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 Republican, Trump's presidency was marked by significant policy changes, including tax cuts and deregulation. Before entering politics, he built a real estate and branding empire. He is currently running for president again in 2024.
2 hours ago : Trump Warns Iran, Tensions Escalate in Middle East; IDF Soldier Killed.
Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran regarding the Hormuz Strait. Amid rising tensions, an Israeli soldier was killed by IDF fire during a raid on Hezbollah. Hunt for missing US pilot continues.
1900: Fewer Clemency Requests Granted Than Predecessors
Throughout Donald Trump's first term in office, he granted 237 requests for clemency, fewer than all presidents since 1900 with the exception of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
June 14, 1946: Donald Trump's Birth
On June 14, 1946, Donald John Trump was born. He is an American politician, media personality, and businessman.
June 14, 1946: Birth of Donald Trump
On June 14, 1946, Donald John Trump was born at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City.
1964: Enrollment at Fordham University
In 1964, Donald Trump enrolled at Fordham University and participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
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: Employment at Trump Management
In 1968, Donald Trump began working at Trump Management, his father's real estate company, managing apartment complexes.
1968: Graduation from University of Pennsylvania
In 1968, Donald Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in economics.
1969: Registered as Republican
In 1969, Donald Trump registered as a Republican in Queens.
1970: Investment in Broadway Comedy
In 1970, Donald Trump invested $70,000 in a Broadway comedy, losing the money.
1971: Trump Takes Over Family Business
In 1971, Donald Trump became the president of his family's real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization.
1971: Move to Manhattan and Presidency of Trump Organization
In 1971, Donald Trump moved to Manhattan and became the president of the Trump Organization, with his father becoming chairman.
1973: Countersuit Against the U.S. Government
In 1973, with Roy Cohn's help, Donald Trump countersued the U.S. government for $100 million over charges of discrimination in his properties.
1977: Marriage to Ivana Zelníčková
In 1977, Trump married Ivana Zelníčková, with whom he had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric.
1979: Introduction to Roger Stone
In 1979, Roy Cohn introduced Donald Trump to political consultant Roger Stone, who was enlisted to deal with the federal government.
1980: Grand Hyatt Hotel Opens and Trump Tower Development
In 1980, the Grand Hyatt Hotel reopened, and Donald Trump obtained rights to develop Trump Tower.
1983: Purchase of New Jersey Generals
In 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 the Holiday Corporation.
1984: Posing as 'John Barron'
In 1984, 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.
1985: Cameos in film and television
From 1985 to 2001, 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 Trump's Castle
In 1985, Donald Trump bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump's Castle.
1985: League Folded After 1985 Season
The United States Football League folded after the 1985 season, largely due to Donald Trump's actions.
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 shares in public companies
In 1986, Donald Trump began purchasing significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting intentions of taking over the companies, leading to speculation about greenmail.
1987: Advertisements on foreign policy views
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: Registered as Republican in Manhattan
In 1987, Donald Trump registered as a Republican in Manhattan.
1987: Publication of "The Art of the Deal"
In 1987, Donald Trump's first book, "The Art of the Deal", 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: 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, but Bush found the request "strange and unbelievable".
1988: Purchase of Trump Taj Mahal
In 1988, Donald Trump bought the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
1988: Sold shares for profit
In 1988, Donald Trump sold his shares for a profit after suggesting he intended to take over companies, but The New York Times reported that investors stopped taking his takeover talk seriously afterwards.
1988: Trump purchased Eastern Air Lines Shuttle
In 1988, Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle for $380 million (equivalent to $1.03 billion in 2025), financed by loans, and renamed it Trump Shuttle.
1988: Establishment of the Donald J. Trump Foundation
In 1988, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a private foundation, was established.
1989: Joined SAG-AFTRA
In 1989, Donald Trump joined SAG-AFTRA as a member. He would later resign in 2021.
1989: Tour de Trump Cycling Stage Race
In 1989, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
1989: Central Park Jogger Case Ads
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: Opening of Trump Taj Mahal
In April 1990, the Trump Taj Mahal opened, financed with $675 million in junk bonds and completed for $1.1 billion.
