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 currently running for president again in 2024. A Republican, Trump's presidency was marked by significant tax cuts, deregulation, and conservative judicial appointments. His policies and rhetoric on immigration, trade, and foreign policy were often controversial. Before entering politics, Trump built a real estate and branding empire. His career has been characterized by both successes and controversies, and he remains a prominent and polarizing figure in American public life.
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: 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
Starting in 1968, Donald Trump was employed at Trump Management, his father's real estate company.
1969: Trump registered as a Republican
In 1969, Donald Trump registered as a Republican in Queens.
1970: Broadway Investment Loss
In 1970, Donald Trump invested $70,000 in a Broadway comedy and lost the money.
1971: President of Trump Organization
In 1971, Donald Trump became the president of his family's real estate business, later renamed the Trump Organization.
1971: Moved to Manhattan and Became President
In 1971, Donald Trump moved to Manhattan and became president of Trump Organization.
1973: Countersuit against the U.S. government
In 1973, Roy Cohn helped Donald Trump countersue the U.S. government for $100 million over charges of discrimination at Trump's properties.
1977: Marriage to Ivana Zelníčková and Birth of Donald Jr.
In 1977, Trump married Ivana Zelníčková, and they had their first child, Donald Jr.
1979: Introduced to Roger Stone
In 1979, Roy Cohn introduced Donald Trump to political consultant Roger Stone.
1980: Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower
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, Trump and Ivana Zelníčková had their second child, Ivanka.
1983: Purchase of the New Jersey Generals
In 1983, Donald Trump purchased the New Jersey Generals, a team in the United States Football League.
1984: Opened 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: Birth of Eric Trump
In 1984, Trump and Ivana Zelníčková had their third child, Eric.
1984: Posing as John Barron
In 1984, Trump, posing as a Trump Organization official named "John Barron", tried to get a higher ranking on the Forbes 400 list.
1985: Acquired Mar-a-Lago estate
In 1985, Donald Trump acquired the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
1985: Bought Atlantic City Hilton Hotel
In 1985, Donald Trump bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump's Castle.
1985: USFL Folded
In 1985, the United States Football League folded after Donald Trump's attempt to move to a fall schedule.
May 1986: Sole control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza
In May 1986, Donald Trump paid Holiday Corporation $70 million to take sole control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza.
1986: Purchased Blocks of Shares
From 1986, Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies, suggesting he intended to take over the company.
1987: Trump placed full-page advertisements on foreign policy
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: Publication of "The Art of the Deal"
In 1987, Donald Trump published his first book, "The Art of the Deal", which became a New York Times Best Seller and was credited with making him famous as an "emblem of the successful tycoon".
1987: Trump registered as a Republican in Manhattan
In 1987, Donald Trump registered as a Republican in Manhattan.
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 George H.W. Bush's 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. Bush found the request 'strange and unbelievable'.
1988: Bought Trump Taj Mahal
In 1988, Donald Trump bought a third Atlantic City venue, the Trump Taj Mahal.
1988: Trump Purchased Eastern Air Lines Shuttle
In 1988, Donald Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle for $380 million (equivalent to $1.01 billion in 2024), financing the purchase with loans from a syndicate of 22 banks. He renamed the airline Trump Shuttle.
1988: Establishment of the Donald J. Trump Foundation
In 1988, the Donald J. Trump Foundation was established as a private foundation.
1988: Purchased Blocks of Shares
Until 1988, Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies, suggesting he intended to take over the company.
1989: Trump became a member of SAG-AFTRA
In 1989, Donald Trump became a member of SAG-AFTRA. He resigned from SAG-AFTRA in 2021.
1989: Tour de Trump
In 1989, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
1989: Central Park Jogger Case Advertisements
In 1989, Trump ran full-page newspaper advertisements insisting that a group of five black and Latino teenagers were guilty of raping a white woman in the Central Park jogger case.
April 1990: Opened Trump Taj Mahal
In April 1990, the Trump Taj Mahal opened.
