Breakdown of Major Events in Donald Trump’s Life
Say hello to our new president. What everyone thought was impossible became a
reality on Election Day (November 8th, 2016). Despite all odds, and completely
going against the polls, Trump beat Hillary Clinton, won the majority of the
Electoral College votes and was elected the 45th President of the United States.
While this was a pivotal moment in Trump’s life, Trump had earned a name for
himself long before he decided to run for president. Some people recognize Trump
for his very profitable company, The Trump Organization, which owns a plethora
of luxurious real estate properties in various countries around the world.
Others remember Trump for his contributions to the casino industry, or for his
signature line, “You’re fired,” from the television show, The Apprentice.
Everyone has his or her own opinions about President Donald Trump, and we’re
not here to sway you either way. What we are here to do is share with you
everything we know about Donald Trump, including details about his family, his
business endeavors, his encounters with bankruptcy, and the long journey he
endured to become the President of the United States. We cover all that and more
in this extensive biography.
Early Life Experiences
Before we comment on President Donald Trump as we know him today, we must
first take a look into his past in order to gain a better understanding of who
he truly is. Donald John Trump was born on June 14th, 1946 in Queens, NY to
Frederick C. and Mary MacLeod Trump. He was the fourth born out of five
children, having two brothers and two sisters.
Donald Trump started his educational path at the Kew Forest School in Forest
Hills, New York. When Trump turned thirteen years old, his parents shipped him
off to the New York Military Academy in Upstate New York. Not only did he become
an academic scholar at his new school, but he also was one of the school’s star
athletes. He played varsity football and soccer, and he was even the captain of
the school’s varsity baseball team.
After graduating at the top of his class in 1964, Trump enrolled at Fordham
University where he studied for two years before transferring to the Wharton
School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. He absorbed as much
information as possible while at the school by taking accounting, finance and
mortgage classes in addition to what was required of him. In 1968, he graduated
with a degree in economics.
He was now ready to start working full time for his father’s company,
Elizabeth Trump and Son, whose main focus was to provide rental homes for
middle-class families living in the Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island area.
Trump appreciates the time he got to spend working by his father’s side, knowing
he wouldn’t be the man he was today without him. Trump was quoted saying,
“My father was my mentor, and I learned a tremendous amount about every aspect of
the construction industry from him.”
Trump always had a passion for selling real-estate and was a natural born
entrepreneur who was eager to take advantage of good opportunities. That’s why
when he discovered that a large apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio was facing
foreclosure, he couldn’t resist. With his father’s help, Trump was able to turn
that rundown apartment complex with limited tenants into an appealing apartment
complex with 100% occupancy.
Because this complex consisted of 1200+ units and was in an ideal location,
it was a financially rewarding investment. This is just one of the many ways
Trump was able to prove himself to his father, who made him president of
Elizabeth Trump and Son, and allowed him to take full ownership of it in 1975.
The Trump Organization Emerges
One of the first things Trump did as president was to change the name of the
company to the Trump Organization. He also started focusing more on buying real
estate in the Manhattan borough of New York City, as he was attracted to its
huge skyscrapers and sophisticated ambiance.
Early on, he noticed the Commodore Hotel of New York City that lacked in
appeal but had the potential to attract a wealthy clientele due to its location.
He purchased the building from Penn Station for $10 million and was able to
strike up a deal with the city in order to receive 40 years of tax abatement.
This hotel, now named the Grand Hyatt Hotel, has a unique, elegant design that
earned Trump his reputation of being the best real-estate developer in the city.
Little did everyone know; he was just getting started!
Another significant purchase for the Trump Organization occurred in 1979.
Trump was eager to buy an eleven story building on Fifth Ave, as it was in a
prime location: in between 56th and 57th street and directly adjacent to the
esteemed Tiffany and Co. His plan was to develop a 68 story building in its
place that would accommodate high-end stores, elegant office spaces, and
residential condos. The Trump Tower, as it is called, officially opened its
doors in 1984, and quickly became one of Manhattan’s most iconic buildings. The
sixty-foot waterfall and luxurious garden floor are some of this building’s
finest assets.
Continuing to recognize the amount of money that can be made in New York
City, Trump went on to purchase the Barbizon-Plaza Hotel and a surrounding
apartment building, both of which had great views of Central Park. The Trump
Organization originally was planning to tear both structures down and put a huge
condominium tower in their place. However, the tenants of the apartment complex
were distraught at the thought of losing their home. They challenged Trump’s
plan, using the city’s rent stabilization program against him. The tenants won,
forcing Trump to change his plans.
