History of Donald Trump in Timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman. He served as the 45th U.S. President from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he is also the 47th President of the United States.
1900: Trump granted fewer requests for clemency than all presidents since 1900 with the exception of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
Trump granted 237 requests for clemency, fewer than all presidents since 1900 with the exception of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
1938: Gallup Poll History
In 1938, Gallup started conducting polls, which would later show Donald Trump as the only president never to reach a 50 percent approval rating.
June 14, 1946: Donald Trump's Birth
On June 14, 1946, Donald John Trump was born in Queens, New York City, to Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.
June 14, 1946: Birth of Donald Trump
On June 14, 1946, Donald John Trump was born at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City.
1946: Gallup Poll Start
In 1946, Gallup started conducting the annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire the most.
1964: Enrolls at Fordham University
In 1964, Donald Trump enrolled at Fordham University after attending New York Military Academy.
May 1968: 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: 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 his father's real estate company, Trump Management.
1970: Co-producing Broadway Comedy
In 1970, Donald Trump invested $70,000 to receive billing as coproducer of a Broadway comedy.
1971: President of Trump Organization
In 1971, Donald Trump became the president of his family's real estate business, which he renamed the Trump Organization.
1971: Becomes President of Trump Management
In 1971, Donald Trump's father made him president of the company, and he began using the Trump Organization as an umbrella brand.
1973: Countersues the U.S. Government
In 1973, with the help of Roy Cohn, Donald Trump countersued the U.S. government for $100 million over charges of racially discriminatory practices in his properties.
1977: Marriage to Ivana Zelníčková and Donald Jr.'s birth
In 1977, Trump married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková, and their son Donald Jr. was born.
1980: Grand Hyatt Hotel Opens
In 1980, the renovated 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 daughter of Donald Trump and Ivana Zelníčková, was born.
September 1983: Purchases New Jersey Generals
In September 1983, Donald Trump purchased the New Jersey Generals, a team in the United States Football League.
1984: Opens 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 Poses as 'John Barron'
In 1984, Donald Trump, posing as a Trump Organization official named "John Barron", called journalist Jonathan Greenberg, trying to get a higher ranking on the Forbes 400 list of wealthy Americans.
1984: Birth of Eric Trump
In 1984, Eric Trump, the son of Donald Trump and Ivana Zelníčková, was born.
1985: Start of Film and Television Cameos
From 1985 to 2001, Donald Trump had cameos in many films and television shows.
1985: Acquires Mar-a-Lago Estate
In 1985, Donald Trump acquired the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
1985: Buys Atlantic City Hilton Hotel
In 1985, Donald Trump bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump Castle.
1985: USFL Folded After Attempt to Move to Fall Schedule
In 1985, after the season, the United States Football League folded, largely due to Donald Trump's attempt to move to a fall schedule.
May 1986: Takes 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: Purchases Significant Blocks of Shares
From 1986, Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting that he intended to take over the company and then sold his shares for a profit, leading some observers to think he was engaged in greenmail.
1987: Trump Expresses Views 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: Trump Registers 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 Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz, was published and became a New York Times Best Seller, making him famous.
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 Seeks to Be Considered as Vice Presidential Nominee
In 1988, Donald Trump approached Lee Atwater, asking to be put into consideration to be Republican nominee George H. W. Bush's running mate, but Bush found the request "strange and unbelievable".
1988: Buys Trump Taj Mahal
In 1988, Donald Trump bought a third Atlantic City venue, the Trump Taj Mahal.
1988: Purchases Eastern Air Lines Shuttle
In 1988, Donald Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, financing the purchase with $380 million in loans.
1988: Establishment of The Donald J. Trump Foundation
In 1988, The Donald J. Trump Foundation, a private foundation, was established.
1988: Purchases Significant Blocks of Shares
Until 1988, Donald Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting that he intended to take over the company and then sold his shares for a profit, leading some observers to think he was engaged in greenmail.
1989: Membership to SAG-AFTRA
Donald Trump was a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1989.
