organization.
May 2020: Twitter Fact-Checks
In May 2020, Twitter began attaching fact-checks to tweets in which Donald Trump made false claims, leading to his threat to regulate or shut down social media platforms.
May 2020: Criminal Cases Invoking Trump's Rhetoric
In May 2020, a nationwide review identified at least 54 criminal cases from August 2015 to April 2020 in which Donald Trump's rhetoric was directly connected with violence or threats of violence.
June 2020: Controversial removal of protesters and photo-op at St. John's Episcopal Church.
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, federal law-enforcement officials controversially removed protesters from Lafayette Square. Trump then posed with a Bible for a photo-op at St. John's Episcopal Church, drawing condemnation.
August 2020: Trump Officially Becomes Republican Nominee
In August 2020, Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee for the presidential election.
August 2020: Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration's rollback of anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients.
In August 2020, a federal judge halted the Trump administration's attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients after a Supreme Court ruling extended employees' civil rights protections to gender identity and sexual orientation.
November 2020: Biden Wins 2020 Election
In November 2020, Joe Biden won the presidential election, receiving 81.3 million votes to Donald Trump's 74.2 million. Trump declared victory prematurely and alleged election fraud.
December 2020: Reports Emerge of Military on "Red Alert"
In December 2020, reports emerged that the U.S. military was on "red alert" due to concerns that Donald Trump might declare martial law or initiate military action.
2020: Dismissal of Cases After Reelection
After Donald Trump's reelection in 2024, the 2020 election obstruction case and the classified documents case were dismissed without prejudice.
2020: Promotion of Conspiracy Theories
After the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump promoted conspiracy theories for his defeat that were characterized as "the big lie".
2020: Trump Campaigns: Rigged Election
Donald Trump campaigns mentioned "rigged election" and "election interference" earlier and more frequently in the 2020 campaigns.
2020: Trump's False Claims and Republican Party Voting Restrictions
Following his 2020 election defeat, Donald Trump's continuing false claims concerning the 2020 election were used by the Republican Party to justify imposing new voting restrictions in its favor.
2020: Drop in International Approval Ratings
From 2017 to 2020, during Donald Trump's first term, international approval ratings of U.S. leadership dropped to just 16 percent in a Pew Research poll.
2020: Promotion of Antimalarial Drugs
In 2020, Donald Trump promoted antimalarial drugs as a treatment for COVID-19, causing a shortage and panic-buying.
2020: Identification as Nondenominational Christian
In 2020, Donald Trump said he was a nondenominational Christian.
2020: Defamation Lawsuits Against Media Outlets
In 2020, Donald Trump's presidential campaign sued The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN for defamation in opinion pieces about his stance on Russian election interference; all the suits were dismissed.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Response
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump downplayed its severity, contradicted health officials, and signed the CARES Act.
2020: Trump's Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election
In connection with Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the U.S. House committee recommended criminal charges against him.
January 6, 2021: Trump Addresses Rally and Supporters Attack Capitol
On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump held a rally at the Ellipse, urging supporters to march to the Capitol. Following the rally, his supporters attacked the Capitol building while Congress was certifying the election results.
January 13, 2021: House Charges Trump with Incitement of Insurrection
On January 13, 2021, the House of Representatives charged Donald Trump with incitement of insurrection following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
February 2021: Trump Registers Trump Media & Technology Group
In February 2021, Donald Trump registered a new company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), for providing "social networking services" to U.S. customers.
February 2021: Supreme Court allowed release of Trump's tax returns
In February 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the release of Donald Trump's tax returns and other records to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation.
May 2021: Trump Uses "Big Lie" Terminology
In May 2021, Donald Trump began using the term "big lie" to refer to the election itself with his supporters.
2021: Refugee admissions reduced to record lows.
By 2021, Trump reduced the number of refugees admitted to record lows, from an annual limit of 110,000 before he took office to 15,000.
2021: Global Backlash Against Incumbent Parties
Donald Trump's victory in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties, in part due to the 2021–2023 inflation surge.
2021: End of Trump's Presidential Term
In 2021, Donald Trump's term as the 45th President of the United States came to an end.
2021: Trump resigned from SAG-AFTRA
In 2021, Donald Trump, who had been a member since 1989, resigned from SAG-AFTRA to avoid a disciplinary hearing regarding the January 6 attack. Two days later, the union permanently barred him.
2021: C-SPAN Survey Ranks Trump as Fourth-Worst President
In 2021, a C-SPAN survey of presidential historians ranked Donald Trump as the fourth-worst president in history. The survey indicated his lowest ratings were in the leadership characteristic categories of moral authority and administrative skills.
2021: January 6 Capitol Attack
In 2021, after losing the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump attempted to overturn the result, culminating in the January 6 Capitol attack. Also in 2021, he was impeached for incitement of insurrection.
2021: Gallup Poll Results
In a 2021 Gallup poll, Donald Trump was the only president never to reach a 50 percent approval rating, and he was the first not to be named most admired in his first year in office.
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, that Donald Trump had taken to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House.
February 2022: Launch of Truth Social
In February 2022, Donald Trump launched his own social media platform, Truth Social.
July 2022: Trump Continues to Pressure State Legislators
As of July 2022, Donald Trump continued to pressure state legislators to overturn the 2020 election results.
August 8, 2022: FBI Searches Mar-a-Lago
On August 8, 2022, FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago for illegally held documents, including those in breach of the Espionage Act, collecting 11 sets of classified documents.
September 2022: Settlement Reached with Mazars USA
In September 2022, Donald Trump and the House Oversight Committee reached a settlement regarding Mazars USA, and the firm began turning over documents.