1990: Tour de Trump Cycling Stage Race
In 1990, Donald Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race.
1990: Divorce from Ivana Zelníčková
In 1990, Trump divorced Ivana Zelníčková following his affair with Marla Maples.
1990: Net Worth at Minus $900 Million
In 1990, Trump self-reported his net worth as minus $900 million.
1991: Default on Trump Shuttle loans
In 1991, Donald Trump defaulted on his loans for Trump Shuttle, which he had purchased in 1988, and ownership of the airline passed to the banks.
1991: Bankruptcy Filing for Trump Taj Mahal
In 1991, Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the Trump Taj Mahal.
1991: First bankruptcy protection filing
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: Shell Company Formation
In 1992, Donald Trump and relatives formed a shell company to pay vendors for his rental units and inflate costs for rent increases.
1992: Bankruptcy Filing for Trump's Castle
In 1992, Trump's Castle filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
1992: Plaza Hotel Bankruptcy
In 1992, the Plaza Hotel filed for bankruptcy protection, leading to banks taking control of the property.
1992: Trump Shuttle operated until 1992
Trump Shuttle operated until 1992, after Trump purchased it in 1988 and later defaulted on his loans in 1991.
1994: Continuation of Shell Company Scheme
In 1994, Donald Trump continued using the shell company scheme to inflate rents and transfer assets from Fred Trump.
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: Declared a $916 million loss
In 1995, Donald Trump declared a loss of $916 million. This loss was revealed when portions of Trump's state filings were leaked in October 2016.
1995: Default on Bank Loans
In 1995, Donald Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, leading to the seizure of the Plaza Hotel and other properties.
1995: Founding of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
In 1995, Donald Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.
1996: Purchase of Miss Universe pageants
In 1996, Donald Trump purchased the Miss Universe pageants, which included 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: Joined 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 divorced Marla Maples. They have one daughter, Tiffany.
February 2000: Withdrawal from Reform Party primaries
In February 2000, Donald Trump withdrew from the 2000 Reform Party presidential primaries after being a candidate for three months.
2001: End of cameos in film and television
From 1985 to 2001, Donald Trump had cameos in many films and television shows.
2001: Registered as Democrat
In 2001, Donald Trump registered as a Democrat.
2002: Move of pageants to NBC
In 2002, due to disagreements with CBS, Donald Trump moved the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants to NBC.
2002: Central Park Five Cleared of Suspicion
In 2002, the five teenagers accused by Trump in 1989 in the Central Park jogger case were cleared of suspicion.
2004: Start of 'Trumped!' radio program
From 2004 to 2008, Donald Trump had his own short-form talk radio program called Trumped!.
2004: Hosting The Apprentice
In 2004, Donald Trump began hosting The Apprentice, a reality show created by Mark Burnett, where he eliminated contestants with the phrase "you're fired".
2004: Bankruptcy of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
In 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) went bankrupt, leaving Donald Trump with 10 percent ownership.
2005: Cofounded Trump University
In 2005, Donald Trump cofounded Trump University, a company selling real estate seminars costing up to $35,000.
2005: Marriage to Melania Knauss
In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss.
2005: "Hot Mic" Recording
In 2005, a "hot mic" recording was made of Trump making lewd comments about kissing and groping women without their consent.
2006: Birth of Barron Trump
Barron Trump, the son of Donald Trump and Melania Knauss, was born in 2006.
2006: Trump's donations spent
By the end of 2006, the $5.4 million that Donald Trump gave to his foundation from 1987 to 2006 had been spent.
2007: Donations in 2007-2008
After donating a total of $65,000 in 2007-2008, Donald Trump stopped donating any personal funds to the Donald J. Trump Foundation.
2007: Appearance at WrestleMania 23
In 2007, Donald Trump played himself as a super-rich boss at WrestleMania 23, an event staged by professional wrestling promotion WWE.
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 called Trumped!.
2008: Clinton's Alleged Role in Birther Conspiracy
In September 2016, Trump falsely claimed that Hillary Clinton had started the birther rumors during her 2008 presidential campaign.
2009: Registered as Republican again
In 2009, Donald Trump registered as a Republican again.
2009: Trump's Departure as Chairman of THCR
In 2009, Donald Trump remained chairman of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts until 2009.