1990: Tour de Trump
In 1990, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
1990: Divorce from Ivana Zelníčková
In 1990, Trump and Ivana Zelníčková divorced, following his affair with Marla Maples.
1990: Net Worth Reported as Negative
In 1990, Trump self-reported his net worth as minus $900 million.
1991: Hotel and casino businesses filed for bankruptcy protection
Between 1991 and 2009, Donald Trump's over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six times.
1991: Trump Defaulted on Trump Shuttle Loans
In 1991, Donald Trump defaulted on his loans for the Trump Shuttle, leading to ownership passing to the banks.
1991: Bankruptcy Protection Filing
In 1991, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the Trump Taj Mahal.
1991: Trump Taj Mahal files for bankruptcy
In 1991, Trump Taj Mahal filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
1992: Trump Operated Trump Shuttle Until 1992
Donald Trump operated the Trump Shuttle until 1992, after purchasing it in 1988.
1992: Formation of Shell Company
In 1992, Donald Trump formed a shell company with relatives to inflate rents and transfer assets from Fred Trump.
1992: Bankruptcy for Trump Plaza and Trump's Castle
In 1992, both Trump Plaza and Trump's Castle casinos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
1992: Plaza Hotel Files for 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 and Birth of Tiffany Trump
In 1993, Trump married Marla Maples, and they had their daughter Tiffany.
1994: Formation of Shell Company
In 1994, Donald Trump formed a shell company with relatives to inflate rents and transfer assets from Fred Trump.
1995: Converted Mar-a-Lago to a private club
In 1995, Donald Trump converted the Mar-a-Lago estate into a private club.
1995: Default on bank loans
In 1995, Donald Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, and the lenders seized the Plaza Hotel and other properties.
1995: Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) founded
In 1995, Donald Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.
1996: Trump purchased the 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, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle.
1999: Trump became 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: Building and Buying Golf Courses
In 1999, Donald Trump began building and buying golf courses.
1999: Divorce from Marla Maples
In 1999, Trump and Marla Maples divorced.
February 2000: Trump withdrew from the Reform Party presidential primaries
In February 2000, Donald Trump withdrew from the 2000 Reform Party presidential primaries after being a candidate for three months.
2002: Trump took Miss Universe pageants to NBC
In 2002, due to disagreements with CBS about scheduling, Donald Trump took the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants to NBC.
2002: Continued Insistence of Guilt in Central Park Jogger Case
In 2002, even after the exoneration of the accused teenagers in the Central Park jogger case, Trump continued to insist on their guilt.
2004: Trump hosted talk radio program, Trumped!
From 2004 to 2008, Donald Trump had his own short-form talk radio program, Trumped!
2004: Hosting The Apprentice
In 2004, Donald Trump began hosting the reality television show "The Apprentice".
2004: Bankruptcy for THCR
In 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) went bankrupt.
2005: Trump cofounded Trump University
In 2005, Donald Trump cofounded Trump University, a company that sold real estate seminars for up to $35,000.
2005: Marriage to Melania Knauss
In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss.
2005: "Hot Mic" Recording
In 2005, Trump was recorded on a "hot mic" bragging about kissing and groping women without their consent.
2006: Birth of Barron Trump
In 2006, Trump and Melania Knauss had their son, Barron.
2007: Trump donated $65,000 to the Donald J. Trump Foundation
From 2007 to 2008, Donald Trump donated a total of $65,000 to his foundation.
2007: Trump received a star on the 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 played himself as a super-rich boss at events staged by professional wrestling promotion WWE, including WrestleMania 23.
2008: Trump's talk radio program, Trumped!, ended
From 2004 to 2008, Donald Trump had his own short-form talk radio program, Trumped!
2009: Hotel and casino businesses filed for bankruptcy protection
Between 1991 and 2009, Donald Trump's over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six times.
2009: Trump became a Republican again
In 2009, Donald Trump became a Republican again.
2009: Bankruptcy Protection Filing
In 2009, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts company.
2009: Bankruptcy for THCR
In 2009, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) went bankrupt, leaving Donald Trump with 10 percent ownership. He also remained chairman until 2009.
