Donald John Trump is a prominent American figure who served as the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. He is known for his diverse background as a politician, media personality, and businessman. Trump's presidency was marked by controversy and significant political and social change.
Throughout his presidency, Trump granted 237 requests for clemency. However, only 25 of these were vetted by the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney, while the rest were granted to individuals with personal or political connections to him, his family, or his allies.
Since the Gallup poll began in 1938, Donald Trump is the only president to never reach a 50% approval rating.
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City.
Since the Gallup poll began in 1948, Donald Trump is the first elected president to not be named the most admired man in his first year in office.
Donald Trump was confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, in 1959.
Donald Trump enrolled at Fordham University in 1964.
Donald Trump was deemed fit for military service based on a medical examination in 1966.
Donald Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in economics in May 1968.
In July 1968, a local draft board classified Donald Trump as eligible to serve in the military.
In October 1968, Donald Trump was classified 1-Y, receiving a conditional medical deferment from military service.
Donald Trump graduated with a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968.
Trump began working for his father's real estate company, Trump Management, in 1968. The company owned racially segregated middle-class rental housing in New York City's outer boroughs.
Trump became president of Trump Management in 1971 and started using the Trump Organization as an umbrella brand.
In 1971, Donald Trump's father appointed him president of his real estate business.
In 1972, Donald Trump was reclassified 4-F due to bone spurs, permanently disqualifying him from military service.
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Trump in 1973, alleging that he engaged in discriminatory housing practices against black renters.
Trump, with legal assistance from his lawyer Roy Cohn, countersued the U.S. government in 1973 for $100 million over accusations of racial discrimination in his properties. However, Trump's counterclaims were dismissed, and the government's case proceeded.
An agreement was reached in 1975 requiring Trump's properties to provide the New York Urban League with a weekly list of apartment vacancies for a period of two years, among other provisions, aiming to address concerns about discriminatory housing practices.
In 1975, Trump settled a 1973 Department of Justice lawsuit that alleged he had discriminated against black renters in his housing properties.
Since 1976, it became customary for major presidential candidates to publicly release their tax returns, a practice that Donald Trump deviated from.
Donald Trump married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková in 1977.
Trump gained public attention in 1978 with the launch of his family's first Manhattan venture, the renovation of the Commodore Hotel.
The Commodore Hotel reopened as the Grand Hyatt Hotel in 1980. In the same year, Trump secured the rights to develop Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.
Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka was born in 1981.
Greenberg revealed that Forbes had significantly overestimated Trump's wealth, leading to his inaccurate inclusion in the 1982, 1983, and 1984 Forbes rankings.
In 1982, Trump debuted on the Forbes list of wealthy individuals due to his share of his family's estimated \$200 million net worth.
In September 1983, Trump purchased the New Jersey Generals, a team in the United States Football League.
The overestimation of Trump's wealth by Forbes persisted in 1983, resulting in his continued presence on the Forbes list despite financial misrepresentations.
Trump opened Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a hotel and casino, in 1984 with financial and management assistance from Holiday Corporation.
In 1984, journalist Jonathan Greenberg reported that Trump pretended to be a fictional Trump Organization official named "John Barron" to inflate his ranking on the Forbes 400 list.
Donald Trump's son Eric was born in 1984.
Donald Trump began making cameo appearances in various films and television shows in 1985.
From 1985 to 1994, Trump's tax returns revealed net losses totaling \$1.17 billion, exceeding those of most American taxpayers.
In 1985, Donald Trump purchased the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Also in 1985, the United States Football League, which Trump had purchased a team in a few years prior, folded, in part due to Trump's efforts to compete with the NFL.
Trump bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel in 1985 and renamed it Trump Castle.
Trump paid Holiday Corporation \$70 million in May 1986 to take sole control of Harrah's at Trump Plaza, which had been unprofitable.
From 1986 onward, Trump engaged in significant stock purchases of public companies, hinting at potential takeovers, only to sell his shares for profit, a practice some viewed as greenmail, exploiting market dynamics for personal gain.
"The Art of the Deal," Trump's first book, was published in 1987 and became a New York Times Best Seller. Although credited as a co-author, the book was actually written entirely by Tony Schwartz. It significantly boosted Trump's public image and established him as a successful businessman in the eyes of many.
From 1987, Trump began donating to the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a private foundation he established, ultimately contributing $5.4 million until 2006.
Donald Trump registered as a Republican in 1987, marking the beginning of his shifting political affiliations.
In 1987, Donald Trump publicly expressed his opinions on U.S. foreign policy and potential solutions to the federal budget deficit via full-page advertisements in three major newspapers.
Trump acquired the Plaza Hotel in 1988 with a loan from a consortium of sixteen banks.
Trump established the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a private foundation, in 1988.
Ivana Trump, Donald Trump's wife, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1988.
Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle in 1988 for $380 million, financing the deal with loans from a group of 22 banks.
Trump acquired his third Atlantic City venue, the Trump Taj Mahal, in 1988.
Ivana Trump managed the Trump Castle until 1988.
By 1988, Trump's stock market maneuvers had resulted in financial losses as investors grew skeptical of his takeover claims, highlighting the risks associated with his aggressive investment strategies.
Donald Trump approached Lee Atwater in 1988 to express his interest in being considered as George H.W. Bush's running mate. This request was perceived as unusual by Bush.
Donald Trump became a member of the Screen Actors Guild in 1989.
From 1989 onward, Trump became a recurring figure in hip hop songs, initially portrayed in a positive light.
In 1989, Trump became involved in the Central Park jogger case, publicly insisting on the guilt of a group of black and Latino teenagers accused of raping a white woman, even after they were exonerated by DNA evidence in 2002.
Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling race in 1989, aiming to establish an American counterpart to prestigious European cycling events.
The Trump Taj Mahal, financed with \$675 million in junk bonds and completed for \$1.1 billion, opened in April 1990.
Donald Trump and his wife, Ivana, divorced in 1990.
In 1990, Trump experienced significant financial losses, exceeding \$250 million, more than double the losses of other taxpayers.