2009: Sixth bankruptcy protection filing
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 between 1991 and 2009.
2009: Start of economic expansion
In 2009, The longest economic expansion in American history started and continued until February 2020, when the COVID-19 recession began.
2009: Bankruptcy Filing for Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
In 2009, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
2010: Name change to Trump Entrepreneur Initiative
In 2010, Trump University changed its name to the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative after New York State authorities said that its use of "university" violated state law.
May 2011: Announcement not to run in 2012
In May 2011, Donald Trump announced that he would not challenge President Barack Obama in the 2012 election.
2011: Guest commentator on Fox & Friends
From 2011 until 2015, Donald Trump was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.
2011: Unaffiliated registration
In 2011, Donald Trump registered as unaffiliated.
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: Considered challenging President Barack Obama
In 2011, Donald Trump considered challenging President Barack Obama in the 2012 election. He spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February and gave speeches in states with early primaries.
2012: Registered as Republican again
In 2012, Donald Trump registered as a Republican again.
2013: New York filed suit against Trump University
In 2013, the State of New York filed a $40 million civil suit against Trump University, alleging false statements and defrauding consumers.
2014: Weakened Sanctions after Crimea Annexation
In 2014, Donald Trump weakened the toughest U.S. sanctions imposed after the Russian annexation of Crimea.
June 2015: Announcement of 2016 candidacy
In June 2015, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election.
June 2015: NBC and Univision dropped pageants
In June 2015, NBC and Univision dropped the Miss Universe pageants in reaction to comments Donald Trump made about Mexican immigrants.
August 2015: Start of Criminal Cases Invoking Trump's Rhetoric
Starting in August 2015, criminal cases began to surface where defendants invoked Trump's rhetoric in connection with violence or threats of violence.
2015: End of hosting The Apprentice
From 2004 to 2015, Donald Trump hosted The Apprentice, a reality show created by Mark Burnett. He hosted a variant called the Celebrity Apprentice as well.
2015: End as guest commentator on Fox & Friends
From 2011 until 2015, Donald Trump was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.
2015: Final Season of The Apprentice
In 2015, Donald Trump hosted the final season of the reality television show "The Apprentice".
2015: Net Worth Estimate by Forbes
In 2015, Forbes estimated Trump's net worth at $4.5 billion, based on interviews with more than 80 sources.
2015: Release of Letter from Personal Physician
In 2015, 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'.
2015: Reshaping of the Republican Party
Since 2015, Donald Trump's leadership style and political agenda, often referred to as Trumpism, have reshaped the Republican Party's identity.
March 2016: Republican front-runner
In March 2016, Donald Trump became the Republican front-runner in the presidential race.
July 2016: FBI Launches Crossfire Hurricane Investigation
In July 2016, the FBI launched Crossfire Hurricane, an investigation into possible links between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.
September 2016: Acknowledgment of Obama's Birthplace
In September 2016, Trump publicly acknowledged Barack Obama's birthplace and falsely claimed that Hillary Clinton had started the birther rumors during her 2008 presidential campaign.
October 2016: "Grab 'em by the pussy" Recording
In October 2016, a 2005 "hot mic" recording surfaced in which Trump bragged about kissing and groping women without consent, saying, "when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab 'em by the pussy." This led to widespread media exposure and his first public apology.
October 2016: Leak of 1995 tax filings
In October 2016, portions of Donald Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked, revealing he declared a $916 million loss that year, potentially allowing him to avoid taxes for up to 18 years.
December 2016: Announcement of foundation dissolution
In December 2016, Donald Trump's team announced that the Donald J. Trump Foundation would be dissolved.
2016: Golf Course Holdings
By 2016, Donald Trump owned 17 golf courses globally.
2016: Emergence of Trumpism
During his 2016 campaign, Trump's politics and rhetoric resulted in the formation of Trumpism, a political movement that has been compared to a cult of personality.
2016: Campaign promises and positions
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump advocated for renegotiating trade agreements, enforcing immigration laws, building a wall on the Mexico-U.S. border, increasing military spending, and more.
