Donald John Trump has had a profound impact on US politics. His presidency is still, and perhaps forever, be remembered for bold statements and decisions he took. To explain who Donald Trump is and what makes him tick involves lots of metaphors. From “insomniac”, to “Godzilla” and a “Navy SEAL”, the 45th President of the United States has earned praises and brickbats from his countrymen.

Mr Trump, born into wealth and growing up in the heart of New York’s business world, rose to global prominence as POTUS. From real estate mogul to reality TV star to the most powerful political figure in America, his life has been anything but conventional. His presidency (2017-2021) saw major political upheaval, deeply polarising the nation. Even after his term ended, Trump continues to dominate the political conversation, and in a debate with Vice President and Democrat nominee Kamala Harris, he made a strong pitch why the US needs him in power.

Donald Trump Birth And Early Life

He was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City, to Frederick Christ Trump, a wealthy real estate developer, and Mary Anne MacLeod, a Scottish immigrant. He was the fourth of five children in a well-off family that built its fortune in the post-World War II construction boom.

Fred Trump was a powerful figure in real estate, particularly in Brooklyn and Queens, which profoundly influenced Donald’s ambitions. Raised with a competitive spirit and taught the value of success from a young age, Donald followed closely in his father’s footsteps. His early years were marked by privilege but also discipline. Trump’s parents sent him to the New York Military Academy at age 13 to channel his energy and focus on his studies.

Donald Trump Education

Trump attended the New York Military Academy before moving on to Fordham University for two years. He then transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in economics in 1968.

Armed with a business education and the family fortune, Trump joined his father’s real estate business, eventually taking control in 1971 and renaming it The Trump Organisation. His early projects included transforming rundown buildings in Manhattan into luxury high-rises. Trump’s career was characterised by a knack for branding and a relentless pursuit of high-profile deals. Notably, he developed the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York and Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, both of which bolstered his reputation as a high-stakes real estate mogul.

In the 1980s, Trump expanded into the casino business with mixed success. His ventures, such as Trump Plaza and Trump Castle helped cement his image as a larger-than-life businessman, though financial trouble followed. Trump’s companies declared bankruptcy several times, but he consistently rebounded, largely due to his mastery of public relations and branding.

Donald Trump Marriages

Trump’s personal life, including his three marriages, has been as highly publicised as his professional one. His first marriage, to Ivana Zelnickova, a Czech model and businesswoman, lasted from 1977 to 1992, according to the BBC. Together, they had three children: Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric Trump. The couple was a fixture in the New York social scene throughout the 1980s, though their relationship ended in a widely publicised divorce amid rumours of Trump’s infidelity.

In 1993, Trump married actress Marla Maples, with whom he had one daughter, Tiffany Trump. This marriage, too, ended in divorce, in 1999.

In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss, with whom he has a son, Barron Trump. Melania would go on to become the First Lady during Trump’s presidency. Throughout his personal and professional life, Trump has kept his family close, with his children playing prominent roles in both his business empire and his political campaigns.

Donald Trump Net Worth

In May this year, Forbes released the answer to the question people were asking for decades – what’s Donald Trump really worth? As per the magazine, $7.5 billion. The figure includes the assets and businesses the former US President owns. Truth Social, the platform Trump owns, is alone worth $5.6 billion. His real estate business is worth $1.1 billion, while the clubs and resorts $0.81 billion. Mr Trump has $0.41 billion as cash and $0.1 billion in other assets, as per Forbes.

The outlet further said that he reached the $1 billion mark in 1988, but was out of Forbes’ 400 list from 1990 to 1995.

Donald Trump Age

At 78, Trump is still actively involved in politics and business. He maintains a high-profile presence, particularly through his social media platform, Truth Social.

Donald Trump Presidency

Though Trump flirted with politics for years, his serious plunge into the political arena came in 2015 when he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President. Few in the Republican Party believed when Trump launched his improbable White House bid that he’d still be a factor at the end of that year. But the billionaire topped national polls after entering the race, as per CNN.

Donald Trump quickly emerged as the frontrunner, gaining notoriety for his unfiltered rhetoric, often attacking rivals and the media. His promise to build a wall along the US-Mexico border and his tough stance on immigration became central themes of his campaign.