The Tour de Trump cycling race continued in 1990, further solidifying Trump's foray into the world of professional cycling.
Trump's financial losses in the 1980s caused his removal from the Forbes list of wealthy individuals between 1990 and 1995.
Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses between 1991 and 2009.
In 1991, marking the first of several such instances, Trump's over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This allowed these businesses to restructure their debt and continue operating while reducing Trump's ownership stake.
Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991 and sold various assets, including the Trump Shuttle airline and his megayacht, to reduce his \$900 million personal debt.
In 1991, Trump defaulted on the loans he had taken out to purchase the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, leading to the banks taking ownership of the airline.
Trump's financial losses continued in 1991, again surpassing \$250 million, marking a period of substantial financial challenges.
The Plaza Hotel filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992, leading to a reorganization plan that granted banks control of the property.
Trump ceased operating the airline, which he had renamed Trump Shuttle, in 1992 after defaulting on the loans used to purchase it.
In 1992, Trump and several family members formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp. This company, allegedly a shell corporation, was used to inflate the cost of services and supplies for Trump's rental properties, ultimately leading to higher rents for tenants in his rent-stabilized units.
Both Harrah's at Trump Plaza and Trump Castle filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1992.
Donald Trump married actress Marla Maples in 1993.
Norman Vincent Peale, who served as the pastor at Marble Collegiate Church and ministered to the Trump family, passed away in 1993.
Facing debt from other ventures in 1994, Trump sold a majority of his interest in the Lincoln Square development project to Asian investors, who then financed its completion.
The period of substantial net losses for Trump concluded in 1994, with his tax returns revealing a cumulative \$1.17 billion in losses.
In 1995, Trump converted the Mar-a-Lago estate into a private club.
Trump established Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) in 1995, which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.
Trump defaulted on over \$3 billion in bank loans in 1995, resulting in lenders seizing the Plaza Hotel and most of his other properties. This restructuring helped him avoid personal bankruptcy.
In 1995, Trump reported financial losses of \$915.7 million.
Donald Trump declared a $916 million loss in his 1995 tax filings, a figure that later came under scrutiny when portions of these filings were leaked.
After a period of absence, Trump reappeared on the Forbes list of wealthy individuals in 1995.
In 1996, Trump acquired and renovated the mostly vacant 71-story skyscraper at 40 Wall Street, later known as the Trump Building.
THCR acquired both the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle in 1996.
Trump became the owner of all or part of the Miss Universe pageants, including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, in 1996, marking his entry into the world of beauty pageants.
A poll conducted in July 1999, pitting Donald Trump against potential presidential nominees George W. Bush and Al Gore, indicated Trump with 7% support.
Donald Trump and his wife, Marla Maples, divorced in 1999.
Donald Trump became a member of the Independence Party, the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party, in 1999.
In 1999, the Trump Organization began purchasing and developing golf courses, amassing a portfolio of fourteen owned and three managed Trump-branded courses globally.
Donald Trump ended his campaign for the Reform Party's presidential nomination in February 2000.
Donald Trump ceased making cameo appearances in films and television shows in 2001.
Donald Trump switched his political affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2001.
DNA evidence exonerated the five teenagers accused in the Central Park jogger case in 2002.
Following scheduling conflicts with CBS, Trump moved both the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants to NBC in 2002, securing a new broadcasting platform for the events.
Trump co-founded Trump University in 2004, offering real estate seminars at a high cost, but facing legal challenges due to its misleading use of the term "university."
Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR) went bankrupt in 2004.
Donald Trump began hosting his short-form radio talk show "Trumped!" in 2004. In the same year, he also debuted as co-producer and host of the reality show "The Apprentice."
"The Apprentice", co-produced and hosted by Donald Trump, premiered in 2004, significantly impacting his public image and earning him hundreds of millions of dollars.
Donald Trump began co-producing and hosting the reality television series "The Apprentice" in 2004.
Donald Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss in 2005.
In 2005, Trump made lewd and offensive comments about women, bragging about kissing and groping them without consent, which would later surface in a leaked recording.
During the 2016 presidential election campaign, it was alleged that Trump had affairs with Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels between 2006 and 2007.
By 2006, Trump's initial donations of $5.4 million to the Donald J. Trump Foundation had been fully spent.
Donald Trump's son Barron was born in 2006. Melania Trump, Donald's wife, gained U.S. citizenship in the same year.
During the 2016 presidential election campaign, it was alleged that Trump had affairs with Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels between 2006 and 2007.
Trump's personal donations to the foundation dwindled, with only $65,000 contributed between 2007 and 2008, after which he ceased donating personal funds altogether.
Trump received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007, recognizing his role as a producer of the Miss Universe pageant.
Donald Trump appeared at WrestleMania 23 in 2007, marking one of his notable appearances with the WWE.
Donald Trump's radio show "Trumped!" concluded its run in 2008.
Trump ceased making personal donations to the foundation in 2008, marking a shift in his financial support for the charitable organization.
An extended period of economic growth in the United States started in 2009. This expansion continued until the onset of the COVID-19 recession in February 2020.
By 2009, Trump's hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a total of six times between 1991 and 2009. These filings, while allowing the businesses to continue operations, underscored the financial challenges and risks associated with Trump's business ventures.
Donald Trump rejoined the Republican Party in 2009.
THCR faced bankruptcy again in 2009, leaving Trump with 10 percent ownership. He remained chairman until 2009.
The last of Trump's six Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings for his businesses occurred in 2009.
Trump joined Twitter in 2009, marking the beginning of his significant social media presence, which would later attract worldwide attention.
Following legal challenges regarding its use of the term "university," Trump University was renamed the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative in 2010 to comply with state regulations.
Since 2010, Trump had deferred declaring \$287 million in forgiven debt as taxable income.
Donald Trump delivered his first speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2011. During this period, he also began making speeches in early primary states, hinting at a potential presidential run in 2012.