2016: Pledge to Overturn Roe v. Wade
During the 2016 campaign, Donald 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 Identifies as Presbyterian and Protestant
In 2016, Donald Trump publicly identified himself as both a Presbyterian and a Protestant, marking a moment in his evolving public statements about his religious affiliations.
2016: Trump Wins Presidential Election
In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton.
2016: Free Media Coverage and Press Accusations
In the 2016 campaign, Trump benefited from a record amount of free media coverage, estimated at $2 billion. He also frequently accused the press of bias, calling it the "fake news media" and "the enemy of the people".
2016: Settlement of Trump University cases
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: Executive Order on Travel Ban
In January 2017, Donald Trump signed an executive order denying entry to citizens from six Muslim-majority countries for four months and from Syria indefinitely, leading to protests and legal challenges.
January 2017: U.S. 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 Donald Trump.
January 20, 2017: Inauguration as President
On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States. The day after, there were Women's Marches worldwide.
February 2017: Seizure of Medical Records
In February 2017, three of Trump's agents seized Harold Bornstein's medical records in a raid on Bornstein's office.
May 2017: Dismissal of FBI Director James Comey
In May 2017, Donald Trump dismissed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey.
May 2017: FBI Opens Second Investigation After Comey Firing
In May 2017, after Donald 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 Unfilled
In October 2017, hundreds of sub-cabinet positions remained without a nominee in the Trump administration.
December 2017: Signed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In December 2017, Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced tax rates for businesses and individuals.
December 2017: Supreme Court Allows Revised Travel Ban to Take Effect
In December 2017, the Supreme Court allowed a revised version of Donald Trump's travel ban to go into effect.
2017: Trump Administration Initiates Family Separation Policy
From 2017 to 2018, the Trump administration implemented a policy of family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border, separating over 4,400 children from their migrant parents.
2017: Donald Trump Becomes 45th President
In 2017, Donald Trump began his term as the 45th president of the United States.
2017: Trump Files for Reelection
In 2017, Donald Trump filed to run for reelection only a few hours after becoming president.
2017: "Very Fine People on Both Sides" Controversy
In 2017, Trump's comments on the Unite the Right rally, where he condemned "this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" and stated that there were "very fine people on both sides", were criticized for implying a moral equivalence between white supremacists and counter-protesters.
2017: Americans Doubt Trump's Religious Beliefs
In 2017, during Donald Trump's first presidency (2017-2021), a survey indicated that 63% of Americans did not believe that he was religious despite his claims of Christian affiliation.
2017: Decline in International Approval of U.S. Leadership
In 2017, international approval ratings of U.S. leadership declined most among allies during Trump's first term.
2017: Reduction in Formal Press Briefings
The first Trump presidency reduced formal press briefings from about one hundred in 2017.
January 2018: Remarks About "Shithole Countries"
In January 2018, during an immigration legislation discussion, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries", remarks that were widely condemned as racist.
June 2018: First Meeting with Kim Jong Un
In June 2018, Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.
June 2018: Trump Mandates Detainment of Illegal Immigrant Families Together
In June 2018, amidst public outrage, Donald Trump mandated that illegal immigrant families be detained together unless there was a risk for the child, following the family separation policy.
June 2018: Civil suit filed 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.
July 2018: High Turnover of Senior Aides
By July 2018, 61 percent of Donald Trump's senior aides had left their positions, setting a record for recent presidents.
December 2018: Government Shutdown Due to Border Wall Funding Dispute
In December 2018, Donald Trump's refusal to sign a spending bill unless it included funding for the border wall resulted in a federal government shutdown.
December 2018: Trump Foundation ceased operation
In December 2018, the Donald J. Trump Foundation ceased operation and disbursed its assets to other charities.
2018: Involvement in legal actions
According to a USA Today review in 2018, Donald Trump and his businesses had been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions.
2018: Lawsuits and Filings
By 2018, Donald Trump had been involved in over 4,000 lawsuits, liens, and other filings.
2018: Licensing Deals
By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license Donald Trump's name.
2018: Start of Trade War with China
In 2018, Donald Trump began a trade war with China after imposing tariffs and other trade barriers.
2018: Signed opioid legislation
In 2018, Donald Trump signed legislation to increase funding for drug treatments in response to the opioid epidemic.