Instead, Trump simply renovated the Barbizon-Plaza, turning it into a smaller
condominium than he originally envisioned, and renaming it Trump Parc. It is now
a gorgeous, 38-story building that’s covered in fine marble. It contains
apartments that range in size from studio apartment all the way up to pent
house. The Trump Parc is known for lighting up the city’s skyline at night; it
sure is a site to see.
Although the Trump Organization seemed to favor purchasing real estate in New
York City, they were willing to branch out to different areas as well. Trump was
particularly interested in getting involved in the booming gambling industry in
Atlantic City, as he believed the potential profit for that market was extremely
high.
Trump and His Luxurious Casinos
Trump first received his New Jersey casino license in 1982, and aspired to
open up his own casino on the boardwalk. His plan subsided when he was offered a
deal of a lifetime from Mike Rose, the CEO of Holliday Inn and Harrah’s at the
time. Not only was Trump being paid to manage the construction of their newest
casino, but he also was going to be receiving half of the profit shares. $210
million and two years later, Harrah’s at Trump Plaza, was open for business.
It was certainly a popular tourist attraction in Atlantic City, as it was
known for hosting a variety of concerts and major wrestling events. High Rollers
were attracted to the lavish rooms and contemporary decor. Just as the Trump
Plaza was starting to flourish, the Hilton was getting ready to launch their
$320 million casino.
Unfortunately for them, they were denied a license and had to start looking
for someone to buy their property. Trump jumped at this opportunity, soon
becoming the proud owner of two competing casinos. The day his second casino,
originally named Trump’s Castle, opened was the day The Holiday Inn pressed
charges against Trump for breeching their contract. Of course, Trump turned
around and sued them back on similar accounts. To avoid further litigation, The
Holiday Inn decided to back out of the partnership and sell their shares of the
company to Trump.
Trump’s third casino purchase was his most memorable one. The owners of
Resorts, Atlantic City’s first casino, also owned a neighboring casino called
the Taj Mahal. It was still in production during this time, but it was on its
way to becoming one of the city’s most iconic attractions. By taking advantage
of the company’s financial crisis, Trump used borrowed money to make this
purchase. When it was finally completed in 1990, Trump made an appearance for
the casino’s grand opening.
He wasn’t the only one who showed up either. Michael Jackson and thousands of
his fans joined in the celebration of Trump’s latest unveiling. Unfortunately
though, the excitement caused from the launch of these casinos wouldn’t last.
Dealing with Bankruptcy
Trump started to face financial difficulties for the first time towards the
end of the 1980s. Trump’s purchase of the Taj Mahal accumulated too much debt,
and he had to file for business bankruptcy in 1991. Trump was forced to sell
both his yacht and the Trump Shuttle in order to help pay back some of the money
he owed. He was able to make a deal with his lenders, which resulted in him
losing half of his shares of the company.
He was forced to file for bankruptcy a second time in 1992, as the Trump
Plaza Hotel and Casino was consumed by over $550 million in debt. According to
The Washington Post,
“For easier repayment terms for those debts, Trump agreed
to give up his 49 percent stake to a half-dozen lenders, including Citibank.
Trump stayed on as chief executive, though the role was symbolic and declawed:
He did not have a role in day-to-day decision-making, and he did not earn a
salary.”
Trump’s siblings were also speculated to have lent him money from their
father’s trust fund, so that he could pay his lenders back sooner.
Twelve years would pass before Trump would have to file for corporate
bankruptcy again, this time on account of Trump Hotel and Casino Resorts. This
company had primary control of Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Marina, and Trump Plaza,
but was crumbling under $1.8 billion worth of debt. Trump was forced to give up
even more control of these assets in order to please his lenders. Trump’s casino
empire was quickly crashing down. The Trump Marina was sold in the aftermath and
has since been turned into the Golden Nugget Casino.
His most recent bankruptcy occurred in 2009, after Trump Entertainment
Resorts, which had control of the Trump Plaza and the Trump Taj Mahal at the
time, was unable to pay a $53 million bond payment. Trump was forced to resign
from his position as Chairman of the company, leaving with only a ten percent
share of its assets.
Trump is not ashamed of the times he has had to declare business bankruptcy,
having said this during his first republican presidential debate in August 2015.