Despite prior speculation, Donald Trump declared in May 2011 that he would not run for president in the 2012 election.
In 2011, while considering a presidential run, Trump became a leading proponent of the racist "birther" conspiracy theory, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
In 2011, Donald Trump became a weekly guest commentator on Fox & Friends. He also started speculating about running for president against Barack Obama in the 2012 election.
Donald Trump chose to be unaffiliated with any political party in 2011.
As announced earlier, Donald Trump did not participate as a candidate in the 2012 presidential election.
Donald Trump registered again as a Republican in 2012, solidifying his affiliation with the party for his future political endeavors.
In 2013, Donald Trump was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame, signifying his long-standing relationship with the organization.
In 2013, Trump University faced a $40 million civil lawsuit from the State of New York for alleged fraudulent practices and misleading statements. In addition, two class-action lawsuits were filed against Trump and his companies in federal court.
Donald Trump, in 2014, pledged to release his tax returns if he were to run for public office.
Federal prosecutors asserted that Trump had been involved in discussions regarding non-disclosure payments as early as 2014.
In 2014, the Trump administration reduced the severity of penalties imposed on Russian entities following Russia's annexation of Crimea. This action, along with other decisions such as withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and supporting Russia's potential return to the G7, raised concerns about Trump's stance towards Russia.
In June 2015, NBC and Univision dropped the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants, stripping Trump of his ownership and involvement in the organization.
Donald Trump officially announced his candidacy for President of the United States in June 2015.
In July 2015, Trump filed a mandatory financial disclosure report with the FEC, announcing a net worth of about \$10 billion. Records showed at least \$1.4 billion in assets and \$265 million in liabilities.
August 2015 marked the beginning of the period analyzed by ABC News for criminal cases where Trump's rhetoric was linked to violence or threats of violence.
Following the 2015 San Bernardino attack, Trump proposed a ban on Muslim foreigners entering the U.S. until stronger vetting systems could be put in place. He later reframed the proposed ban to apply to countries with a history of terrorism.
Trump's estimated net worth in 2015 was \$4.5 billion according to Forbes.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, was signed in 2015. This agreement lifted most economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for Iran agreeing to restrictions on its nuclear program.
In 2015, Marble Collegiate Church stated that Donald Trump was not an active member.
After a successful run, "The Apprentice" concluded in 2015.
Donald Trump's roles as co-producer and host of "The Apprentice" and guest commentator on Fox & Friends both ended in 2015.
Donald Trump's campaign released a letter from his longtime personal physician, Harold Bornstein, in 2015.
Donald Trump repeated his commitment to disclose his tax returns upon running for office in 2015.
Donald Trump concluded his role as co-producer and host of "The Apprentice" in 2015.
Around 2015, as Trump entered politics, his portrayal in hip hop music shifted to a largely negative one.
Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, threatened legal action against Trump's colleges, high school, and the College Board if they released his academic records in 2015.
By March 2016, Donald Trump had emerged as the frontrunner in the Republican presidential primaries, exceeding initial expectations from political analysts.
In July 2016, the FBI launched "Crossfire Hurricane," an investigation into possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign.
Donald Trump appointed Steve Bannon, known for his association with the alt-right movement, as his campaign CEO in August 2016. This move brought far-right ideologies into the political mainstream and solidified support from the alt-right for Trump's candidacy.
In September 2016, facing mounting pressure, Trump publicly acknowledged that Barack Obama was born in the United States.
During the third presidential debate in October 2016, Donald Trump, for the second time, refused to confirm whether he would accept the outcome of the upcoming election.
Parts of Donald Trump's 1995 state tax filings were leaked to The New York Times in October 2016. These revealed a reported loss of $916 million, potentially enabling Trump to avoid taxes for an extended period.
Federal prosecutors asserted that Trump had been involved in discussions regarding non-disclosure payments as early as 2014. Court documents showed that the FBI believed Trump was directly involved in the payment to Daniels, based on calls he had with Cohen in October 2016.
In October 2016, a 2005 recording surfaced, capturing Trump making lewd comments about women and bragging about sexual assault. This incident led to Trump's first public apology during his campaign.
Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, securing 306 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton's 232, although the official count later adjusted due to elector defections. Despite losing the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes, Trump became the fifth person in U.S. history to be elected president without winning the popular vote. His victory was deemed an upset, defying predictions from most polls that favored Clinton.
Following legal scrutiny and allegations of misconduct, Trump's team announced the dissolution of the Donald J. Trump Foundation in December 2016, marking the end of the controversial charity.
On December 29, 2016, Trump's national security advisor, Michael Flynn, talked with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about sanctions imposed that day, leading to controversy and Flynn's resignation.
The special counsel's investigation focused on Russian interference in the 2016 election, potential coordination with the Trump campaign, and whether Trump obstructed justice by firing FBI Director James Comey.
Trump used Twitter frequently during his 2016 election campaign to communicate directly with the public and bypass traditional media outlets.
Trump received a record amount of free media coverage during the 2016 campaign, which significantly boosted his standing in the Republican primaries.
Trump and his allies promoted a conspiracy theory, also pushed by Russia, that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election, rather than Russia.
A 2016 Gallup poll comparing U.S. leadership approval ratings across 134 countries found that Donald Trump's approval ratings were lower than Barack Obama's in most countries, particularly among allies and G7 nations.
The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election with the goal of favoring Trump's election.
The Mueller report revealed extensive Russian interference in the 2016 election and detailed how Trump and his campaign embraced and encouraged this interference.
Part of the pressure campaign on Zelenskyy involved pushing for an investigation into rumors about Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a narrative often promoted by Trump and his allies.
Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump's efforts in 2016 to secure a deal for a Trump Tower in Moscow.
In 2016, Trump expressed his support for the use of interrogation torture methods, including waterboarding, but later seemed to retract this stance due to opposition from Defense Secretary James Mattis.
In 2016, Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election. While the extent and impact of this interference were widely debated, it became a major point of contention in U.S.-Russia relations and a source of controversy surrounding Trump's presidency.