1989: Lends Name to Tour de Trump
In 1989, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
1989: Central Park jogger case
In 1989, Trump insisted that a group of five black and Latino teenagers were guilty of raping a white woman in the Central Park jogger case.
April 1990: Opening of Trump Taj Mahal
In April 1990, the Trump Taj Mahal opened, financed with $675 million in junk bonds and completed for $1.1 billion.
1990: Lends Name to Tour de Trump
In 1990, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
1990: Trump Declares Negative Net Worth
In 1990, Donald Trump self-reported his net worth at a low of minus $900 million.
1990: Divorce from Ivana Zelníčková
In 1990, Trump and Ivana Zelníčková divorced following his affair with Marla Maples.
1991: First bankruptcy protection
In 1991, Donald Trump began filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses.
1991: Defaults on Trump Shuttle Loans
In 1991, Donald Trump defaulted on his loans for the Trump Shuttle, and ownership passed to the banks.
1991: Trump Taj Mahal Bankruptcy
In 1991, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the Trump Taj Mahal.
1991: First Bankruptcy Filing for Trump's Businesses
In 1991, Donald Trump's over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the first time.
1992: Formation of All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp.
In 1992, Donald Trump, along with his siblings and cousin, formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp., which is alleged to have been a shell company for marking up vendor costs.
1992: End of Trump Shuttle Operation
In 1992, Trump Shuttle ceased operation.
1992: Casinos File for Bankruptcy Protection
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 the banks took control of the property.
1993: Marriage to Marla Maples and birth of Tiffany Trump
In 1993, Trump married Marla Maples, and their daughter Tiffany was born.
1994: Sells 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: Converts 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, while still using a wing as a private residence.
1995: Defaults on Bank Loans
In 1995, Donald Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, leading lenders to seize the Plaza Hotel and other properties.
1995: Founds Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
In 1995, Donald Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.
1995: Leak of Trump's 1995 State Filings
In October 2016, portions of Donald Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked to a reporter from The New York Times, showing he had declared a loss of $916 million that year.
1996: Acquires 40 Wall Street
In 1996, Donald Trump acquired and renovated the skyscraper at 40 Wall Street, later rebranded as the Trump Building.
1996: Purchases 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 Joins the Independence Party
In 1999, Donald Trump became a member of the Independence Party, the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party.
1999: Begins 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 Withdraws from Reform Party Primaries
In February 2000, Donald Trump withdrew from the 2000 Reform Party presidential primaries after being a candidate for three months.
2000: CBP Apprehension Data Available
Monthly data for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehensions became available in 2000.
2001: End of Film and Television Cameos
From 1985 to 2001, Donald Trump had cameos in many films and television shows.
2001: Trump Registers as a Democrat
In 2001, Donald Trump registered as a Democrat.
2002: Moves Pageants to NBC
In 2002, Donald Trump moved the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants to NBC due to disagreements with CBS.
2002: Exoneration in Central Park jogger case
In 2002, the Central Park Five were exonerated when the actual rapist confessed and his DNA matched the evidence.
2004: Start of Trumped! Radio Program
From 2004 to 2008, Donald Trump had his own short-form talk radio program, Trumped!.
2004: Host of The Apprentice
In 2004, Donald Trump began hosting the reality television show "The Apprentice".
2004: THCR Bankruptcy
In 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) went bankrupt, leaving Donald Trump with 10 percent ownership.
2005: Cofounding of 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: Trump's donations to his foundation spent
Between 1987 and 2006, Donald Trump gave his foundation $5.4 million which had been spent by the end of 2006.
2006: Birth of Barron Trump
In 2006, Barron Trump, the son of Donald Trump and Melania Knauss, was born.
2007: Trump donated $65,000 to his foundation
Between 2007 and 2008, Donald Trump donated a total of $65,000 to his foundation.
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.
2008: End of Trumped! Radio Program
From 2004 to 2008, Donald Trump had his own short-form talk radio program, Trumped!.
2009: Filing for bankruptcy protection
In 2009, Donald Trump ended the period where he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses.