“I have used the laws of this country … the [bankruptcy] chapter laws, to do a
great job for my company, for myself, for my employees, for my family.”
Despite the setbacks caused by these bankruptcies, Trump always manages to climb his way
back up to the top.
An Update on the Trump Organization
The Trump Organization is flourishing, as they now employ over 24,000 people.
They operate hundreds of hotels in popular cities across the United States
including Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, New York City, Soho and Waikiki. They have
even expanded their services to outside the US, having hotels in Canada, Ireland
and Panama. They are continuing to expand, hoping to open up facilities in Rio
de Janeiro, Vancouver and Washington, DC next.
The Trump Organization understands the importance of diversification, having
branched out to many different markets. In addition to what we have already
mentioned, they sell home items, business attire, fragrances and even natural
spring water. Trump Golf is also a profitable component of this organization.
Luxurious Trump golf courses can be found all around the United States and in
the countries of Dubai, Ireland and Scotland as well. Everything stamped with
the Trump Brand must meet specific requirements and be of the highest quality.
Family Life
Trump’s Parents
Fred Sr.’s parents emigrated here from Germany before Trump was born. Their
last name was originally Drumpf, but they changed it to Trump to make it sound
more American. When Fred Sr. was only fifteen years old, he went into the
real-estate business with his mother to form a company called, Elizabeth Trump
and Son. During the twenties, he started building single-family houses in
Queens. From there, he would expand his empire. Although he favored NYC
properties, he would start building real estate for other major cities in the
United States as well.
Fred Sr. hasn’t always administered completely honest business practices. The
U.S. Senate Committee investigated him in 1954 for profiting from a public
project. He had supposedly taken out $3.7 million more than what he needed in
loans for the Beach Haven building project. Then in 1973, the U.S. Justice
Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a civil rights lawsuit against Trump,
claiming he refused to rent to black people. Despite these accusations, Fred Sr.
continued to expand the company.
Trump’s mother, Mary McLeod Trump, who was originally from Scotland, had a
desire to help others in need. In addition to always being there for her family,
she raised support for the Woman’s Auxiliary of Jamaica Hospital and the Jamaica
Day Nursery. She was known for having a strong faith, making sure her children
attended church on a weekly basis during their youth.
Fred Trump Sr. passed away on June 25th, 1999 at age 93, with Mary Trump, age
88, following him just a few months later.
Trump and His Siblings
Fred Jr., Trump’s oldest brother, had different aspirations than the rest of
his family. He wasn’t interested in taking over the family business, but instead
wanted to focus his attention on being a pilot. He worked for Trans World
Airlines for several years, married a stewardess named Linda Chapp, and seemed
to be living a good life. Secretly though, Freddy had a drinking problem that
was getting increasingly worse, and it would eventually claim his life. Trump
still mourns over the loss of his brother, but he uses his story to teach others
about the dangers of alcohol abuse. To this day, Trump claims he’s never had a
sip of alcohol.
Trump and his eldest sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, share a passion for
politics. She had a seat on the United States District Court of New Jersey until
she was nominated in 1999 by President Bill Clinton to become a judge of the
United States’ Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The Senate unanimously
voted her in. Trump always has looked up to Maryanne, and loves to spend time
with her whenever he can.
Donald’s other sister, Elizabeth Trump Grau, graduated from Kew-Forest School
and Southern Seminary College in Buena Vista, Virginia. She then accepted a job
offer to become an administrative assistant at the Chase Manhattan Bank in New
York. She married James Grau, the president of Charisma Production in 1989.
Trump and Elizabeth still stay in contact with each other, but they aren’t
really close.
Donald has one younger brother: Robert Trump. Robert shares Trump’s
dedication to the real-estate business and was always happy to take advice from
his brother. He was married to a gorgeous social-lite named Blaine for
twenty-five years before divorcing her to start a relationship with someone
else. Robert doesn’t make as many public appearances as he used to, but he did
express to the media his excitement about the upcoming election.
First Marriage
Trump’s first wife was Ivana Winklmayr, who previously was on the 1972 Czech
Olympic Ski Team as an alternative. By the time Trump and her started dating,
she had switched her career to modeling. They quickly became one of New York
City’s elite couples, and only the most prestigious guests were invited to their
wedding in 1977.