2018: Bornstein Claims Trump Dictated Letter
In 2018, Harold Bornstein said that Trump had dictated the contents of the 2015 letter about his health.
2018: Ranking as Worst President
In 2018, the American Political Science Association ranked Trump the worst president.
2018: Financial Support from Father
Trump received another $413 million (2018 equivalent, adjusted for inflation) from his father's company.
2018: Media's Portrayal of Falsehoods
Until 2018, the media rarely referred to Trump's falsehoods as lies, even when he repeated demonstrably false statements.
January 8, 2019: Many Key Positions Unfilled
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: Government Shutdown Ends Without Wall Funding
In January 2019, the government shutdown that started in December 2018, ended after Donald Trump agreed to fund the government without securing funds for the border wall.
March 2019: Mueller Report Findings
In March 2019, the Mueller report found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to favor Donald Trump and that Trump's campaign welcomed the effort, but the evidence "did not establish" a conspiracy.
June 2019: Second Meeting with Kim Jong Un
In June 2019, Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un for the third time.
July 2019: Whistleblower Complaint Regarding Ukraine
In July 2019, a whistleblower complaint alleged that Donald Trump pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden.
July 2019: House Resolution Condemning Racist Remarks
In July 2019, the House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning Trump for racist remarks directed at four minority Democratic congresswomen.
October 2019: Talks on North Korean Denuclearization Break Down
In October 2019, talks on North Korean denuclearization broke down with no agreement reached.
November 2019: Trump ordered to pay charities
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.
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.
2019: Revocation of Press Passes
By 2019, the first Trump presidency had reduced formal press briefings from about one hundred in 2017 to two and revoked the press passes of two White House reporters, which were later restored by the courts.
2019: Federal budget deficit increased
By 2019, under Donald Trump, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, reaching nearly $1 trillion.
2019: Mar-a-Lago Declared Primary Residence
In 2019, Donald Trump declared Mar-a-Lago club his primary residence.
2019: First Impeachment
In 2019, Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress but was acquitted by the Senate.
2019: Supreme Court Upholds Travel Ban
In 2019, the Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration's travel ban.
2019: Primary Residence
Until 2019, Donald Trump used the Trump Tower as his primary residence.
February 2020: Start of COVID-19 recession
In February 2020, the COVID-19 recession began, ending the longest economic expansion in American history, which had started in 2009.
February 2020: Senate Acquits Trump
In February 2020, the Senate acquitted Donald Trump on the impeachment charges.
April 2020: Criminal Cases Invoking Trump's Rhetoric
By April 2020, a nationwide 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: Criminal Cases Invoking Trump's Rhetoric
A nationwide review by ABC News in May 2020 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.
May 2020: Twitter Fact-Checks Begin
In May 2020, Twitter began to tag some of Trump's tweets with fact-checks after years of criticism for allowing him to post misinformation and falsehoods.
June 2020: Lafayette Square Protests and Bible Photo Op
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, federal law enforcement used tear gas to remove protesters from Lafayette Square. Trump then posed with a Bible for a photo op at St. John's Episcopal Church, drawing condemnation from religious leaders.
August 2020: Trump Officially Becomes Republican Nominee
In August 2020, Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee for the presidential election.
August 2020: Attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections
In August 2020, Donald Trump's attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients was halted by a federal judge.
November 2020: Joe Biden Wins the 2020 Election
In November 2020, Joe Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes to Donald Trump's 74.2 million.
2020: Promotion of Conspiracy Theories After Election Defeat
After the 2020 presidential election, Trump promoted conspiracy theories regarding his defeat, characterized as "the big lie".
2020: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
As of 2020, 26 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct, including rape, kissing without consent, groping, looking under women's skirts, and walking in on naked teenage pageant contestants, all of which he has denied.
2020: Trump Declares Himself a Nondenominational Christian
In 2020, Donald Trump stated that he was a nondenominational Christian, which further fueled discussions about his religious identity and beliefs.
2020: Wins 2024 Presidential Election
In 2020, Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris, was given a no-penalty sentence, and two federal felony indictments against him for retention of classified documents and obstruction of the 2020 election were dismissed without prejudice.