2009: Trump Re-Registers as a Republican
In 2009, Donald Trump registered as a Republican again.
2009: Resigns as Chairman of THCR
In 2009, Donald Trump resigned as chairman of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR).
2009: Sixth Bankruptcy Filing for Trump's Businesses
In 2009, Donald Trump's over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the sixth time.
2009: Start of Economic Expansion
In 2009, the longest economic expansion in American history began, continuing until February 2020.
2009: Trump Joins Twitter
Trump joined Twitter in 2009, marking the beginning of his significant social media presence.
2010: Trump University Renamed
In 2010, after being notified by New York State authorities that the use of "university" violated state law, Trump University changed its name to the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative.
May 2011: Trump Announces He Will Not Run for President in 2012
In May 2011, Donald Trump announced that he would not challenge President Barack Obama in the 2012 election after considering it and speaking at political conferences.
2011: Start as Fox & Friends Guest Commentator
From 2011 until 2015, Donald Trump was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.
2011: Trump Becomes Unaffiliated
In 2011, Donald Trump became unaffiliated with any political party.
2011: Promotion 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 considers challenging President Barack Obama
In 2012, Donald Trump considered challenging President Barack Obama in the election. He spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February and gave speeches in states with early primaries.
2012: Trump Re-Registers as a Republican Again
In 2012, Donald Trump registered as a Republican again.
2013: New York State Files 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. Two class actions were also filed in federal court.
2014: Trump promises to release tax returns
In 2014, Donald Trump promised to release tax returns if he ran for office.
2014: Trump weakened sanctions imposed after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Trump weakened the toughest U.S. sanctions imposed after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
June 2015: Trump Announces Candidacy for 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 and Miss USA pageants in reaction to Donald Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants.
August 2015: Beginning of ABC News review of cases invoking Trump
August 2015 marks the beginning of a period reviewed by ABC News, identifying at least 54 criminal cases through April 2020 in which Trump was invoked in connection with violence.
2015: End of The Apprentice Hosting
From 2004 to 2015, Donald Trump hosted The Apprentice, earning him more than $400 million with related licensing agreements.
2015: End as Fox & Friends Guest Commentator
From 2011 until 2015, Donald Trump was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.
2015: Trump promises to release tax returns
In 2015, Donald Trump promised to release tax returns if he ran for office.
2015: Trump Claims Net Worth of $10 Billion
In 2015, Donald Trump self-reported his net worth at a high of $10 billion.
2015: Hosting of The Apprentice ends
In 2015, Donald Trump stopped hosting the reality television show "The Apprentice".
2015: Release of letter from physician
In 2015, Trump's campaign released a letter from his longtime personal physician, Harold Bornstein, stating that he would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency".
March 2016: Trump Becomes Republican Front-Runner
In March 2016, Donald Trump became the Republican front-runner in the 2016 election.
July 2016: FBI launched Crossfire Hurricane
In July 2016, the FBI launched Crossfire Hurricane, an investigation into possible links between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
September 2016: Acknowledgment of Obama's U.S. birth
In September 2016, Trump acknowledged that Barack Obama was born in the U.S., although he reportedly expressed birther views privately in 2017.
October 2016: Trump Participates in Presidential Debates
In October 2016, Donald Trump participated in three presidential debates with Hillary Clinton. He twice refused to say whether he would accept the result of the election.
October 2016: Surface of 'hot mic' recording
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.
October 2016: Leak of Trump's 1995 State Filings
In October 2016, portions of Donald Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked to a reporter from The New York Times, showing he had declared a loss of $916 million that year.
November 8, 2016: Trump Elected President
On November 8, 2016, Donald Trump was elected president, receiving 306 pledged electoral votes versus 232 for Hillary Clinton, ultimately resulting in an official count of 304 to 227 after elector defections. He lost the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes.
December 2016: Announcement of the Donald J. Trump Foundation dissolution
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, Trump's politics and rhetoric led to the creation of a political movement known as Trumpism, characterized by right-wing populism.