In November 2016, Trump defied pollsters and political analysts by defeating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in one of the most shocking political upsets in US history. His electoral victory, largely fuelled by wins in key swing states, underscored the deep divides in American society.

Trump’s presidency was marked by a series of unconventional and controversial actions, from his combative relationship with the press to his unpredictable foreign policy moves. Domestically, Trump implemented tax cuts, rolled back regulations, and installed conservative judges at a record pace, including three Supreme Court Justices, reshaping the judiciary for decades.

Donald Trump political career

One of the Trump administration’s defining moments came in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump’s handling of the crisis received heavy criticism, with detractors accusing him of downplaying the severity of the virus and mishandling the federal response. His administration’s policies on immigration, trade and race relations also ignited fierce debates and further polarised the country.

Trump’s foreign policy approach was similarly contentious. He withdrew the US from several international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Nuclear Deal, while also seeking a more assertive stance against China. Trump’s “America First” policy, which often alienated traditional US allies, further underscored his unorthodox approach to global affairs.

In December 2019, Trump became the third US president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, accused of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden. The Senate ultimately acquitted him in February 2020. He was impeached for the second time by the House of Representatives on January 13, 2021, one week before his term expired for incitement of insurrection. He is the only US President to be impeached twice.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden. File Photo
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Donald Trump turns 78 on Friday, a milestone that will remind voters that the two major-party candidates running for U.S. president this year are the oldest ever to seek the office.

Age and mental sharpness have been at the center of the contest between the Republican Trump and his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden, often getting more attention than substantive policy issues in the run-up to the Nov. 5 election.

Public opinion polls show Americans are more worried about the advanced age of Mr. Biden, who is 81. But at 78, Mr. Trump is just three and a half years younger, and he would be the oldest person ever to be inaugurated if he wins a second term.

Mr. Trump is scheduled to speak on Friday at a birthday party organized for him in West Palm Beach, Florida, by a group of die-hard supporters.

On the campaign trail, Mr. Trump has not explicitly made an issue of Mr. Biden’s age, but has sought to capitalize on his opponent’s every verbal mistake, as well as Mr. Biden’s slowing gait, to cast him as unfit for the Oval Office.

Mr. Biden has responded to questions about his age by telling voters to focus on his accomplishments in office as evidence of his acuity and strength. He has also described Mr. Trump as a threat to democracy and criticized his sometimes rambling speeches, as well as Mr. Trump’s use of inflammatory rhetoric against immigrants.

Still, even some Democrats have expressed concerns about Mr. Biden’s ability to complete another term, which would take him to age 86.

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll in February, some 78% of respondents – including 71% of Democrats – said Mr. Biden, already the oldest president, was too old to work in government. Some 53% of respondents said Mr. Trump, who was president from 2017-2021, was too old for government work.

“It’s not about age, it’s about mental competence,” said Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, arguing that voters can see the contrast between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump, whom she described as “sharp as a tack with elite stamina.”

The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Presidential historian Timothy Naftali said Mr. Trump projects energy in public appearances, making him appear to be more vital physically, but that does not mean he is sharper mentally.

“It’s not clear listening to the two men who’s in better command of his faculties,” Mr. Naftali said.

Allan Lichtman, a history professor at American University and well-known presidential prognosticator, said Mr. Trump had made gaffes and spread false information to an extent that should be raising more questions about his mental fitness.

“People somehow focus on the mistakes Biden has made while totally ignoring the way in which Mr. Trump seems to be entirely unhinged from reality,” he said.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are neck-and-neck in national opinion polls, with Mr. Trump ahead in several of the battleground states that could decide November’s contest.

It is unclear just how much age will be a factor in the final outcome. Among issues that voters will be weighing is the strength of the economy, which overall is performing well but is beset by inflation, as well as immigration and abortion rights.

Voters also have Mr. Trump’s legal troubles to consider. Last month, a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 election. He faces three additional criminal cases, though none are likely to go to trial before the election.

The first televised debate on June 27 will be an important test for both Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump, with voters looking for verbal slip-ups as a possible indicator that they might not be up to the task of leading the country.