Following his victory in the 2016 presidential election, Trump agreed to a $25 million settlement to resolve the three lawsuits against Trump University, concluding a years-long legal battle.
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump urged or praised physical attacks against protesters or reporters, contributing to an increase in hate crimes.
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promised that Roe v. Wade would be overturned "automatically" if he were elected president and had the opportunity to appoint two or three pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump made a promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Donald Trump secured victory in the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee, defeating Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton.
An analysis published in Political Science Quarterly highlighted that Trump made explicitly racist appeals to white voters during his 2016 presidential campaign.
In January 2017, the Trump administration increased the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, reversing Trump's earlier position of reducing U.S. involvement in the region. This increase, from 8,500 to 14,000 troops within a year, signaled a shift in strategy toward a more active role in the Afghanistan conflict.
In January 2017, American intelligence agencies (CIA, FBI, and NSA) stated with "high confidence" that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor Trump's election.
On January 27, 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13769, which suspended the admission of refugees for 120 days and barred entry to citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, citing security concerns.
In February 2017, three of Donald Trump's agents seized the medical records of his longtime personal physician, Harold Bornstein.
In March 2017, FBI Director James Comey told Congress that the FBI was investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, including any links between Trump's campaign and Russia.
Trump ordered missile strikes in April 2017 against the Assad regime in Syria, in retaliation for the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack.
Trump dismissed FBI Director James Comey on May 9, 2017. This action sparked controversy and was linked to the ongoing Trump-Russia investigations.
In May 2017, Trump met with Russian officials Sergey Kislyak and Sergei Lavrov and expressed unconcern about Russian interference in U.S. elections.
In May 2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential links to the Trump campaign.
After Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into Trump's personal and business dealings with Russia.
In June 2017, the White House press secretary announced that Trump's tweets were to be considered official presidential statements.
In June 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that the travel ban could be enforced on visitors who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States."
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to resign in September 2017 due to excessive use of private charter jets and military aircraft.
On September 24, 2017, the temporary travel ban was replaced by Presidential Proclamation 9645, which restricted travel from several countries, including North Korea and Chad, along with certain Venezuelan officials.
In October 2017, hundreds of sub-cabinet positions in the Trump administration still lacked a nominee, indicating a slow appointment process.
After lower courts partially blocked the new restrictions, the Supreme Court allowed the September version of the travel ban to go into full effect on December 4, 2017.
In December 2017, Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a piece of legislation passed by Congress without any Democratic votes. This act implemented tax reductions for businesses and individuals, with business cuts being permanent and individual cuts set to expire in 2025.
Trump faced widespread criticism for his response to the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he condemned violence "on many sides," implying a moral equivalence between white supremacist demonstrators and counter-protesters.
Trump's estimated net worth declined to \$3.1 billion in 2017, as per Forbes.
In 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13771, aiming to reduce federal regulations. This led to the dismantling of various regulations on health, labor, and the environment.
A 2017 Gallup poll comparing U.S. leadership approval ratings across 134 countries found that Donald Trump led Obama in approval in only 29 countries, with most of these countries being non-democracies.
As President in 2017, Donald Trump enacted numerous policies, including a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries and the diversion of military funding towards building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He also appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
During 2017, the Trump administration took a series of actions on trade, including withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Additionally, Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, citing national security concerns. These actions signaled a shift towards protectionist trade policies.
In 2017, Donald Trump assumed the office of the 45th President of the United States.
Trump reimbursed Michael Cohen in 2017 for the hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, despite denying knowledge of the payments.
In 2017, North Korea refrained from conducting nuclear tests. While North Korea continued to develop its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, this pause in testing was seen as a positive sign and a potential opportunity for diplomatic engagement.
In 2017, Donald Trump placed second to Barack Obama in Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire most.
In 2017, Trump signed a $110 billion agreement to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, signaling strong support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen against the Houthis.
In 2017, despite a campaign promise to eliminate the national debt, the Trump administration approved large increases in government spending and implemented a tax cut.
In 2017, tensions escalated between the U.S. and North Korea as North Korea continued to develop its nuclear weapons program. Trump responded with aggressive rhetoric, threatening "fire and fury" if North Korea continued its aggression. This period was marked by a war of words between Trump and Kim Jong Un. Despite the tension, Trump and Kim began exchanging letters, establishing a personal line of communication.
Reports emerged in 2017 suggesting that Trump continued to express "birther" views in private, despite his public acknowledgment of Obama's birthplace.
Starting in 2017, the Trump administration saw a significant increase in family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border. Over 5,400 children were separated from their families as a part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
The Trump White House held around 100 formal press briefings in 2017. This marked the beginning of a decline in press briefings, which would continue over the next two years.
In January 2018, during a discussion about immigration legislation, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries," drawing condemnation for his racist language.
Trump ordered missile strikes in April 2018 against the Assad regime in Syria, in retaliation for the Douma chemical attack.
In April 2018, the Trump administration implemented a "zero tolerance" policy, leading to the separation of migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. This controversial policy resulted in the detention and prosecution of adults suspected of illegal entry, while their children were classified as unaccompanied minors. Despite widespread criticism, Trump defended the policy, stating it was in line with existing law.
In May 2018, the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 agreement that lifted economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.
The New York attorney general's office initiated a civil lawsuit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation, Trump, and his adult children in June 2018, seeking $2.8 million in restitution and penalties for alleged misuse of funds.
Responding to the growing criticism over family separations, Trump signed an executive order in June 2018, aimed at keeping migrant families together during detention. The order stipulated that families should remain united unless there were concerns about the child's well-being. Despite the order, some families were still separated, leading to further legal challenges.
In June 2018, the Trump administration joined a legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act, aiming to declare it unconstitutional after the elimination of financial penalties associated with the individual mandate.
On June 26, 2018, Judge Dana Sabraw ordered the Trump administration to stop separating migrant families at the border and to reunite the families that had already been separated. Sabraw criticized the administration for its lack of a system to track separated children and facilitate family reunification. The order followed intense public outcry and legal action against the administration's "zero tolerance" policy.