2016: Ownership of 17 Golf Courses
By 2016, Donald Trump owned 17 golf courses.
2016: Urging or praising physical attacks
During his 2016 campaign, Trump urged or praised physical attacks against protesters or reporters.
2016: Benefit from free media coverage
During the 2016 campaign, Trump benefited from a record amount of free media coverage.
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 promised to protect Medicare funding
During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs.
2016: Wins Presidential Election
In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
2016: Identification as Presbyterian and Protestant
In 2016, Trump identified as a Presbyterian and a Protestant.
2016: Trump supports interrogation torture methods
In 2016, Trump said he supported the use of interrogation torture methods such as waterboarding.
2016: Gallup Poll Comparing U.S. Leadership Approval Ratings
In 2016, a Gallup poll comparing the approval ratings of U.S. leadership found that Trump led Obama in job approval in 29 countries, most of them non-democracies.
2016: Trump's 2016 Campaign Platform
In 2016, during his campaign, Donald Trump described NATO as "obsolete" and espoused noninterventionist and protectionist views. His platform emphasized renegotiating U.S.–China relations and free trade agreements, enforcing immigration laws, pursuing energy independence, and other policies.
2016: Settlement of 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.
2016: Cover up with Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election
The case stemmed from evidence that he booked Michael Cohen's hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as business expenses to cover up his alleged 2006–2007 affair with Daniels during the 2016 election.
2016: Trump used "rigged election" and "election interference"
Trump mentioned "rigged election" and "election interference" earlier and more frequently than in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
2016: Use of Twitter during 2016 campaign
Trump posted frequently on Twitter during his 2016 campaign.
January 2017: Trump signs executive order temporarily 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, resulting in protests and legal challenges.
January 2017: Intelligence agencies reported 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 Inaugurated as President
On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States.
February 2017: Seizure of medical records
In February 2017, three of Trump's agents seized his medical records in a raid on his longtime personal physician Harold Bornstein's office.
May 2017: Trump dismisses FBI director James Comey
In May 2017, Trump dismissed FBI director James Comey, saying a few days later that he was concerned about Comey's role in the Trump–Russia investigations.
May 2017: FBI opened second investigation after Comey firing
In May 2017, after Trump fired Comey, the FBI opened a second investigation into Trump's personal and business dealings with Russia.
October 2017: Hundreds of sub-cabinet positions without a nominee
In October 2017, there were hundreds of sub-cabinet positions without a nominee in the Trump administration.
December 2017: Signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
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 the revised version of Trump's travel ban to go into effect.
2017: Donald Trump Becomes 45th President
In 2017, Donald Trump assumed office as the 45th president of the United States.
2017: Private birther views
In 2017, Trump reportedly expressed 'birther' views privately, despite having acknowledged in September 2016 that Barack Obama was born in the U.S.
2017: Trump 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: Tweets as official presidential statements
In 2017, Trump's press secretary said that his tweets constituted official presidential statements.
2017: Gallup Poll Comparing U.S. Leadership Approval Ratings
In 2017, a Gallup poll in 134 countries comparing the approval ratings of U.S. leadership between 2016 and 2017 found that Trump led Obama in job approval in 29 countries; approval of U.S. leadership plummeted among its allies.
2017: Trump filed for reelection
In 2017, only a few hours after becoming president, Trump filed to run for reelection. He held his first reelection rally less than a month after taking office.
2017: Gallup Poll: Most Admired Man
In Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire the most, Trump placed second to Obama in 2017.
2017: Reduced formal press briefings
The first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings from about one hundred in 2017.
January 2018: Trump reportedly refers to some nations as "shithole countries"
In a January 2018 discussion of immigration legislation, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries", resulting in widespread condemnation 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, after initially blaming Democrats and insisting he could not stop the family separation policy with an executive order.
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, meeting Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
June 2018: New York Attorney General's Office Files 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 the elimination of 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 turnover rate among senior aides
As of 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: The Donald J. Trump Foundation Ceases Operation
In December 2018, The Donald J. Trump Foundation ceased operation and disbursed its assets to other charities.
