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The 2000s in America

Trump, Donald

by Keira Stevenson

Identification: American entrepreneur and television personality

Born: June 14, 1946; New York, New York

Donald Trump is an American businessman and the president of the Trump Organization, a company that develops hotels, resorts, and other real estate ventures in New York City and elsewhere. Trump also founded Trump Entertainment Resorts, which manages casinos and hotels in Atlantic City.

Donald John Trump was born in New York City on June 14, 1946, to Frederick and Mary MacLeod Trump. He attended school at a military academy and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Upon his graduation, Trump joined his father in a shared office in Brooklyn, New York. The elder Trump used his business savvy to grow Trump Organization into an extremely successful business, which the younger Trump took over in 1975.

In 1999, Trump joined the presidential race, challenged by conservative candidate Pat Buchanan for the Reform Party nomination. It was also during this year that he divorced his second wife, Marla Maples. Working in Trump’s favor for the campaign were his vast personal funds and the publicity he received because of his high profile. Trump also maintained that his overseas business experience would be an asset in handling foreign policy.

Trump told prospective voters that he planned to impose a one-time tax on the rich to help relieve the nation of some of its national debt. Trump promised to continue the trade embargo against Cuba in order to exert political influence over the island’s Communist government. He also supported the creation of an American missile defense system to thwart what was seen as a potential Russian nuclear threat. Despite garnering a fair amount of support, Trump dropped out of the race on February 14, 2000, citing internal conflict within the Reform Party.

Though his political career never took off, Trump remained a significant figure in real estate. The Trump Corporation controlled hotels, condominiums, apartments, casinos, golf courses, and vacation resorts around the globe. In addition, Trump authored several books, including Trump: The Art of the Deal (1987), Trump: The Art of Survival (1990), and Trump: The Art of the Comeback (1997). He also made cameo appearances on television programs such as Spin City, The Nanny, and Suddenly Susan, as well as in movies such as Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Celebrity (1998), and 54 (1998).

In 2004, Trump began a reality television show called, The Apprentice. The show consisted of contestants competing for executive positions in one of Trump’s many companies. Trump consistently and dramatically used the phrase “You’re fired!” when he terminated contestants who did not meet his standards. Trump would eventually copyright the phrase. Also in 2004, the Trumped! radio program was launched. The show, which consisted of commentaries on world events and advice on business ventures, debuted as the largest syndicated radio program in history.

Trump published the books Trump 101: The Way to Success in 2007 and Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success in 2008. In 2009, he began a new business venture known as the Trump Network to sell a variety of weight-loss, vitamin, and health products.

Donald Trump

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Impact

Trump has had significant success with his business ventures in branding and licensing, entertainment, and real estate. He has also been involved in politics. In 2006, Forbes estimates Trump’s net worth at approximately $2.6 billion.

Further Reading

1 

Blair, Gwenda. Donald Trump: Master Apprentice. New York: Schuster, 2000. Print.

2 

Slater, Robert. No Such Thing as Over-Exposure: Inside the Life and Celebrity of Donald Trump. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2005. Print.

3 

Trump, Donald. Trump: The Art of the Deal. New York: Random, 1987. Print.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Stevenson, Keira. "Trump, Donald." The 2000s in America, edited by Craig Belanger, Salem Press, 2013. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=2000_0371.
APA 7th
Stevenson, K. (2013). Trump, Donald. In C. Belanger (Ed.), The 2000s in America. Salem Press.
CMOS 17th
Stevenson, Keira. "Trump, Donald." Edited by Craig Belanger. The 2000s in America. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2013. Accessed September 18, 2025. online.salempress.com.