By July 2018, the Trump administration experienced record turnover, with 61% of senior aides and 141 staffers leaving. This high turnover rate set a record for recent presidents.
In October 2018, Forbes estimated a decline in Trump's net worth from \$4.5 billion in 2015 to \$3.1 billion in 2017. Reports also surfaced alleging tax fraud by Trump and his family, prompting an investigation by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
Trump declared victory against ISIS in December 2018 and ordered the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Syria, contradicting Department of Defense assessments. This decision sparked controversy and led to the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
The Donald J. Trump Foundation ceased operations in December 2018, with its remaining assets distributed to other charitable organizations, marking the final chapter of the foundation's existence.
John F. Kelly resigned as White House Chief of Staff in December 2018 after a tumultuous tenure.
In December 2018, a dispute over funding for Trump's proposed border wall led to a partial government shutdown that lasted 35 days, marking the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The shutdown was triggered by Trump's refusal to sign any appropriations bill that didn't include $5.6 billion for the wall. The impasse resulted in furloughs or unpaid work for 800,000 federal employees.
Forbes estimated that Trump's net worth decreased by \$1.4 billion between 2015 and 2018.
In 2018, New York Times writer Amy Chozick published an analysis of Trump's media strategy, arguing that his dominance in media coverage captivated the public.
A 2018 review by USA Today revealed that Trump and his businesses had been involved in over 4,000 state and federal legal actions, underscoring a pattern of legal disputes and controversies throughout his career.
By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license the Trump name for their products, marking a significant decline in the presence of Trump-branded consumer goods.
Contrary to the Trump administration's predictions, the U.S. government's revenue in 2018 fell short of projections by 7.6%, raising questions about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's impact.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned in 2018 amid multiple investigations into his conduct.
In 2018, Harold Bornstein revealed that Donald Trump had dictated the contents of the letter released by his campaign in 2015.
In 2018, Donald Trump placed second to Barack Obama in Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire most.
Until 2018, the media rarely referred to Donald Trump's falsehoods as "lies", even when he repeated demonstrably false statements. This changed in 2018.
Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty in 2018 to breaking campaign finance laws, stating that he arranged hush money payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels at Trump's direction to influence the presidential election.
The number of formal press briefings held by the Trump White House decreased by half during 2018, indicating a further decline in press engagement.
Starting in 2018, Trump deployed almost 6,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to deter Central American migrants from seeking asylum.
In 2018, the United States provided limited intelligence and logistical support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.
In 2018, the Trump administration initiated a trade war with China, marked by a sharp increase in tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods imported into the U.S. Trump argued that these tariffs would force China to adopt fairer trade practices, but they also impacted American businesses and consumers who bore the cost of the increased import prices.
In 2018, journalist Lesley Stahl revealed that Trump had admitted to intentionally discrediting the media to undermine negative coverage of him.
In 2018, Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Helsinki Summit drew widespread criticism, particularly after Trump appeared to accept Putin's denial of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Trump's stance contradicted the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies and raised concerns about his relationship with Putin.
In 2018, Trump signed legislation to increase funding for drug treatments in response to the opioid epidemic.
In 2018, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet with a North Korean leader. The historic meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore was seen as a potential breakthrough in relations between the two countries.
By January 8, 2019, a significant number of sub-cabinet positions remained unfilled, highlighting the slow pace of appointments in the Trump administration.
The record-breaking government shutdown finally ended in January 2019, when Congress approved temporary funding, providing delayed payments to federal employees but no funds for the border wall. The shutdown had a significant economic impact, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating a permanent loss of $3 billion. Trump's approval ratings declined, and public opinion largely blamed him for the shutdown.
Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke resigned in January 2019 amid multiple investigations into his conduct.
In February 2019, to avert another government shutdown, Congress passed and Trump signed a funding bill that included $1.375 billion for 55 miles of border fencing. However, Trump also declared a national emergency, seeking to repurpose $6.1 billion from other government allocations for the wall. This move faced legal challenges, and the Senate voted against a veto override of a resolution to overturn the declaration. Ultimately, Trump was successful in diverting $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense's drug interdiction budget and $3.6 billion from military construction funds.
In March 2019, against the advice of his Treasury Department, Trump lifted some U.S. sanctions against North Korea. This decision was part of a broader effort to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and pursue denuclearization, though the effectiveness of this approach was questioned.
In March 2019, Mueller submitted his final report to Attorney General William Barr, who issued a summary to Congress. The report's conclusions were disputed, with accusations that Barr mischaracterized them.
A redacted version of the Mueller Report, released in April 2019, confirmed Russian interference in the 2016 election to favor Trump but didn't establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia.
In April 2019, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas seeking financial records from Trump's banks, Deutsche Bank and Capital One, and his accounting firm, Mazars USA. Trump sued to prevent the disclosures.
The whistleblower's complaint suggested a pattern of pressure on Ukraine, including the cancellation of Vice President Mike Pence's trip to Ukraine in May 2019.
In June 2019, the Supreme Court upheld the travel ban in a final ruling.
In June 2019, William B. Taylor Jr., the chargé d'affaires for Ukraine, arrived in Ukraine and found that Zelenskyy was being pressured by Trump, through Giuliani, to investigate Biden and Ukrainian involvement in the 2016 election.
The whistleblower's complaint alleged a broader effort, potentially including withholding financial aid to Ukraine in July 2019, to pressure Ukraine to benefit Trump politically.
In July 2019, Trump posted a series of racist tweets targeting four Democratic congresswomen of color, suggesting that they should "go back" to the countries they "came from."
In August 2019, a whistleblower filed a complaint about a July 25 call where Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
In October 2019, denuclearization talks between the U.S. and North Korea broke down after only one day. Despite three meetings between Trump and Kim Jong Un (in Singapore in 2018, Hanoi in 2019, and the Korean Demilitarized Zone in 2019), no agreement on denuclearization was reached. This breakdown highlighted the challenges of persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.