Ivana had no intentions of being a trophy wife, quickly becoming a great
asset to Trump’s empire. She became an interior design consultant for many of
his exclusive projects including the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino of Atlantic
City and the Trump Towers of New York City. The power couple eventually had
three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. They seemed to be going
strong until 1990 when it was exposed that Trump had participated in a long-term
affair with his mistress, Marla Maples. Devastated, Ivana filed for divorce and
was able to walk away with over $20 million in the settlement.
Second Marriage
Just over a year after Trump’s first divorce was finalized, Marla gave birth
to their only daughter, Tiffany. The couple exchanged wedding vows just two
months later to start a marriage that would only last six years. Marla would be
forced to raise their daughter on her own, with very limited support from Trump.
Marla never let Trump stand in the way of her career. She made appearances in
several motion films before, during, and after their marriage. Maximum Overdrive
(1986), Executive Decision (1996), Happiness (1998), and Loving Annabelle (2006)
are some of the more popular titles. She has also had small roles in various
television series and Broadway productions.
Third Marriage
Donald Trump is currently married to Melania Trump, formally Melania Kauss.
She had an early career as a model, appearing on covers of Allure, Glamour,
Vanity Fair, Vogue and other high-status magazines. She met Trump soon after his
second divorce was finalized, at a Fashion Week party in New York City. The
couple dated for several years before finally getting married in 2005.
Melania and Trump have one son together, Barron William Trump, who recently
turned ten years old. She is both a dedicated mother and wife, having supported
her husband throughout his entire candidacy. When he first announced that he
would be running as a republican candidate, Melania said this in an interview
with Barbara Walters,
“I encouraged him because I know what he will do and what
he can do for America. He loves the American people and he wants to help them.” -Melania Trump
Donald Trump’s Children: Where are they now?
Donald Trump Jr. (age 39)
Donald Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps by attending the University of
Pennsylvania where he earned his B.S. degree. Upon graduation, he became the
Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions for the Trump
Organization, alongside Ivanka and Eric. He also has appeared as a judge on
nearly every season of his father’s reality television series, The Apprentice
and Celebrity Apprentice. He’s currently married to former model Maryanne Trump
Barry, and together they have five children: Kai Madison, Donald John III,
Tristan Milos, Spencer Frederick and Chloe Sophia.
Donald Jr. said this about his father in an interview with Fox News,
“I know when my father [Donald Trump] puts his mind to something he’s going to do a
phenomenal job with it. He’s a great business man. He has an incredible track
record. And I know he understands what this country needs and what it wants.” -Donald Trump Jr.
Ivanka Trump (age 35)
Ivanka spent two years at Georgetown University before transferring to the
University of Pennsylvania where she would graduate in 2004 with a bachelor’s
degree in economics. Ivanka spent several years designing a new line of high-end
jewelry, which she sold in her store on Madison Ave. Ivanka would eventually
move away from the jewelry market in order to accept a position to be the
Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions for the Trump
Organization with her two brothers. Part of her role in the company involved
being a judge on both The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice.
Ivanka married real-estate developer, Jared Kushner, in the fall of 2009. The
couple now has three children: Arabella Rose, Joseph Frederick and Theodore
James. Throughout his entire campaign, Ivanka was dedicated to helping her
father in any way that she could. She gave countless speeches on his behalf. In
her speech at the Republican National Convention, Ivanka said this about her
father,
“I have seen him fight for his family, I have seen him fight for his
employees, I have seen him fight for his company, and now I am seeing him fight
for our country.” -Ivanka Trump
Eric Trump (33)
Eric graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in
management and finance. Just like Donald Jr. and Ivanka, he too accepted the
position to become the Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions,
and was a judge on The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice. With the help of his
father, Eric was able to expand the Trump Golf properties from three to fifteen.
Forbes Magazine recognized his hard work, putting him on their top “30 under 30”
list of real-estate gurus.
Eric recently got married in the fall of 2014 to his longtime girlfriend,
Lara Yunaska, who was formally a personal trainer and now one of the producers
for the CBS news program: Inside Edition. The lovely couple doesn’t currently
have any children, but they are planning to start a family in the future.
Eric is one of his father’s greatest supporters, and can often be found by
his father’s side. He said this in an interview with CBS news,
“I love him to death. I’m not running around being by his side in every single stop because I
have any aspirations to go into politics. I’m doing it because I love the man.