December 2018: Federal government shutdown begins
In December 2018, Trump's refusal to sign any congressional spending bill unless it allocated funding for the border wall resulted in the longest-ever federal government shutdown, for 35 days.
2018: Review of Trump's Legal Actions by USA Today
According to a review 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: Limited Consumer Goods Licensing
By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license Donald Trump's name.
2018: Bornstein's comments on Trump letter
In 2018, Bornstein said Trump had dictated the contents of the 2015 letter and that three of Trump's agents had seized his medical records in a February 2017 raid on Bornstein's office.
2018: Lower-than-Projected Government Revenue
In 2018, government revenues were 7.6 percent lower than projected, following the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
2018: Trump signed legislation in response to opioid epidemic
In 2018, in response to the opioid epidemic, 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 Ranking
In 2018, members of the American Political Science Association ranked Trump as the worst president.
2018: Disclosure of inheritance by the New York Times
In 2018, the New York Times reported that Donald Trump borrowed at least $60 million from his father, largely did not repay the loans, and received another $413 million (2018 equivalent, adjusted for inflation) from his father's company.
2018: Reduced formal press briefings
In 2018, the first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings to about half the number held in 2017.
2018: Gallup Poll: Most Admired Man
In Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire the most, Trump placed second to Obama in 2018.
2018: Public perception of Trump as racist
In a 2018 national poll, about half of respondents said Trump is racist, with a greater proportion believing that he emboldened racists.
2018: Media coverage of falsehoods
Until 2018, the media rarely referred to Trump's falsehoods as lies, including when he repeated demonstrably false statements.
January 8, 2019: Many key positions unfilled in Trump administration
By January 8, 2019, of 706 key positions in the Trump administration, 433 had been filled and he had no nominee for 264.
January 2019: Federal government shutdown ends
In January 2019, the federal government shutdown ended after Trump agreed to fund the government without any funds for the border wall.
February 2019: Second meeting with Kim Jong Un
In February 2019, Trump met Kim Jong Un for the second time, in Hanoi.
March 2019: Mueller submitted final report
In March 2019, Robert Mueller submitted his final report, finding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to favor Trump, and that Trump's campaign welcomed the effort, but the evidence did not establish a conspiracy.
April 2019: House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas
In April 2019, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas seeking financial details from Trump's banks, Deutsche Bank and Capital One, and his accounting firm, Mazars USA.
June 2019: Third meeting with Kim Jong Un
In June 2019, Trump met Kim Jong Un for the third time, in the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
July 2019: Trump tweets that Democratic congresswomen should "go back"
In July 2019, Trump tweeted that four Democratic congresswomen—all minorities, three of whom are native-born Americans—should "go back" to the countries they "came from", leading to condemnation and praise from white nationalist publications.
October 2019: Talks with 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 $2 Million 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 voted to impeach Trump
In December 2019, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine.
2019: Mar-a-Lago Declared Primary Residence
In 2019, Donald Trump declared the Mar-a-Lago club his primary residence.
2019: First 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 accused Trump of rape
In 2019, journalist E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her in the 1990s and sued him for defamation over his denial.
2019: Supreme Court upholds travel ban
In 2019, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld Trump's travel ban.
2019: Further reduction in press briefings
In 2019, the first Trump presidency further reduced formal press briefings to two.
2019: Federal Budget Deficit Increase
In 2019, under Donald Trump, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, to nearly $1 trillion.
2019: Gallup Poll: Most Admired Man
In Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire the most, Trump tied with Obama for first place in 2019.
2019: Trump Tower No Longer Primary Residence
Until 2019 Trump Tower was the primary residence of Donald Trump.
January 2020: Trump expresses willingness to consider cuts to Medicare and other social safety-net programs
In January 2020, despite promising to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs during the 2016 campaign, Trump expressed willingness to consider cuts to them.
February 2020: Start of COVID-19 Recession
In February 2020, the COVID-19 recession began, ending the longest economic expansion in American history which began in 2009.
