Donald J. Trump

Donald J. Trump is a Republican politician and the President of the United States since 2025. A dominant and polarising figure in US politics, he also served from 2017 to 2021.

Political career

Donald Trump was born in 1946 in New York City and built his early career in business and real estate, becoming widely known as a property developer, brand marketer and television personality before entering politics. He studied at Fordham University and later transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1968. His pre-political public profile was shaped by leadership of the family business, The Trump Organization, and by his role as host of The Apprentice, which helped turn him into a national celebrity.

Trump’s political trajectory accelerated in the early 2010s, when he became increasingly prominent in conservative media and Republican circles. In 2015, he launched his first presidential campaign, running as a Republican on a nationalist, anti-establishment platform. He won the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton and was inaugurated as the 45th president in January 2017. His first term lasted until January 2021, after which he left office following his defeat by Joe Biden. He later returned to the White House after winning the 2024 election, becoming the 47th president and the first US president in over 130 years to serve two non-consecutive terms.

During his first presidency, Trump governed through a mix of executive assertiveness, personnel turnover and direct communication to supporters, often bypassing traditional party structures. Key areas of his first term included tax reform, deregulation, immigration enforcement, judicial appointments and a transactional foreign policy. After leaving office, he remained the central figure in the Republican Party, heavily influencing primaries and the party’s direction before reclaiming the presidency in 2025.

Relationship with the public

Trump’s relationship with the American public has been unusually intense and durable. He has maintained a loyal and highly motivated base of supporters, particularly among voters who feel alienated from political, media and economic elites. His style — direct, combative and highly media-driven — has helped him cultivate a strong personal following that often transcends normal party attachment.

At the same time, he is one of the most polarising figures in modern US politics. Supporters often view him as an outsider who speaks plainly, defends national sovereignty and challenges entrenched institutions. Critics regard him as destabilising, confrontational and willing to stretch political and constitutional norms. This division extends beyond the electorate into civil society, where Trump has been a central figure in debates over immigration, race, executive power, the judiciary and democratic standards.

His relationship with the media is similarly adversarial. Trump has frequently attacked major news organisations as “fake news”, framing himself as a victim of biased coverage while also using the media ecosystem to amplify his message. He relies heavily on mass rallies, social media and partisan outlets, creating a direct line to supporters that bypasses traditional intermediaries. This communication style has been a defining feature of his political identity and a major factor in his endurance.

Positions and political profile

Trump’s political profile combines right-wing populism, economic nationalism, social conservatism and a highly personalised leadership style. He has consistently championed border security, strict immigration controls, lower taxes, deregulation, a strong law-and-order agenda and scepticism towards multilateral institutions. In trade policy, he has promoted tariffs and protectionist measures, arguing that US industrial and labour interests were undermined by globalisation and unfavourable trade arrangements.

On domestic policy, Trump is strongly associated with conservative judicial appointments, especially the reshaping of the federal courts and the Supreme Court. His presidency had lasting effects on the judiciary, and this remains one of the most important elements of his legacy within the Republican Party. He has also backed an expansive interpretation of executive authority and has often treated institutions such as the Justice Department, federal agencies and parts of the civil service as politically contestable rather than neutral.

Foreign policy under Trump has been marked by “America First” thinking: a preference for bilateral deals, burden-sharing by allies and a sceptical approach to long-standing alliances. He has criticised NATO partners over defence spending, taken a harder line on China and adopted a more transactional posture towards diplomacy more generally. In the Middle East, he was associated with the Abraham Accords and with a distinctively pro-Israel approach.

Inside the Republican Party, Trump is seen by many as the movement’s defining figure of the modern era, though not all Republicans embrace his style. Some view him as a vehicle for long-standing conservative goals, while others see him as having transformed the party around loyalty to himself rather than around traditional ideology. Outside the party, he is often perceived as the key architect of a more combative and nationalist Republicanism.

Several decisions define him politically: the 2017 tax cuts, his appointments to the federal judiciary, the handling of immigration and the US–Mexico border, the trade conflict with China, his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his refusal to accept the 2020 election result, which culminated in the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. These moments continue to shape assessments of his leadership and his place in US political history.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Donald Trump? Donald Trump is a Republican politician, businessman and media figure who became the 45th and 47th President of the United States. He is one of the most influential and polarising figures in contemporary American politics.

What party does Donald Trump belong to? He belongs to the Republican Party (GOP), although his rise reshaped the party around a more populist, nationalist and personalist style of politics.

When was Donald Trump born? He was born in 1946 in New York City.

What are Donald Trump’s main political positions? He is associated with border enforcement, tax cuts, deregulation, protectionist trade policy, conservative judicial appointments and the America First foreign-policy approach.

Why is Donald Trump historically significant? He is the first US president in more than 130 years to serve two non-consecutive terms, and his two presidencies have had a major impact on the Republican Party, the judiciary, immigration policy and the tone of American political debate.

How is Donald Trump viewed by the public? He remains highly popular among a large Republican base, but he is also one of the most polarising leaders in modern US history, attracting strong support and strong opposition in roughly equal measure.