Donald Trump: The Businessman Turned President Who Divided America
The election of the 45th President of the United States came with controversy and divisiveness. Donald J. Trump embodied the spirit of the Republican party as well as being a renowned businessman. His ride to the White House in 2016 was littered with harsh criticism and opposition, including various claims by the opposition of his businesses and record. As a businessman, Trump was often seen as a success story, growing his father’s real estate empire into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Despite this, Trump’s presidency divided America with some seeing him as a populist leader and others seeing him as a dangerous individualistic leader.
The Life and Business of Donald Trump: An Overview
Donald Trump began life in 1946 in Queens, New York. His family was not wealthy, and his father was a real estate developer. Trump took on the same profession, becoming a real estate agent and later, a property developer. His business career has been rife with ups-and-downs including multiple bankruptcies, failed business enterprises, and questionable investments. Many of Trump’s business endeavors revolve around luxury projects and branding endeavors.
Trump’s first major success came in the mid-1970s with the development of Trump Tower in Manhattan. This began a decades-long series of successes for Trump, with multiple luxurious buildings and a series of branding deals. Trump’s businesses often took advantage of liberal zoning laws and other government programs, relying heavily on the support of the upper and middle class.
The Presidential Candidacy of Donald Trump
In 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican party’s nomination for president. His running platform was centered around his experience in business as well as various conservative and libertarian ideas. Trump campaigned against traditional establishment figures such as Jeb Bush and made a series of inflammatory statements and policy proposals.
During the Republican primary, Trump’s outsider status often caused controversy, yet his populist positions led to success in the primaries and ultimately, the nomination. He ran against a crowded field of outsiders in the general election and ultimately, won the electoral college vote, securing the presidency. While his background as a businessman at times suppressed the opposition’s attacks, his multinational business interest and often inflammatory rhetoric caused many to remain opposed to his campaign.
The Trump Presidency
Donald Trump ascended to the White House in 2017 and began enacting his platform. Trump took on foreign policy and defense matters, striking what some referred to as “America first” policies, attempting to balance diplomacy and isolationism. Trump secured major GOP legislative wins including tax cuts and an increase in military spending. Trump also reformed immigration law and enforced stricter regulations in the Mexican-American Border.
As a result of President Trump’s policies, strong opposition or approval for Donald Trump has become a major political fault-line. He mobilized huge base of supporters, made up of middle and upper class citizens, often with hawkish positions on immigration and foreign policy.
Ironically, due to his business background, Trump’s policies often harmed the same business interests that he campaigned on. Multiple members of his cabinet came from major banks and multinational corporations, and many of his policies were released with large corporate handouts.
The Impact of Trump’s Presidency
Donald Trump’s election has had a seismic impact both inside America and around the world. Domestically the divisiveness around Donald Trump’s presidency has led to a decrease in approval ratings for both parties and a decrease in trust for the government as a whole.
Internationally, Trump’s policies have resulted in a decrease in global trust for America and a decrease in international confidence in America’s ability to properly govern. Additionally, Trump’s focus on taking an “America first” approach to foreign policy, often purely for its domestic political gain, has caused deep tensions and animosity across the world.
Through his controversial and divisive political ideology, Donald Trump has influenced the direction of American and international politics for years to come. Appearing to Congress for his impeachment inquiry and shamelessly leading a social media platform full of false claims, made Trump’s presidency unmistakable in the political sphere. With the looming Biden administration, there remains no clear answer as to what will happen to the tumultuous legacy President Donald Trump left behind. What can be said is that Donald Trump’s influence on world politics will not soon be forgotten. From his presidential run to his court battle, Donald Trump has divided America and has left a lasting impression on the international stage.