February 2020: Senate acquitted Trump
In February 2020, the Senate acquitted Trump on the impeachment charges brought by the House of Representatives.
April 2020: End of ABC News review of cases invoking Trump
April 2020 marks the end of a period reviewed by ABC News, identifying at least 54 criminal cases from August 2015 in which Trump was invoked in connection with violence.
April 2020: Trump halts funding of the World Health Organization
In April 2020, after weeks of attacks to draw attention away from his slow response to COVID-19, Trump halted funding of the World Health Organization.
May 2020: Twitter fact-checks Trump's tweets
In May 2020, Twitter began attaching fact-checks to tweets in which Trump made false claims.
May 2020: ABC News Review of Criminal Cases Invoking Trump
In May 2020, a nationwide review by ABC News identified at least 54 criminal cases, from August 2015 to April 2020, in which Trump was invoked in direct connection with violence or threats of violence mostly by white men and primarily against minorities.
June 2020: Controversial removal of protesters from Lafayette Square
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, federal law-enforcement officials controversially removed a largely peaceful crowd of lawful protesters from Lafayette Square, outside the White House. Trump then posed with a Bible for a photo-op at the nearby St. John's Episcopal Church, with religious leaders condemning both the treatment of protesters and the photo opportunity itself.
August 2020: Trump became the Republican nominee
In August 2020, Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee for the presidential election.
August 2020: Attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections halted
In August 2020, 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.
November 2020: Biden won the election
In November 2020, Joe Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes to Trump's 74.2 million, and 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232. Trump alleged election fraud.
December 2020: Reports of U.S. military on "red alert"
In December 2020, reports surfaced that the U.S. military was on "red alert," and ranking officers had discussed potential actions if Trump declared martial law. Concerns arose among officials like Mark Milley and Gina Haspel regarding possible coup attempts or military actions.
2020: Cases dismissed after reelection
After his reelection, the 2020 election obstruction case and the classified documents case were dismissed without prejudice due to Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
2020: Promotion of conspiracy theories
After the 2020 presidential election, Trump promoted conspiracy theories for his defeat that were characterized as "the big lie".
2020: Pew Research Poll on International Confidence in Trump
By mid-2020, a 13-nation Pew Research poll indicated that only 16 percent of international respondents expressed confidence in Trump, which was lower than the confidence levels for China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
2020: Loses Presidential Election
In 2020, Donald Trump lost the presidential election to Joe Biden and then attempted to overturn the results.
2020: Promotion of antimalarial drugs for COVID-19
In 2020, Trump promoted antimalarial drugs as a treatment for COVID-19, causing a U.S. shortage of these drugs and panic-buying in Africa and South Asia.
2020: Identification as a nondenominational Christian
In 2020, Trump said he was a nondenominational Christian.
2020: Gallup Poll: Most Admired Man
In Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire the most, Trump placed first in 2020.
2020: Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election
In connection with Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his involvement in the January 6 attack, in December 2022 the U.S. House committee on the attack recommended criminal charges against him.
2020: Research on Trump's Impact on Partisan Opinions
Research from 2020 found that Trump had a stronger impact on popular assessments towards American political parties and partisan opinions than any president since Harry S. Truman.
2020: Trump used "rigged election" and "election interference"
Trump mentioned "rigged election" and "election interference" earlier and more frequently than in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
2020: Lawsuits against media outlets
Trump's 2020 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 of which were dismissed.
2020: Trump's continuing false claims concerning the 2020 election
Upon leaving the White House, Trump began living at Mar-a-Lago. His continuing false claims concerning the 2020 election were commonly referred to as the "big lie" by his critics.
January 6, 2021: Trump held a rally and his supporters attacked the Capitol
On January 6, 2021, Trump held a rally in Washington, D.C., urging his supporters to march to the Capitol. His supporters then attacked the Capitol building while Congress was certifying the presidential election results. He posted on social media but did not ask the rioters to disperse until 6 p.m., when he told them to "go home with love & in peace".