2009: Beginning of the longest economic expansion in American history
In 2009, the longest economic expansion in American history began and continued until February 2020.
2010: Trump University changed its name
In 2010, after New York State authorities notified the company that its use of "university" violated state law because it was not an academic institution, Trump University's name was changed to 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, after considering challenging President Barack Obama.
2011: Trump began appearing on Fox & Friends
From 2011 until 2015, Donald Trump was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.
2011: Trump became unaffiliated
In 2011, Donald Trump became unaffiliated.
2011: Leading Proponent of "Birther" Conspiracy Theory
In 2011, Trump became the leading proponent of the racist "birther" conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
2012: Trump became a Republican for the third time
In 2012, Donald Trump became a Republican for the third time.
2013: New York State filed a 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: Weakening of Sanctions after Crimea Annexation
Following the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, the Trump administration weakened the toughest U.S. sanctions imposed.
June 2015: Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 election
In June 2015, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 election, campaigning as a rich, successful businessman and an outsider without political experience.
June 2015: NBC and Univision dropped Miss Universe pageants
In June 2015, NBC and Univision dropped the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants in reaction to Donald Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants.
August 2015: Start of Criminal Cases Invoking Trump
Starting in August 2015 and up to April 2020, Trump's name was invoked in direct connection with violence or threats of violence in at least 54 criminal cases.
2015: Trump's time on Fox & Friends ended
From 2011 until 2015, Donald Trump was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.
2015: End of The Apprentice
In 2015, Donald Trump stopped hosting the reality television show "The Apprentice".
2015: Forbes Estimate of Net Worth
In 2015, Forbes estimated Trump's net worth at $4.5 billion.
2015: Trump stopped hosting The Apprentice
In 2015, Mark Burnett's reality show The Apprentice, which Donald Trump hosted from 2004 to 2015, ended.
2015: Release of Letter from Harold Bornstein
In 2015, Trump's campaign released a letter from his physician, Harold Bornstein, stating that he would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency".
2015: Trump's Leadership Style
Since 2015, Donald Trump's leadership style and political agenda have reshaped the Republican Party's identity.
March 2016: Trump became the Republican front-runner
In March 2016, Donald Trump became the Republican front-runner in the 2016 presidential election.
July 2016: FBI Launches Crossfire Hurricane
In July 2016, the FBI launched Crossfire Hurricane, an investigation into possible links between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign.
October 2016: "Hot Mic" Recording Surfaces
In October 2016, a 2005 "hot mic" recording surfaced in which Trump bragged about kissing and groping women without their consent, leading to his first public apology during his 2016 presidential campaign.
October 2016: Portions of Trump's 1995 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, showing that he had declared a loss of $916 million that year.
December 2016: Trump's team announced the Donald J. Trump Foundation would be dissolved
In December 2016, Donald Trump's team announced that the Donald J. Trump Foundation would be dissolved amid scrutiny and potential legal violations.
2016: Pledge to Overturn Roe v. Wade
During the 2016 campaign, Trump pledged that Roe v. Wade would be overturned if he were elected and given the opportunity to appoint anti-abortion justices.
2016: Won 2016 presidential election
In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton.
2016: Declaration as Presbyterian and Protestant
In 2016, Trump called himself a Presbyterian and a Protestant.
2016: Benefited from Free Media Coverage
In the 2016 campaign, Trump benefited from a record amount of free media coverage, estimated at $2 billion.
2016: Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle Trump University cases
Shortly after he won the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump agreed to pay a total of $25 million to settle three cases related to Trump University.
January 2017: Travel Ban Executive Order
In January 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that denied entry to citizens from six Muslim-majority countries for four months and from Syria indefinitely. This order led to widespread protests and legal challenges.
January 2017: Intelligence Agencies Report on Russian Interference
In January 2017, three U.S. intelligence agencies jointly stated with "high confidence" that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor Trump.
January 20, 2017: Trump was inaugurated
On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States.