2020: Disinformation and the COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, Trump's disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic delayed and weakened the national response to it. Also His attacks on mail-in ballots weakened public faith in the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Election Loss
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Trump downplayed its severity, contradicted health officials, and signed the CARES Act. He also lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.
2020: False Claims Concerning Election
Upon leaving the White House, Donald Trump established an office at Mar-a-Lago, he began making false claims about the 2020 election.
January 6, 2021: Capitol Attack
On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump held a rally and urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, resulting in a mob breaking into the building.
January 13, 2021: House Charges Trump with Incitement of Insurrection
On January 13, 2021, the House charged Donald Trump with incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol attack.
February 2021: Release of tax records allowed
In February 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Donald Trump's tax records to be released to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation.
May 2021: Adoption of "Big Lie" Terminology
In May 2021, Donald Trump and many of his supporters began using the term "big lie" to refer to the 2020 election itself, continuing to push false claims of election fraud.
2021: Ranking as Fourth-Worst President
After Trump's first term, historians ranked Trump as the fourth-worst president in C-SPAN's 2021 survey of presidential historians. He rated lowest in moral authority and administrative skills.
2021: Capitol Attack and Second Impeachment
In 2021, Donald Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 election results, culminating in the January 6 Capitol attack. He was impeached for incitement of insurrection but acquitted by the Senate.
2021: Refugee Admissions Reduced to Record Low
In 2021, Donald Trump reduced the number of refugees admitted to the United States to a record low of 15,000, a significant drop from the 110,000 annual limit before he took office.
2021: End of Presidential Term
In 2021, Donald Trump's term as the 45th president of the United States concluded.
2021: Resignation from SAG-AFTRA
In 2021, Donald Trump, a member since 1989, resigned from SAG-AFTRA to avoid a disciplinary hearing regarding the January 6 attack.
2021: Trump's Approval Ratings
In a 2021 Gallup poll, 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.
February 2022: Launch of Truth Social
In February 2022, Donald Trump's Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) launched Truth Social, a pro-Trump social media platform.
November 2022: Twitter Account Reinstatement
In November 2022, Twitter reinstated Trump's account, which had been banned following the January 6 attack.
2022: Roe v. Wade Overturned
In 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, with all three of Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominees voting with the majority.
2022: Ranking as Third-Worst President
The Siena College Research Institute's 2022 survey ranked Trump as the 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.
2023: Liable in Civil Cases
In 2023, Donald Trump was found liable in civil cases for sexual abuse, defamation, and business fraud.
March 2024: Trump Media & Technology Group Becomes a Public Company
In March 2024, Donald Trump's Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) became a public company.
April 2024: Over 1,300 Children Not Confirmed Reunified with Families
By April 2024, 1,360 children separated from their families during the Trump administration's family separation policy had not been confirmed as reunified with their families.
May 2024: Guilty Verdict in Business Records Case
In May 2024, Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first U.S. president convicted of a felony.
July 13, 2024: Assassination attempt on Trump
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 case regarding Donald Trump's retention of classified documents, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment as special prosecutor was unconstitutional.
November 2024: Trump wins the 2024 presidential election
In November 2024, Donald Trump won the election with 312 electoral votes to incumbent vice president Kamala Harris's 226. He also won the popular vote with 49.8% to Harris's 48.3%.
December 2024: Appeals court upholds ruling in E. Jean Carroll case
In December 2024, a federal appeals court upheld the finding that Donald Trump was liable for sexual abuse and defamation against E. Jean Carroll, as well as the monetary award.
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.
2024: Increased Fearmongering During Campaign
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump's rhetoric intensified with fearmongering and demagogy. He regularly vilified his political opponents.
2024: Promise to Release Epstein Files
During the 2024 campaign, Trump promised to release files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
2024: Childhood allowance equivalent in 2024
In 2024, Fred Trump paid his children each about $20,000 a year, equivalent to $265,000 a year.
2024: Use of dehumanizing language and racial stereotypes during 2024 campaign
In 2024, during his presidential campaign, Trump made extensive use of dehumanizing language and racial stereotypes.