January 13, 2021: House charged Trump with incitement of insurrection
On January 13, 2021, the House charged Trump with incitement of insurrection following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
February 2021: Trump registered Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG)
In February 2021, Trump registered a new company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), for providing "social networking services" to U.S. customers.
February 2021: Supreme Court Allows Release of Trump's Tax Returns
In February 2021, after a lengthy court battle, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Donald Trump's tax returns and other records to be released to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation.
May 2021: Trump used term "big lie" to refer to election
In May 2021, Trump began using the term "big lie" with his supporters to refer to the election itself.
2021: Global backlash against incumbent parties, in part due to the 2021 inflation surge.
His victory in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties, in part due to the 2021–2023 inflation surge.
2021: Second Impeachment
In 2021, Donald Trump was impeached for incitement of insurrection, but the Senate acquitted him.
2021: End of Presidential Term
In 2021, Donald Trump's term as the 45th president of the United States came to an end.
2021: Resignation and Barring 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: Lawsuit against Meta
In 2021, Trump filed a lawsuit against Meta over his suspension.
2021: Refugee admissions reduced to record lows
In 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: Trump's Approval Rating in Gallup Poll
In 2021, Trump was identified as the only president never to reach a 50 percent approval rating in the Gallup poll, which dates to 1938, partially due to a record-high partisan gap in his approval ratings: 88 percent among Republicans and 7 percent among Democrats.
2021: January 6 Capitol Attack
In 2021, after attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, the January 6 Capitol attack occurred.
2021: C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey
In C-SPAN's 2021 survey of presidential historians, historians ranked Trump as the fourth-worst president, rating him lowest in moral authority and administrative skills.
January 2022: National Archives retrieved documents from Mar-a-Lago
In January 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration retrieved 15 boxes of documents, some classified, that Trump had taken to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House.
February 2022: TMTG launched Truth Social
In February 2022, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) launched Truth Social, a social media platform.
July 2022: Trump continued to pressure state legislators to overturn the election
As of July 2022, Trump continued to pressure state legislators to overturn the 2020 election results.
August 8, 2022: FBI searched 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, some marked top secret.
September 2022: Settlement reached with Mazars USA
In September 2022, Trump and the House Oversight Committee reached a settlement regarding Mazars USA, and the firm began turning over documents.
November 2022: Reinstatement of Twitter account
In November 2022, Elon Musk reinstated Trump's Twitter account after acquiring Twitter.
November 2022: Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election
In November 2022, Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election and created a fundraising account.
December 2022: House committee recommended criminal charges against Trump
In December 2022, the U.S. House committee recommended criminal charges against Trump for obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and inciting or assisting an insurrection.
2022: Carroll sued Trump again
In 2022, E. Jean Carroll sued Trump again for battery and more defamation, and New York filed a civil lawsuit against Trump accusing him of inflating the Trump Organization's value.
2022: Siena College Research Institute Survey
The Siena College Research Institute's 2022 survey ranked 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.
2022: Roe v. Wade was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
Trump later took credit when Roe v. Wade was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022; all three of his Supreme Court nominees voted with the majority.
January 2023: Return to Facebook and Instagram
In January 2023, Meta Platforms' two-year ban lapsed, allowing Trump to return to Facebook and Instagram.
March 2023: Campaign began diverting donations
In March 2023, Trump's campaign began diverting 10 percent of donations to his leadership PAC.
June 2023: Trump indicted on Espionage Act charges
In June 2023, Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump on 31 counts of "willfully retaining national defense information" under the Espionage Act, among other charges.
August 2023: Trump indicted in Georgia
In August 2023, 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 ruled Trump disqualified
In December 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump disqualified for the Colorado Republican primary for his role in inciting the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress.
2023: Global backlash against incumbent parties, in part due to the 2023 inflation surge.
His victory in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties, in part due to the 2021–2023 inflation surge.
2023: Civil Case Liabilities
In 2023, Donald Trump was found liable in civil cases for sexual abuse, defamation, and business fraud.