From a fatherly perspective he’s been amazing, from a career perspective, from a
mentorship perspective, he’s amazing.” -Eric Trump
Tiffany Trump (age 23)
Tiffany’s upbringing was drastically different than her three older siblings,
as she spent the majority of her childhood living in California where her mother
raised her as a single parent. Trump was still a part of her life, but he didn’t
have nearly as much influence on her as he did with his three older children.
Regardless, Tiffany chose to attend her father’s alma mater, the University of
Pennsylvania, after graduating high school.
Knowing she had an interest in high fashion, her half-sister, Ivanka, landed
her an internship at Vogue Magazine. After successfully completing that
internship, she started interning at Aeffe, an Italian fashion group. She has
been committed to her studies right from the start, always getting good grades
and taking her internships seriously.
Trump happily attended Tiffany’s graduation in May 2016. She majored in
sociology and urban studies. She seems to have limitless career possibilities,
but we wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up working for the Trump Organization
at some point down the line.
Barron Trump (age 10)
Though Barron just turned ten years old, he still shows promise through both
his advanced academic success and his athletic abilities. He’s already fluent in
Slovene, and he’s currently learning French. He plays golf with his father
often, and is becoming a very skilled player. We will be excited to see what his
future holds. All we know right now is that he will be moving into the White
House as soon as he finishes out the school year.
Earlier Politics
There have been several times over the past few decades that Trump has had an
increased interest in pursuing a career in politics. He considered running to
become the Governor of New York in the 2006 and 2014 election. There were also
rumors about his possible candidacy for president in the 1988, the 2004, and the
2012 election. In 1999, he actually did file an exploratory committee to become
a presidential candidate for the Reform Party the following year. After a poll
revealed that he only had about seven percent of the country’s support, he chose
to drop out of the race.
Trump has never been an Obama supporter, which we can see through the
millions of dollars he spent trying to discredit Obama’s natural born
citizenship claims. He hired a team of private investigators to go to Hawaii to
determine the legitimacy of Obama’s birthplace. He supposedly had a recorded
telephone interview with Obama’s grandmother who claimed that Obama was born
outside of the US and that she was there to witness the birth. He later
discovered that this was an unaccredited source. Thanks to Trump’s accusations,
Obama felt pressured to release his birth certificate to the public. Trump is
still criticized for his skepticism.
2016 Presidential Election: Make America Great Again!
To say the Republican Party was divided going into the primaries would be an
understatement. Trump had to defeat sixteen candidates that were fighting for
his spot (Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, Jim Gilmore,
Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, George
Pataki, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, Scott Walker and Rick Perry). At the
beginning, every one of them seemed to be ready to put up a fight, but as time
went on it became clear who was going to make it to the finish line.
Super Tuesday revealed Trump’s strength. He won Vermont, Massachusetts,
Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas. His only real competition at
this point was Ted Cruz, who only managed to win Alaska, Oklahoma and Texas. As
time went on, Trump landed even more states and Cruz had to face the facts that
he was not going to be able to stop Trump from getting his victory. Cruz dropped
out of the race, and Trump became the official republican candidate.
Below, we have provided an overview of Trump’s positions on some of the major
issues America faces. This information was taken directly from President Donald
Trump’s website:
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/.
Healthcare Reform
To say Trump is against the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, would
also be a major understatement. He complains about the infamous website
glitches, the high runaway costs, the higher premiums, and a plethora of other
concerns this act creates. He has stated numerous times,
“On day one of the Trump Administration, we will ask Congress to immediately deliver
a full repeal of Obamacare.”
Immigration Reform
There may be no components of Trump’s political platform that are more
controversial than his views on immigration reform. He has many interesting
ideas when it comes to changing the United States’ immigration policy, among
which include an end to birth right citizenship, enhanced penalties for
overstaying a visa, a triple increase to the number of ICE officers, the
deportation of all criminal aliens, and a strong emphasis on hiring Americans
before employees from other countries.
Of course, we cannot fail to mention Trump’s plan to build a wall around the
Mexican border, and have them be responsible for paying for the costs. He
believes that Mexico’s leaders have been taking advantage of the United States
by encouraging their impoverished citizens to sneak into our country illegally.
The U.S. has suffered both in terms of economics and crime because of the influx
of illegal immigrants. Until Mexico pays for the wall, Trump will increase fees
on all temporary visas granted to Mexican CEOs and diplomats, increase fees on
all border-crossing cards, and impound all remittance payments derived from
illegal wages.