In October 2019, following Trump's conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.S. troops in northern Syria were withdrawn, paving the way for a Turkish invasion. This action drew condemnation from the U.S. House of Representatives for abandoning U.S. allies and contributing to a humanitarian crisis.
After several mass shootings during his term, Trump initially indicated he would propose legislation related to guns but ultimately abandoned that effort in November 2019.
In November 2019, a New York state judge ordered Trump to pay $2 million to a group of charities as restitution for misusing the Donald J. Trump Foundation's funds, concluding a legal battle over the foundation's practices.
Following the 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities, which the U.S. and Saudi Arabia blamed on Iran, Trump approved the deployment of 3,000 additional U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump's primary residence was Trump Tower until 2019.
Donald Trump faced his first impeachment in 2019-20 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress following his efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden.
As a result of the increased government spending and tax cuts in 2017, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, reaching nearly \$1 trillion in 2019.
Trump designated the Mar-a-Lago club as his primary residence in 2019.
Despite the increased funding for drug treatments in 2018, the U.S. witnessed a surge in opioid overdose deaths in 2019, reaching a record high.
Donald Trump appointed his personal pastor, televangelist Paula White, to the White House Office of Public Liaison in 2019.
As of 2019, Trump continued to maintain his position regarding the guilt of the Central Park Five, despite their exoneration.
Federal prosecutors closed their investigation into the hush money payments in 2019. However, the Manhattan District Attorney subpoenaed the Trump Organization, AMI, and Trump himself for records related to the payments and eight years of tax returns.
In 2019, Donald Trump tied with Barack Obama for first place in Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire most.
In 2019, the Trump reelection campaign started with a significant cash reserve but faced challenges by July 2020 due to high spending and a shrinking cash advantage.
The Trump White House only held two formal press briefings in 2019, signaling a dramatic reduction in press interactions.
On January 1, 2020, a U.S. airstrike ordered by Trump killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. This action escalated tensions between the United States and Iran. Iran retaliated with ballistic missile strikes against U.S. airbases in Iraq.
During Trump's impeachment trial in January 2020, House impeachment managers presented evidence of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, arguing that Trump's actions justified impeachment.
Despite campaign promises to protect Medicare and social safety-net programs, in January 2020, the Trump administration expressed a willingness to consider cuts to these programs.
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 20, 2020.
On January 29, 2020, President Trump established the White House Coronavirus Task Force to address the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.
On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency.
In February 2020, the Trump administration signed a conditional peace agreement with the Taliban. The agreement called for a phased withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan over 14 months, contingent on the Taliban preventing terrorist groups from using Afghan soil to attack the U.S. or its allies. The agreement also stipulated that the U.S. would work towards the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government. By the end of Trump's term, despite ongoing Taliban attacks on Afghan forces and concerns about the group's commitment to the agreement, 5,000 Taliban prisoners had been released, and U.S. troop levels had been significantly reduced.
The COVID-19 recession, marking the end of a lengthy economic expansion that commenced in 2009, began in February 2020 during Donald Trump's presidency.
In February 2020, Roger Stone, a Trump associate, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering related to the Russia investigation.
In February 2020, Trump publicly downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak, claiming it was "very much under control" and would soon be over.
In March 2020, Trump, after initially praising China's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, launched a campaign of criticism against the country. This shift coincided with growing tensions between the two nations over trade, technology, and human rights.
Mark Meadows replaced Mick Mulvaney as White House Chief of Staff in March 2020.
Trump privately acknowledged on March 19, 2020, that he was intentionally downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak to avoid causing panic.
April 2020 marked the end of the period analyzed by ABC News for criminal cases where Trump's rhetoric was linked to violence or threats of violence.
In April 2020, President Trump encouraged anti-lockdown protests organized by Republican-connected groups, opposing state government measures to combat the pandemic. He also contradicted his administration's guidance to wear masks in public, often refusing to wear one himself.
In May 2020, ABC News published a nationwide review that 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.
In May 2020, Twitter began tagging some of Trump's tweets with fact-checking warnings in response to criticism for allowing him to spread misinformation.
On June 1, 2020, during the George Floyd protests, federal law enforcement officials used less lethal weapons to clear a mostly peaceful crowd of protesters from Lafayette Square, near the White House. Following this, Trump walked to St. John's Episcopal Church, where protesters had started a small fire the previous night, and posed for photographs holding a Bible.
In July 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) entered into force, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The USMCA, a renegotiated trade deal pursued by the Trump administration, aimed to modernize trade rules and address concerns about labor standards and intellectual property.
In July 2020, the Trump administration imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on high-ranking Chinese officials in response to China's mass detention of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The move, targeting human rights abuses, was a significant development in U.S.-China relations and reflected a tougher stance on China's treatment of its Uyghur minority.
Despite rising COVID-19 cases in July 2020, President Trump continued to downplay the pandemic's severity, making false claims about the harmlessness of most cases. He insisted that all states resume in-person education in the fall, despite a surge in reported cases.
By July 2020, the Trump campaign and the Republican Party faced a cash shortage, forcing them to reduce advertising spending. This contrasted with their earlier financial advantage.
By July 2020, President Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic had become a central issue in the presidential election, with his opponent, Joe Biden, focusing on it. Polls indicated that voters blamed Trump for his pandemic response.
In July 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump announced the formal withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), effective July 2021. This decision was widely condemned by health and government officials.
Trump officially became the Republican nominee for president in August 2020, seeking a second term in office.
In August 2020, under pressure from the Trump administration, the CDC quietly lowered its recommendation for COVID-19 testing, advising that people exposed to the virus but asymptomatic "do not necessarily need a test." This change, made against the wishes of CDC scientists, was reversed the day after reports of political interference surfaced.
In August 2020, the Trump administration unsuccessfully attempted to use a provision of the JCPOA to reinstate UN sanctions against Iran.