March 2024: TMTG became a public company
In March 2024, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) merged with Digital World Acquisition and became a public company.
March 2024: Supreme Court restored Trump's name to the ballot
In March 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court restored 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, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.
July 13, 2024: Trump shot in assassination attempt
On July 13, 2024, Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania.
July 2024: Judge dismissed case
In July 2024, judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, ruling Smith's appointment as special prosecutor was unconstitutional.
November 2024: Trump won the election
In November 2024, Trump won the election with 312 electoral votes to incumbent vice president Kamala Harris's 226, making him the second president in U.S. history after Grover Cleveland to be elected to a nonconsecutive second term.
2024: Support for outlawing political dissent
By 2024, Trump repeatedly voiced support for outlawing political dissent and criticism, and said that reporters should be prosecuted for not divulging confidential sources and media companies should possibly lose their broadcast licenses for unfavorable coverage of him.
2024: False attacks against Kamala Harris
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump made false attacks against the racial identity of his opponent, Kamala Harris, described as reminiscent of the birther conspiracy theory.
2024: Conviction for Falsifying Business Records
In 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records, becoming the first U.S. president convicted of a felony. Subsequently, after winning the 2024 presidential election against Kamala Harris, he was sentenced to a penalty-free discharge, and two other felony indictments against him were dismissed.
2024: Forbes Estimate of Trump's Net Worth
In 2024, Forbes estimated Donald Trump's net worth at $2.3 billion and ranked him the 1,438th wealthiest person in the world.
2024: Value of Fred Trump's Payments to Children
In 2024, Fred Trump's annual payments of $20,000 to each of his children are equivalent to $265,000.
2024: IRS Investigation Reported
In 2024, The New York Times and ProPublica reported that the Internal Revenue Service was investigating Donald Trump for potentially writing off losses improperly.
2024: Trump calls Meta 'enemy of the people'
In 2024, Trump continued to call Meta an "enemy of the people".
2024: Purchase value in 1988 adjusted for inflation
In 2024, Trump's $380 million purchase of the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle in 1988 is equivalent to $1010 million.
2024: Value of countersuit in 1973
In 2024, Trump's countersuit from 1973 over charges of racially discriminatory practices in his properties is equivalent to $708 million.
2024: American Political Science Association Ranking
In 2024, members of the American Political Science Association ranked Trump as the worst president.
2024: Defamation lawsuit related to Central Park jogger case
In 2024, the men exonerated in the Central Park jogger case sued Trump for defamation after he said in a televised debate that they had committed the crime.
2024: Decline in illegal border crossings
In early 2024, the number of illegal crossings at the border had been dropping.
2024: Trump refused to commit to accepting the 2024 election results
Trump mentioned "rigged election" and "election interference" earlier and more frequently than in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns and refused to commit to accepting the 2024 election results.
January 10, 2025: Judge gave Trump a no-penalty sentence
On January 10, 2025, the judge gave Trump a no-penalty sentence known as an unconditional discharge.
January 2025: Meta settlement
In January 2025, Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit filed by Trump over his suspension.
January 20, 2025: Trump began his second term
On January 20, 2025, Trump began his second term upon his inauguration, becoming the oldest individual to assume the presidency and the first president with a felony conviction.
January 29, 2025: Signing of the Laken Riley Act
On January 29, 2025, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law.
February 3, 2025: Elon Musk as special government employee
On February 3, 2025, the White House announced that Elon Musk was a special government employee and that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was granted access to many federal government agencies.
February 2025: Lowest CBP Apprehensions Since 2000
In February 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehensions reached their lowest level since monthly data became available in 2000.
March 2025: Attempt to use Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants
In March 2025, Trump attempted to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for the first time since World War II to deport migrants, but was temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
2025: Executive actions mirroring Project 2025
In 2025, Time Magazine reported that nearly two-thirds of Trump's executive actions "mirror or partially mirror" proposals from Project 2025 within the first few days of his second term.
Mentioned in this timeline
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