U.S. China Trade Reform
Trump criticizes Bill Clinton’s decision to allow China to join the World
Trade Organization back in 2000, and claims that America has failed to force
China to live up to their obligations under this deal. In order to get more
factories to open in American so that more jobs can be created, he believes the
US needs to have this trade agreement re-negotiated. He plans to put an end to
China’s illegal export subsidies, and their abysmal labor and environmental
standards.
Second Amendment Rights
On Trump’s campaign website, he stated,
“The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to
keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.”
He supports the notion that all law-abiding citizens have the right to defend themselves and hence they
have the right to carry concealed weapons. Trump believes that instead of taking
guns away from law-abiding citizens, the country needs to focus their attention
to prosecuting violent criminals and fixing the country’s broken mental health system.
Tax Reform
Trump has a thorough tax reform plan that consists of four main goals. He
wants tax relief for middle class Americans, the tax code to be simplified, and
the American economy to flourish, all while making sure the country doesn’t add
debt to their deficit. Major components of his plan include having a simple,
four bracket tax code, setting a 15% cap on business income taxes, and reducing
the number of deductions and loopholes available to the very wealthy.
Veterans Administration Reform
Trump has expressed his concerns towards the Department of Veterans Affairs’
lack of support for US veterans. He firmly believes that veterans have the right
to get the care they need wherever and whenever they need it. This includes care
for physical ailments, as well as mental aliments. He recognizes that
post-traumatic stress disorder is a pressing concern that cannot be ignored, and
is disgusted by the amount of suicides caused by untreated cases. He also
believes no veteran should return home without the guarantee of a job, which is
why he plans to increase incentives for companies to hire veterans.
Controversial Quotes from Donald Trump
When it comes to watching the words that come out of his mouth, Trump has no
filter. He’s not afraid of hurting anyone’s feelings or giving people tough
advice when necessary. To say he can be offensive would be a major
understatement. The following quotes are some of the more contentious words that
Trump has spoken during his presidential campaign.
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re sending
people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re
bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are
good people, but I speak to border guards and they’re telling us what we’re
getting.”
(Announcement of his presidential candidacy: June 2015)
“Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the
face of our next president?
(Referring to Carly Fiorina, Rolling Stones: September 2015)
“I think apologizing’s a great thing, but you have to be wrong. I will
absolutely apologize, sometime in the hopefully distant future, if I’m ever
wrong.”
(The Tonight Show: September 2015)
“I could stand in the middle of 5th Ave and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t
lose voters.”
(A campaign rally in Sioux Center, Iowa: January 2016)
“Honestly, he may have ruined his political career. I feel so badly. I feel
so badly. And you know, he’ll come and endorse over the next little while.
He’ll—because he has no choice. But I don’t want his endorsement. What
difference does it make?”
(Referring to Ted Cruz during a press conference: July 2016)
“I think that her bodyguards should drop all weapons. They should disarm.
Take their guns away, she doesn’t want guns. Take them, let’s see what happens
to her.”
(Referring to Hillary Clinton’s position on gun control at a rally in Miami,
FL: September 2016)
“We have no country if we have no border. We have some bad hombres here and
we’re gonna get ’em out.”
(The third presidential debate: October 2016)
Trump’s Journey to the White House
Once Trump officially became the Republican candidate for the 2016
Presidential Election, he worked very hard for his voters. Between campaign
rallies and presidential debates, Trump had very little time to rest. He chose
to select Indiana Governor, Mike Pence, to be his vice president, in hopes that
this action would help unify the Republican Party.
When it came to Election Day on November 8th, 2016, Trump and his campaign
managers patiently waited for the results to come in. Recent polls showed that
Hillary had a significant lead and that Trump had a very narrow path to victory.
As the night went on, however, it was clear that Trump had more supporters than
the polls suggested. He locked in key states like Florida, Iowa, North Carolina,
Ohio and Pennsylvania to give him enough electoral votes to win the election.
We look forward to seeing what Trump will do over the course of his
presidency. He made many statements promising significant changes in our
country’s future. One of our favorite quotes from his victory speech was,
“Working together, we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and
renewing the American dream. I’ve spent my entire life and business looking at
the untapped potential in projects and in people all over the world. That is now
what I want to do for our country.”
Getting to Know Trump on a More Personal Level
Books by Donald Trump
Trump has always been a very confident person, so we weren’t surprised to
hear that he has written several books that offer advice on anything from
business endeavors to politics. We have provided a short list of the most
popular books written by Trump, along with a brief description of what each one
is about.