November 2022: Trump Announces Candidacy for 2024 Presidential Election
In November 2022, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election and created a fundraising account.
November 2022: Reinstatement on Twitter
In November 2022, Elon Musk reinstated Donald Trump's Twitter account after acquiring the platform.
December 2022: House Committee Recommends Criminal Charges
In December 2022, the U.S. House committee on the January 6 attack recommended criminal charges against Donald Trump for obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and inciting or assisting an insurrection.
2022: Civil Lawsuits and Judgements
In 2022, E. Jean Carroll sued Donald Trump again for battery and more defamation. New York also filed a civil lawsuit against Trump accusing him of inflating the Trump Organization's value. He was later found liable in both cases.
2022: Roe v. Wade overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
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: Siena College Survey Ranks Trump as Third-Worst President
In 2022, the Siena College Research Institute's survey ranked Donald Trump as the third-worst president. He was ranked near the bottom in all categories except for luck, willingness to take risks, and party leadership and ranked last in several categories.
January 2023: Return to Facebook and Instagram
In January 2023, Meta Platforms' two-year ban lapsed, allowing Donald Trump to return to Facebook and Instagram.
March 2023: Campaign Diverts Donations to Leadership PAC
In March 2023, Donald Trump's campaign began diverting 10 percent of donations to his leadership PAC.
June 2023: Trump Indicted on Espionage Act Charges
In June 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Donald Trump on 31 counts of "willfully retaining national defense information" under the Espionage Act, among other charges, and he pleaded not guilty.
August 2023: Trump Indicted in Georgia
In August 2023, Donald Trump was indicted on 13 charges, including racketeering, by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election in the state.
December 2023: Colorado Supreme Court Rules Trump Disqualified
In December 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Donald Trump disqualified for the Colorado Republican primary due to his role in inciting the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress.
2023: Global Backlash Against Incumbent Parties
Donald Trump's victory in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties, in part due to the 2021–2023 inflation surge.
2023: Legal Liabilities
In 2023, Donald Trump was found liable in civil cases for sexual abuse and defamation and for business fraud.
March 2024: TMTG Merges and Becomes Public Company
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 Donald Trump's name to the ballot in a unanimous decision, ruling that Colorado lacks the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
May 2024: Trump Convicted on 34 Felony Counts
In May 2024, Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments.
July 13, 2024: Trump Survives Assassination Attempt
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania.
July 2024: Judge Dismisses Classified Documents Case
In July 2024, judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case, ruling Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment as special prosecutor was unconstitutional.
November 2024: Trump Wins 2024 Election
In November 2024, Donald Trump won the election with 312 electoral votes, becoming the second president in U.S. history to be elected to a nonconsecutive second term.
2024: Support for Outlawing Political Dissent
By 2024, Donald Trump repeatedly voiced support for outlawing political dissent and criticism, suggesting reporters should be prosecuted and media companies should possibly lose their broadcast licenses for unfavorable coverage.
2024: Attacks Against Kamala Harris's Racial Identity
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump made false attacks against the racial identity of his opponent, Kamala Harris, that were described as reminiscent of the birther conspiracy theory.
2024: Value of US Goverment Countersuit
In 1973, Donald Trump countersued the U.S. government for $100 million, equivalent to $708 million in 2024.
2024: Value of Eastern Air Lines Shuttle purchase
In 1988, Donald Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, financing the purchase with $380 million, equivalent to $1010 million in 2024.
2024: Trump Refuses to Commit to Accepting Election Results
In 2024, Donald Trump refused to commit to accepting the election results.
2024: Conviction and Election
In 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records, becoming the first U.S. president convicted of a felony. He won the 2024 presidential election against Kamala Harris.
2024: Value of Fred Trumps payment to his children in 2024 dollars
In 2024, Fred Trump paid his children each about $20,000 a year, equivalent to $265,000 a year in 2024.
2024: IRS Investigation into Trump International Hotel and Tower
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 building he had declared to be worthless on his 2008 tax return.
2024: American Political Science Association Ranks Trump as Worst President
In 2024, members of the American Political Science Association ranked Donald Trump as the worst president.
2024: Defamation Lawsuit Over Central Park Jogger Case
In 2024, the men who were falsely accused in the 1989 Central Park jogger case sued Trump for defamation after he said in a televised debate that they had committed the crime and killed the woman.
2024: Trump's Candidacy in the 2024 Presidential Election
In November 2022, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.
January 10, 2025: Trump Given No-Penalty Sentence
On January 10, 2025, the judge gave Donald Trump a no-penalty sentence known as an unconditional discharge.
January 20, 2025: Trump Begins Second Term
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump began his second term upon his inauguration, becoming the oldest individual to assume the presidency and the first president with a felony conviction.
February 2025: Meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In February 2025, Donald Trump and Vice President Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. The televised meeting was described as contentious, involving a public confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy.
February 2025: Appointment of Elon Musk
In February 2025, the White House announced that Elon Musk was a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), granting him access to multiple federal agencies. Trump's cabinet selections prioritized loyalty, and he appointed 23 former Fox News employees to his administration.
2025: Forbes estimated Trump's net worth
In 2025, Forbes estimated Donald Trump's net worth at $5.1 billion and ranked him as the 700th wealthiest person in the world.
2025: Health Examination Results
In 2025, a White House health examination reported Donald Trump had "well controlled" high cholesterol and exhibited excellent cognitive and physical health.
2025: Executive Orders and Clemency
In 2025, after taking office, Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders, some mirroring Project 2025 proposals, and granted clemency to January 6 rioters. These actions faced legal challenges and were criticized for potentially violating federal laws and contributing to democratic backsliding.
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