February 2017: Seizure of Medical Records
In February 2017, three of Trump's agents seized Harold Bornstein's medical records.
May 2017: FBI Opens Second Investigation into Trump's Dealings with Russia
After Trump fired Comey in May 2017, the FBI opened a second investigation into Trump's personal and business dealings with Russia.
May 2017: Firing of FBI Director James Comey
In May 2017, Trump dismissed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey, citing concerns about Comey's role in the Trump-Russia investigations.
October 2017: Numerous Sub-Cabinet Positions Unfilled
In October 2017, there were hundreds of sub-cabinet positions without a nominee in the Trump administration.
December 2017: Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
In December 2017, Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced tax rates for businesses and individuals and eliminated the penalty associated with the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.
December 2017: Supreme Court Allows Revised Travel Ban
In December 2017, the Supreme Court allowed the revised version of Trump's travel ban to go into effect while legal challenges continued.
2017: Public Perception of Religious Affiliation
During his first presidency (2017–2021), a survey showed that 63 percent of Americans did not believe that Trump was religious.
2017: Implementation of Family Separation Policy
From 2017, the Trump administration implemented a family separation policy that separated over 4,400 children from migrant parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.
2017: Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States
In 2017, Donald Trump assumed office as the 45th President of the United States.
2017: Trump Files for Reelection
In 2017, Trump filed to run for reelection shortly after becoming president, holding his first rally less than a month after taking office.
2017: Comments on Unite the Right Rally
In 2017, Trump's comments on the 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.
2017: Decline in International Approval of U.S. Leadership
In 2017, international approval ratings of U.S. leadership declined most among allies.
2017: Reduction of Formal Press Briefings
In 2017, the first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings from about one hundred.
January 2018: Racist Remarks about Immigration
In January 2018, during a discussion of immigration legislation, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries", remarks condemned as racist.
June 2018: First Meeting with Kim Jong Un
In June 2018, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.
June 2018: End of Family Separation Policy
In June 2018, amid public outcry, President Trump mandated that illegal immigrant families be detained together, effectively ending the family separation policy at the U.S.-Mexico border.
June 2018: New York attorney general's office filed a civil suit against the Donald J. 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.
July 2018: High Turnover of Senior Aides
By 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 over Border Wall Funding
In December 2018, Trump's refusal to sign any spending bill unless it allocated funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall resulted in the longest federal government shutdown in history.
December 2018: Donald J. Trump Foundation ceased operation
In December 2018, the Donald J. Trump Foundation ceased operation and disbursed its assets to other charities.
2018: Report of over 4,000 legal actions involving Trump and his businesses
According to a review of state and federal court files conducted by USA Today in 2018, Donald Trump and his businesses had been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions.
2018: Lawsuits
By 2018, Donald Trump had been involved in more than 4,000 lawsuits, liens, and other filings.
2018: Consumer Goods Licensing
By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license Donald Trump's name.
2018: Equivalent Value of Inheritance
In 2018 equivalent, Trump received $413 million, adjusted for inflation, from his father's company.
2018: Bornstein's Statement on Letter Contents
In 2018, Harold Bornstein said Trump had dictated the contents of the 2015 letter about his health.
2018: Start of Trade War with China
In 2018, Trump began a trade war with China after imposing tariffs and other trade barriers.
2018: Trump signed legislation to increase funding for drug treatments
In 2018, in response to the opioid epidemic, Donald Trump signed legislation to increase funding for drug treatments, but was widely criticized for failing to make a concrete strategy.
2018: American Political Science Association Ranks Trump
In 2018, the American Political Science Association ranked Trump the worst president.
2018: Media's Reluctance to Label Falsehoods as Lies
Until 2018, the media rarely referred to Trump's falsehoods as lies.
January 8, 2019: Number of Key Positions Filled and Vacant
By January 8, 2019, of 706 key positions in the Trump administration, 433 had been filled and there was no nominee for 264.
January 2019: End of Government Shutdown
In January 2019, the government shutdown that began in December 2018 ended after Trump agreed to fund the government without border wall funds.