Trump: The Art of the Deal (1987)
Trump collaborated with Tony Schwartz to write this exclusive business advice
book that managed to reach #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List and held
that position for fifty-one weeks. Within the book, Trump lays out his eleven
guidelines for success. He reveals what it takes to be an excellent dealmaker,
and what great deals look like. The opening line of his book is as follows; “I
don’t do it for the money. I’ve got enough, much more than I’ll ever need. I do
it to do it. Deals are my art form.”
The America We Deserve (2000)
This book was published after Donald Trump decided to run for president the
first time. He uses this book to explore his political stance on a variety of
subjects. It covers everything from his views on abortion to his views on
education to his views on the economy. Although many found his blunt statements
to be abrasive, people were still drawn to this book. It has regained some
popularity over the past few months too, as voters are curious to see how his
views have changed over the past sixteen years.
Trump Think Like a Billionaire (2004)
This book is designed to do exactly what it says; make the average person
think like a billionaire. Trump teaches his readers how to have the mindset of a
billionaire when it comes to your career, your money and your life. He uses this
book to reveal the best ways to secure a mortgage, assess the value of your
property and much more. Meredith McIver assisted Trump in the writing of this
book; she has helped him write several other books as well.
Time to Get Tough: Make America Great Again (2011, 2015)
This is another New York Times Best-Seller. Trump spends a good portion of
this book complaining about Obama, claiming he made horrible decisions
throughout his entire presidency. Of course, Trump has a solution to nearly all
of these problems. He focuses heavily on how we can re-secure our nation’s
border and create more jobs in America. This book is both very bold and
captivating; it continues to spark the interest of Americans everywhere!
Other books written by Trump that are worth mentioning include:
- Trump: the Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received (2012)
- Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich and Why Most Don’t
(2011) - Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life (2007)
- Trump 101: the Way to Success (2006)
- Trump: the Best Golf Advice I Ever Received (2005)
- Trump: How to Get Rich (2004)
- Trump the Art of the Comeback (1997)
- Trump Surviving at the Top (1990)
Please Note: Many of his books are available in a variety of languages, as
they are read by people all around the world.
The Apprentice/ Celebrity Apprentice
The Apprentice first aired on NBC in 2004, and it ran for six seasons before
the makers decided to add a new spin off to the show called, Celebrity
Apprentice. Both shows have the same theme; the judges will assess the skills of
a group of businessmen and women in order to see who is worthy to be Trump’s
next apprentice. At the end of each episode the weakest contestant will be
eliminated, usually leaving the show in anger after Trump says his famous line,
“You’re Fired!” The only difference between The Apprentice and Celebrity
Apprentice is that in the latter, celebrities compete to win money for their
selected charities.
Trump was the host for both shows for a combined total of fourteen seasons.
In 2007, he became the 2,327th star to be added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for his performance on the show. In 2015, Trump announced that he would not be
accepting the network’s offer to renew his contract to be the Celebrity
Apprentice host this upcoming season. Instead, he’s devoting all of his time and
attention to running for president. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken Donald
Trump’s place in the 2016 season, and has said to have done a phenomenal job thus far.
Filmography
Trump may be most famous for the television sensation known as, The
Apprentice, but his career within the filming industry certainly doesn’t end
there. Not only has he been the executive producer of several seasons of the
Miss USA and the Miss Universe Pageant, but he has also taken small roles in
several well-known Hollywood movies, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
(1992), The Little Rascals (1994), Zoolander (2001), and Horroween (2011) to
name a few.
Philanthropy
Donald Trump has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to a wide array of
charitable causes under the Trump Organization. He supports several different
health organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes
Association, and the Institute for Implant Analysis at the Hospital for Special
Surgery. Some of the non-health related organizations he has donated to include
the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House of New York and
United Way. Despite all of his contributions, he’s still criticized for his lack
of generosity.
Leisure Time
Being as wealthy as Trump means your options are almost endless when it comes
to what you choose to do during your down time. Trump enjoys golfing, and can
often be found on one of his many golf courses. He also enjoys travelling to his
favorite vacation hotspot: Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida. He often takes his
family with him, as spending time with them is a major priority in his life. It
will be interesting to see what Donald Trump chooses to do with his spare time
now that he is President of the United States. What will his future behold?
We’ll have to wait and see.