In August 2020, the Trump administration attempted to roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients, but this effort was halted by a federal judge following a Supreme Court ruling that extended employees' civil rights protections to gender identity and sexual orientation.
Until September 2020, Donald Trump's approval ratings were unusually stable but never reached 50%. His approval ratings finished between 29% and 34%, which is the lowest of any president since modern polling began.
President Trump tested positive for COVID-19 on October 2, 2020, and was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to fever and labored breathing. He received treatment with antiviral and experimental antibody drugs and a steroid.
Following the November 2020 election, Trump's appointment of loyalists to key positions in the Pentagon raised concerns among top officials like Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and CIA Director Gina Haspel. They feared a possible coup attempt or unwarranted military actions against China or Iran. Milley took steps to ensure he was consulted on any military orders from Trump, including those related to nuclear weapons, and instructed intelligence agencies to closely monitor the situation.
In December 2020, reports surfaced that the Pentagon was on high alert, with high-ranking officers discussing potential responses to Trump's actions, including the possibility of him declaring martial law. The Pentagon clarified that the military has no role in determining election outcomes.
In 2020, Trump owed \$640 million to various banks and trust organizations, and approximately \$450 million to unidentified creditors.
In 2020, a Washington, D.C., federal grand jury indicted Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
In 2020, the Trump administration broadened the public charge rule to further restrict immigrants who might potentially utilize government benefits from obtaining permanent residency.
In 2020, the Trump administration facilitated the Abraham Accords, agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize their foreign relations. The White House hosted the signing of these agreements.
In early 2020, the Trump campaign initiated lawsuits against The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN for defamation related to opinion pieces about Russian interference in the election.
Trump continued to make remarks similar to his July 2019 tweets targeting congresswomen of color during his 2020 campaign.
Trump's baseless claims regarding the 2020 election, commonly referred to as the "big lie," gained significant traction among his supporters and sparked widespread controversy. This narrative fueled skepticism towards the electoral process and was leveraged by the Republican Party to justify new voting restrictions.
In 2020, Donald Trump faced indictments in Georgia on ten charges of racketeering and other felonies related to his efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.
In 2020, Donald Trump placed first in Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire most.
In 2020, Donald Trump began making unsubstantiated claims about the upcoming election, alleging widespread voter fraud and rigging. He particularly targeted the use of mail-in ballots, going as far as blocking funding for the US Postal Service to hinder its expansion. He repeatedly refused to confirm whether he would accept the election results if he lost, casting a shadow over a peaceful transition of power.
During and after the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump promoted various conspiracy theories regarding his defeat, including allegations of dead people voting, voting machines manipulating votes, fraudulent mail-in ballots, discarded Trump votes, and hidden suitcases full of Biden votes.
Donald Trump stated that he identified as a non-denominational Christian in 2020.
Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden and subsequently faced a second impeachment for incitement of insurrection.
Despite losing the 2020 election, Trump retained a strong influence over the Republican Party, defying the traditional role of a former president. He continued to fundraise at a rate surpassing the party itself, hinted at a future candidacy, and leveraged his Mar-a-Lago estate for political gatherings. His focus remained fixated on reforming election processes and targeting officials who had resisted his attempts to overturn the 2020 results.
By mid-2020, a Pew Research poll across 13 nations showed that only 16% of international respondents expressed confidence in Donald Trump's leadership, a rating lower than that of Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping.
In 2020, The New York Times acquired Trump's tax records spanning over two decades, revealing losses of hundreds of millions of dollars and deferred declaration of \$287 million in forgiven debt as taxable income since 2010.
In 2020, Donald Trump was a significant source of disinformation on topics including mail-in voting and the COVID-19 pandemic.
On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, resulting in many of them attacking the building.
On January 11, 2021, an article of impeachment was introduced in the House of Representatives, charging Trump with inciting the insurrection against the US government. The House voted 232-197 to impeach him on January 13, making him the first US president to be impeached twice. Notably, ten Republicans voted in favor of impeachment, marking a significant moment in US history.
When Trump departed the White House in January 2021, he took government documents and materials to Mar-a-Lago, his Florida residence, setting off a chain of events that would lead to legal scrutiny.
On February 10, 2021, Georgia prosecutors initiated a criminal investigation into Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. His actions included pressuring Republican officials to replace electors, "find" votes, and declare a "recalculated" outcome.
In February 2021, Trump formed Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), aiming to provide social networking services to US customers. This move signaled his intentions to remain active in the public sphere and potentially challenge existing social media platforms.
In February 2021, Fani Willis, the District Attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, announced a criminal investigation into Trump's phone conversations with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. These calls were central to his attempts to pressure Georgia officials to alter the election outcome.
In February 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump's tax returns and related records could be released to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation. This decision followed a prolonged legal battle initiated by Trump to prevent their disclosure.
In February 2021, Donald Trump resigned from the Screen Actors Guild, preempting a disciplinary hearing related to his actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and his rhetoric concerning journalists. He was subsequently permanently barred from rejoining.
In March 2021, lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign against The New York Times and CNN for defamation in opinion pieces regarding Russian election interference were dismissed.
In May 2021, Trump and his supporters attempted to reclaim the term "big lie," which was widely used to describe his false claims about the 2020 election. They sought to redirect the term to refer to the election itself, further solidifying their narrative.
By May 2021, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) realized that essential government documents were unaccounted for and requested Trump's office to locate them. This marked the beginning of a prolonged effort to recover the missing materials.
On June 6, 2021, Trump signaled his return to the political arena with a speech at the North Carolina Republican Party convention. This marked his resumption of campaign-style rallies, a strategy that had been central to his political career.
The formal withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) took effect in July 2021, following President Trump's announcement in July 2020.
July 2021 saw New York prosecutors bring charges against the Trump Organization, alleging a 15-year scheme to defraud the government. This legal action added to the growing list of investigations into Trump's business practices.
As of October 2021, Trump had accumulated over \$1.3 billion in debts, largely secured by his assets.
Trump significantly reduced the number of refugees allowed into the United States, setting a limit of 15,000 for the 2021 fiscal year.
