Inaugurated just over three weeks ago, Donald Trump has already set into motion some major changes in the United States. From instituting an immigration and visitor ban on individuals from seven predominantly Muslim countries, to placing restrictions on abortion and talking once again about that wall he plans to build. Despite being well versed in his new policies, it recently occurred to me that I know strikingly little about the man himself or the family behind him. So, if you’re like me, here’s the lowdown…
Donald J. Trump
- He’s 70 years old.
- He first entered into business in the late 1960s as part of his father’s business: the Trump Management Company.
- Trump’s autobiography, ‘The Art of the Deal’, was published with the help of a ghost writer in 1987 and, following its success, several other motivational business books were published under his name.
- He has bought and developed many golf courses, and over 20 buildings have been erected in his name across the USA, Asia and Europe.
- He entered into joint ownership of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants with the NBC Television Network from 1996 to 2015.
- Trump founded his own exclusively female model management company in 1999.
- In 2004, Trump produced and starred in his own TV show – ‘The Apprentice’ (the American version of Lord Alan Sugar’s TV show in the UK).
- He launched his own tailored clothing company in 2005, which was later expanded to include home furnishings and fragrances.
- Trump has been married three times and has five children, two daughters and three sons.
- On 20th January, Donald Trump was officially made President of the United States of America.
Melania Trump
- She’s 46 years old.
- She was born in Slovenia.
- Melania worked as a model from the age of 16, living in Milan and Paris before she moved to New York in 1996.
- She met Donald Trump in 1998 at a fashion party but they didn’t get engaged until 2004.
- In 2006, she gave birth to their son, Barron Trump.
- Melania launched her own jewellery line and skincare brands in 2010.
- In July 2016, she gave her famous campaign speech, plagiarising one of Michelle Obama’s past speeches.
Children
- Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric Trump were all born of their father’s first marriage to Ivana Trump.
- Donald Jr. and Eric immediately followed in Donald’s path, working in the family business.
- However, in 2015, the two sons earned bad press from their ruthless hunting hobby.
- At the age of 14, Ivanka entered into modelling but soon followed her father’s footsteps into the real estate business, joining the Trump Organisation shortly afterwards.
- She founded the Trump Hotel Collection.
- Between 2006 and 2015, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric appeared on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ alongside their father.
- Like her father, Ivanka published her own motivational book in 2009: ‘The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life’ and launched her own fashion and lifestyle brand.
- Upon becoming president, Trump put Donald Jr. Eric and Ivanka in charge of The Trump Organisation.
- Trump’s youngest daughter, Tiffany was born to his second wife, Marla Maples, and stays away from the spotlight.
- Despite this, she interned at Vogue in 2011 and had a very brief spell as a not-so-successful solo singer.
- Barron is the only child born out of Donald’s current marriage to Melania and is only 10, so there is little to say about his life so far.
- He was recently publicly defended by Chelsea Clinton as she stressed the importance of his right ‘to be a kid’ regardless of his father’s position.
Edited by: Jess Shelton
Sources:
http://www.trump.com/biography/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Donald-Trump/e/B001H6O8M2
http://www.biography.com/people/melania-trump-812016
http://www.biography.com/people/ivanka-trump-7192016
http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/559a9a1869beddee4a4b5c43-1190-6…