March 2019: Release of Mueller Report
In March 2019, Mueller's final report found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to favor Trump and that Trump and his campaign welcomed and encouraged the effort, but that the evidence "did not establish" that Trump campaign members conspired or coordinated with Russia.
June 2019: Third Meeting with Kim Jong Un
In June 2019, Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the third time.
July 2019: House Resolution Condemning Racist Remarks
In July 2019, a House of Representatives resolution condemned Trump for racist remarks about four minority Democratic congresswomen.
July 2019: Whistleblower Complaint Regarding Ukraine
In July 2019, a whistleblower complaint alleged that Trump had pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden.
October 2019: Breakdown of Denuclearization Talks
In October 2019, talks on North Korean denuclearization broke down with no agreement reached.
November 2019: Trump ordered to pay $2 million for misusing foundation's 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 voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine.
2019: Further Reduction of Formal Press Briefings
By 2019, the first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings to two.
2019: Primary Residence at Mar-a-Lago
In 2019, Donald Trump declared Mar-a-Lago club his primary residence.
2019: Impeachment
In 2019, Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress; he was later acquitted by the Senate.
2019: E. Jean Carroll Accusation and Defamation Lawsuit
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 Upholds Travel Ban
In 2019, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the Trump administration's travel ban.
2019: Federal budget deficit increased
In 2019, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, to nearly $1 trillion.
February 2020: The COVID-19 recession began
In February 2020, the COVID-19 recession began, ending the longest economic expansion in American history, which began in 2009.
February 2020: Senate Acquits Trump in First Impeachment Trial
In February 2020, the Senate acquitted Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
April 2020: End of ABC News Review Period for Criminal Cases Invoking Trump
Ending in April 2020, an ABC News review identified at least 54 criminal cases, from August 2015, in which Trump was invoked in connection with violence or threats of violence.
May 2020: Twitter Begins Tagging Trump's Tweets with Fact-Checks
In May 2020, after years of criticism, Twitter began to tag some of Trump's tweets with fact-checks.
May 2020: ABC News Review of Criminal Cases Invoking Trump
In May 2020, an ABC News review identified at least 54 criminal cases, from August 2015 to April 2020, in which Trump was invoked in connection with violence or threats of violence.
June 2020: Lafayette Square Protests and Photo Op
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, federal law-enforcement officials used tear gas to remove protesters from Lafayette Square, after which Trump posed with a Bible at St. John's Episcopal Church.
August 2020: Attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections halted
In August 2020, Donald Trump's attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients was halted by a federal judge after a Supreme Court ruling extended employees' civil rights protections to gender identity and sexual orientation.
August 2020: Trump Becomes Republican Nominee
In August 2020, Trump officially became the Republican nominee for the presidential election.
November 2020: Joe Biden Wins the 2020 Election
In November 2020, Joe Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes to Trump's 74.2 million. Trump baselessly alleged election fraud.
2020: Promotion of Conspiracy Theories After Election Defeat
After the 2020 presidential election, Trump promoted conspiracy theories for his defeat that were characterized as "the big lie".
2020: Sexual Misconduct Accusations
As of 2020, 26 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct.
2020: 2020 presidential election overturning attempts
In 2020, Donald Trump attempted to overturn the results of the presidential election.
2020: 2020 presidential election
In 2020, Donald Trump lost the presidential election to Joe Biden.
2020: Declaration as Nondenominational Christian
In 2020, Trump said he was a nondenominational Christian.
2020: Attacks on Election Practices and Disinformation about COVID-19
In 2020, Trump's attacks on mail-in ballots weakened public faith in the integrity of the presidential election, and his disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic delayed and weakened the national response.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic response
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Trump downplayed its severity, contradicted health officials, and signed the CARES Act.
2020: False Claims Concerning the 2020 Election
Upon leaving the White House, Trump began living at Mar-a-Lago, and his continuing false claims concerning the 2020 election were commonly referred to as the "big lie" by his critics
January 6, 2021: Capitol Attack
On January 6, 2021, Trump held a rally and urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, resulting in a mob breaking into the building, disrupting certification of the election results, and causing multiple injuries and deaths.