In the 2021 C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey, Donald Trump was ranked fourth-lowest overall. He received particularly low ratings in the leadership characteristics categories for moral authority and administrative skills.
In 2021, the town of Palm Beach officially recognized Trump's legal entitlement to live at Mar-a-Lago as an employee of the club.
In 2021, it was revealed that President Trump's COVID-19 illness in October 2020 had been far more serious than initially disclosed. He had dangerously low blood oxygen levels, high fever, and lung infiltrates, indicating a severe case.
Donald Trump's term as the 45th President of the United States ended in 2021.
In January 2022, NARA successfully retrieved 15 boxes of White House records from Mar-a-Lago, but the discovery of classified material among them led to escalating concerns and a subsequent investigation by the Department of Justice.
In February 2022, after being banned from other platforms, Trump launched his own social media platform, Truth Social, but struggled to attract a significant following compared to his previous Twitter presence.
In February 2022, TMTG launched Truth Social, a social media platform intended as an alternative to mainstream platforms. This venture further solidified Trump's ambitions in the media landscape and provided a new avenue for disseminating his messages to supporters.
Despite the passing of time, Trump persisted in pressuring state legislators to overturn the 2020 election results, even as late as July 2022. This ongoing effort demonstrated his unwavering commitment to challenging the legitimacy of the election.
On August 8, 2022, FBI agents conducted a search of Mar-a-Lago to reclaim government documents improperly taken by Trump upon leaving office, a violation of the Presidential Records Act. The search warrant revealed an investigation into potential breaches of the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice. The seized items included 11 sets of classified documents, with some classified as "top secret" and one as "top secret/SCI," the highest level of classification, raising serious concerns about national security.
In September 2022, the House Oversight Committee and President Trump reached a settlement regarding the subpoena for financial records from his accounting firm, Mazars USA. The firm began turning over documents.
In September 2022, the New York State Attorney General filed a civil fraud case against Donald Trump, his three oldest children, and the Trump Organization.
Trump's Twitter account was reinstated in November 2022 by Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter.
On November 15, 2022, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States presidential election.
On November 18, 2022, US Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith as special counsel to oversee the federal criminal investigations into Trump's retention of government property at Mar-a-Lago and his role in the January 6th Capitol attack. This appointment underscored the gravity of the allegations and ensured an independent investigation into these matters.
On December 19, 2022, the United States House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack recommended criminal charges against Trump, citing obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and incitement or assistance of an insurrection. These recommendations marked a historic moment and underscored the severity of Trump's actions in relation to the events of January 6th.
Trump had a \$100 million mortgage on Trump Tower that was due in 2022.
The 2022 Siena College Research Institute's survey of U.S. presidents ranked Donald Trump 43rd out of 45 presidents. He received low rankings in multiple categories, including background, integrity, intelligence, foreign policy accomplishments, and executive appointments.
In the 2022 midterm elections, Trump's influence was evident through his endorsements of over 200 candidates across various offices. Most of these candidates aligned with his claims of a stolen 2020 presidential election, highlighting his ongoing impact on the Republican Party.
In January 2023, Allen Weisselberg, the Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organization, received a five-month jail sentence and five years of probation for tax fraud as part of a plea deal. This conviction further implicated Trump's business operations in financial misconduct.
In March 2023, Trump collaborated on a song project with incarcerated rioters, with proceeds intended to benefit the prisoners. This action, coupled with his statement in June that he would pardon many of them if re-elected, further fueled controversies surrounding his stance on the January 6th events.
By March 2023, Trump Media, having received $8 million from entities linked to Russia, found itself under investigation by federal prosecutors for potential money laundering. These allegations added another layer of complexity to Trump's business ventures and legal challenges.
In March 2023, Donald Trump's presidential campaign began diverting 10% of donations to his leadership PAC.
On March 30, 2023, a New York grand jury indicted Donald Trump on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records.
In May 2023, a New York jury found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a case brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll and ordered him to pay $5 million.
In September 2023, the presiding judge in the civil fraud case ruled that Donald Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization repeatedly committed fraud. As a result, their New York business certificates were ordered to be canceled, and their business entities were to be sent into receivership for dissolution.
In December 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump was disqualified from holding office due to his role in the Capitol attack. This ruling remained in effect until the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision in March 2024 via Trump v. Anderson.
In 2023, a civil trial jury found that Donald Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll.
On January 26, 2024, in the defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll against Donald Trump, the jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million in damages.
In February 2024, the court found Donald Trump liable in the civil fraud case and ordered him to pay a penalty exceeding $450 million. He was also barred from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or legal entity for three years.
On March 13, 2024, in the Fulton County, Georgia case against Donald Trump, the judge dismissed three of the thirteen charges, but the "overt acts tied to the charges" were not dismissed.
In March 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to disqualify Donald Trump from holding office, which was related to his role in the Capitol attack.
By March 2024, Donald Trump's presidential campaign had paid $100 million towards his legal bills.
In March 2024, TMTG completed a merger with special-purpose acquisition company Digital World Acquisition, resulting in its transition to a publicly traded company. This development marked a significant step in Trump's foray into the media industry.
On April 15, 2024, the criminal trial of Donald Trump began for falsifying business records to book hush money payments to Stormy Daniels as business expenses.
The trial for the case where Donald Trump was indicted on charges of "willfully retaining national defense information under the Espionage Act" is scheduled to begin on May 20, 2024.
Trump's net worth was estimated at \$2.3 billion, placing him 1,438th in the world, in the 2024 Forbes billionaires ranking.
Most of the \$421 million in debt that Trump personally guaranteed was due by 2024.
In 2024, a New York state court declared Donald Trump liable for financial fraud, and he faces multiple indictments related to falsifying business records, mishandling classified documents, and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump was noted for making increasingly violent and authoritarian statements and using harsher, dehumanizing anti-immigrant rhetoric than during his prior presidency.
As stipulated in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the reductions in individual tax rates are scheduled to end in 2025.