2024: APSA ranking Trump worst President
In 2024, the American Political Science Association ranked Trump the worst president.
January 10, 2025: Trump receives no-penalty sentence in hush-money case
On January 10, 2025, the judge in Donald Trump's hush-money case gave him a no-penalty sentence, known as an unconditional discharge, stating that punitive requirements would interfere with presidential immunity.
January 20, 2025: Trump begins his 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.
February 2025: Contentious meeting 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: Federal hiring freeze and job terminations
In February 2025, Donald Trump implemented a hiring freeze across the federal government, ordered telework to be discontinued, initiated mass job terminations, and by late February, the administration had fired more than 30,000 people.
February 2025: Musk as Special Government Employee
In February 2025, the White House declared Elon Musk a special government employee, granting his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to numerous federal agencies. Musk's teams operated within eighteen departments, including the Treasury Department, the Small Business Administration, and the General Services Administration.
March 2025: Trump uses Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants
In March 2025, Donald Trump used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport migrants without trial to be imprisoned at the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador.
May 2025: Aerial campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen
From March to May 2025, Donald Trump launched an extensive aerial campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen, his first major military operation in the Middle East during his second term.
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, actions which were described by legal experts as unprecedented for any presidential administration.
July 2025: One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law
In July 2025, Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, which made the temporary tax cuts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and added additional tax deductions. The bill increased funding for national defense, deportations, the border wall, and Trump's proposed Golden Dome missile defense system, and removed tax credits for renewable energy sources.
August 2025: Appeals court upholds liability in Trump Organization case
In August 2025, the appeals court upheld Donald Trump's liability and nonmonetary penalties in the New York civil lawsuit accusing him of inflating the Trump Organization's value, but voided the monetary penalty as excessive.
September 2025: Appeals court upholds ruling in E. Jean Carroll case
In September 2025, a federal appeals court upheld the finding that Donald Trump was liable for sexual abuse and defamation against E. Jean Carroll, as well as the monetary award.
October 2025: Gaza ceasefire deal signed
In October 2025, Donald Trump's plan for a Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was signed, leading to the creation of the Board of Peace.
November 2025: Pardon of former Honduran president
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 dismissed in Fulton County, Georgia
In November 2025, the case in Fulton County, Georgia, where Donald Trump was indicted on 13 charges for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, was dismissed after the new prosecutor declined to pursue the charges.
December 2025: Release of Redacted Epstein Files
In December 2025, some files relating to Jeffrey Epstein were released, mostly heavily redacted, under pressure following Trump's 2024 promise.
2025: Policy platform (Agenda 47)
Donald Trump's policy platform (Agenda 47) was vague, to limit criticism and maintain flexibility, in 2025.
2025: Value of countersuit settlement in 2025
In 1973, Donald Trump countersued the U.S. government for $100 million (equivalent to $725 million in 2025) over charges of discrimination in his properties.
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 against Greenland
In January 2026, Donald Trump appeared to withdraw both threats of annexation of Greenland and imposition of tariffs on European allies, stating that he had reached "the framework of a future deal" with NATO.
January 2026: Capture of Venezuelan president
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 leads to confrontations
In January 2026, the aggressive and hardline deportation campaign led to large nationwide protests and violent confrontations with migrants and protesters which increased in intensity following high-profile killings of U.S. citizens by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge.
February 2026: Joint U.S./Israeli air strikes on Iran
In February 2026, Donald Trump authorized joint U.S./Israeli air strikes on Iran and sent aircraft carriers and other combat ships to the Middle East. Israeli aerial bombs killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders, and Iran retaliated with rocket attacks on neighboring countries.
February 2026: Authorization of Strikes on Iran
In February 2026, Donald Trump authorized joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, which resulted in the 2026 Iran war.
February 2026: Supreme Court rules Trump's tariffs illegal
In February 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs Donald Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were illegal.
2026: Net Worth in 2026
In 2026, Forbes estimated Trump's net worth at $6.5 billion.
2026: Release of Additional Epstein Files
In 2026, roughly three million additional pages of files related to Jeffrey Epstein were released. These included approximately 38,000 references to Trump, his wife, Mar-a-Lago, and other Trump-related terms, encompassing 'salacious information'.
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