January 13, 2021: House Charges Trump with Incitement of Insurrection
On January 13, 2021, the House of Representatives charged Trump with incitement of insurrection related to the January 6 Capitol attack.
February 2021: Supreme Court allowed Trump's tax records to be released
In February 2021, after a lengthy court battle, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Donald Trump's tax records and other documents to be released to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation.
May 2021: Trump Supporters Begin Using 'Big Lie' Term
In May 2021, Trump and many of his supporters began using the term "big lie" to refer to the 2020 election itself.
2021: C-SPAN's Historians Rank Trump
After Trump's first term, historians ranked Trump as the fourth-worst president in C-SPAN's 2021 survey of presidential historians.
2021: Public Perception of Religious Affiliation
During his first presidency (2017–2021), a survey showed that only 44 percent of Americans believed that Trump was a Christian.
2021: Donald Trump left office as the 45th President of the United States
In 2021, Donald Trump's term as the 45th President of the United States concluded.
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: Never Reaching 50 Percent Approval Rating
In 2021, 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.
2021: January 6 Capitol attack
In 2021, the January 6 Capitol attack happened after Donald Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election result.
2021: Refugee Admissions Reduced 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, down from an annual limit of 110,000 before he took office.
January 2022: National Archives retrieves documents
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, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) launched a pro-Trump social media platform called Truth Social.
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, some marked top secret, for illegally held documents including those in breach of the Espionage Act.
November 2022: Trump announces 2024 presidential candidacy
In November 2022, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election and created a fundraising account.
November 2022: Twitter Reinstates Trump's Account
In November 2022, Twitter reinstated Trump's account.
December 2022: House committee recommends criminal charges
In December 2022, the U.S. House committee on the January 6th attack recommended criminal charges against Donald Trump for obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and inciting or assisting an insurrection related to the 2020 election.
2022: Carroll Sues Trump Again
In 2022, E. Jean Carroll sued Trump again for battery and further defamation related to the rape accusation and his denial.
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: Overturning of Roe v. Wade
In 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, with all three of Trump's Supreme Court nominees voting with the majority.
2022: Siena College Survey Ranks Trump
The Siena College Research Institute's 2022 survey ranked Trump third-worst president.
January 2023: Return to Facebook and Instagram
In January 2023, the two-year ban at Meta Platforms lapsed, allowing Trump to return to Facebook and Instagram.
March 2023: Campaign diverts donations to leadership PAC
In March 2023, Donald Trump's campaign began diverting ten percent of donations to his leadership PAC.
June 2023: Trump indicted by Special Counsel Jack Smith
In June 2023, Donald Trump was indicted on 31 counts of "willfully retaining national defense information" under the Espionage Act by a federal grand jury constituted by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Trump pleaded not guilty.
August 2023: Indictment in Fulton County, Georgia
In August 2023, a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, indicted Donald Trump on 13 charges, including racketeering, for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election in the state.
2023: Liable in Civil Cases
In 2023, Donald Trump was found liable in civil cases for sexual abuse and defamation and for business fraud.
March 2024: Campaign legal bills
By March 2024, Donald Trump's campaign had paid $100 million towards his legal bills.
March 2024: TMTG Becomes a Public Company
In March 2024, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, became a public company.
April 2024: Status of Reunification of Separated Migrant Children
By April 2024, 1,360 children who were separated from their families under the Trump administration's policy had not been confirmed as reunified with their families.
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 to Stormy Daniels.
July 13, 2024: Assassination attempt at rally
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: Case Dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon
In July 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case against Donald Trump, 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 and 49.8% of the popular vote.
December 2024: Federal Appeals Courts Upholds Findings and Awards in Carroll Case
In December 2024, Federal appeals courts upheld both findings and awards in Carroll Case.
2024: Support for Outlawing Political Dissent and Criticism
By 2024, Trump repeatedly voiced support for outlawing political dissent and criticism, and said that reporters should be prosecuted.
