Donald Trump

Donald John Trump entered politics after a career in real estate, branding, and television. He served as the forty-fifth president from 2017 to 2021 and returned as the forty-seventh president in January 2025. His “America First” program emphasized national sovereignty, restrictions on immigration, tariffs, and renegotiation of international arrangements that he regarded as disadvantageous to the United States. His two presidencies belong to one political career, separated by Joe Biden’s term. ^{1, 4}

During his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership process, the Paris climate agreement, and the Iran nuclear agreement. He pressed NATO allies to spend more on defense and questioned the costs of existing security commitments. His administration imposed tariffs, particularly in its confrontation with China, and negotiated the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement to replace NAFTA. These changes gave trade and economic pressure a prominent place in American diplomacy. ²

Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in an effort to negotiate over nuclear weapons, but the summits did not produce a disarmament agreement. He recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and supported agreements normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states. His administration also negotiated with the Taliban over an American withdrawal from Afghanistan, leaving implementation to extend beyond his first term. ²

Domestic priorities included the 2017 tax law, deregulation, restrictions on immigration, and appointments that shifted the Supreme Court’s composition. The COVID-19 pandemic brought emergency spending, a vaccine development program, and disputes over public health measures. Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat in the 2020 election culminated in a prolonged challenge to the transfer of power and the January 6 attack on the Capitol. The House impeached him twice; the Senate acquitted him in both trials. ³

Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025, becoming the second president, after Grover Cleveland, to serve nonconsecutive terms. He again prioritized immigration enforcement, tariffs, tax reductions, and changes to federal administration. His return renewed disputes over the balance between presidential authority, congressional oversight, and the continuity of American international commitments. ^{3, 4}