2024: $100 million in 1973 equivalent to $708 million in 2024
In 1973, Roy Cohn helped Trump countersue the U.S. government for $100 million, equivalent to $708 million in 2024.
2024: Guilty Verdict
In 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty in 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first U.S. president convicted of a felony. After winning the 2024 presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris, he was sentenced to a discharge, and two federal felony indictments against him for retention of classified documents and obstruction of the 2020 election were dismissed without prejudice.
2024: Fred Trump paid his children each about $265,000 a year in 2024
In 2024, Fred Trump paid his children each about $20,000 a year, equivalent to $265,000 a year.
2024: IRS Investigation
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.
2024: Use of Dehumanizing Language and Racial Stereotypes
In 2024, Trump's campaign made extensive use of dehumanizing language and racial stereotypes.
2024: Promise to Release Epstein Files
In 2024, during his campaign, Trump promised to release files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
2024: American Political Science Association Ranks Trump as Worst President
In 2024, the American Political Science Association ranked Trump as the worst president.
January 10, 2025: No-penalty sentence given
On January 10, 2025, Donald Trump received a no-penalty sentence, an unconditional discharge, with the judge stating punitive requirements would interfere with presidential immunity.
January 20, 2025: Trump begins second term
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump began his second term as president, becoming the oldest to assume the presidency, the first president with a felony conviction, and the second person to serve two nonconsecutive terms as president.
February 2025: Mass job terminations of federal employees
By late February 2025, the Trump administration had fired more than 30,000 federal employees.
February 2025: Confrontation with Ukrainian president
In February 2025, Donald Trump and Vice President Vance berated Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a highly contentious televised meeting.
February 2025: Elon Musk as a special government employee
In February 2025, the White House stated that Elon Musk was a special government employee and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gained access to many federal government agencies.
March 2025: Imprisonment of illegal immigrants
In March 2025, Donald Trump used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to imprison illegal immigrants without trial at the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador.
July 2025: Defiance of judges and courts
By mid-July 2025, a Washington Post analysis found that Donald Trump defied judges and the courts in roughly one third of all cases against him.
July 2025: One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law
In July 2025, Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, making the tax cuts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and adding additional tax deductions.
August 2025: Appeals Court Upholds Liability but Voids Monetary Penalty
In August 2025, the appeals court upheld Trump's liability and nonmonetary penalties but voided the monetary penalty as excessive.
September 2025: Federal Appeals Courts Upholds Findings and Awards in Carroll Case
In September 2025, Federal appeals courts upheld both findings and awards in Carroll Case.
October 2025: Gaza ceasefire deal signed
Donald Trump's plan for a Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was signed in October 2025.
November 2025: Pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández
In November 2025, Donald Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been extradited to the U.S. in 2022 and sentenced to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking.
November 2025: Case dismissal
In November 2025, the case against Donald Trump was dismissed after the new prosecutor declined to pursue the charges.
December 2025: Release of Heavily Redacted Epstein Files
In December 2025, Trump's administration released files relating to Epstein, mostly heavily redacted.
2025: Forbes Net Worth Ranking
In 2025, Forbes estimated Trump's net worth at $5.1 billion and ranked him the 700th wealthiest person in the world.
January 2026: Lawsuits against Trump's orders and actions
As of mid-January 2026, Donald Trump's orders and actions had been challenged in over 550 lawsuits nationwide.
January 2026: Withdrawal of threats towards Greenland
In January 2026, Donald Trump appeared to withdraw both threats, stating that he had reached "the framework of a future deal" with NATO.
January 2026: Capture of Nicolás Maduro
In January 2026, the U.S. captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a military raid in Venezuela and took him to New York, where he was charged with drug trafficking.
January 2026: Operation Metro Surge
In January 2026, the deportation campaign led to violent confrontations and increased in intensity following high-profile killings of U.S. citizens by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge.
2026: Release of Additional Epstein Files
In 2026, roughly three million additional pages of Epstein files were released including approximately 38,000 references to Trump.
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