Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

A look back at Donald Trump's journey to the White House

Article (news)

Reuters Wires

Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on Jan. 20, ushering in his second term in office and capping one of the most astounding political comebacks in American history. Trump will take the oath of office, likely administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, at 12 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) in front of the U.S. Capitol.Trump will then deliver his inaugural address. In interviews, he has said he intends it to be uplifting and unifying. That would mark a departure from his first speech in 2017, which detailed a broken country he described as “American Carnage”.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/20/trump-promises-brand-new-day-at-pre-inauguration-victory-rally-0838">Trump promises &#x27;brand new day&#x27; at pre-inauguration victory rally</a></div>The outgoing president, Democrat Joe Biden, has said he plans to attend the ceremony and witness the transfer of power, a courtesy Trump did not afford him four years earlier.Thousands of spectators without tickets are expected to fill the National Mall and watch the ceremony on large video screens.Trump has broken with precedent and invited several foreign leaders to the ceremony. Historically, they have not attended the inaugural due to security concerns and have sent diplomats in their stead. In office from 2017 to 2021, Trump has cast his indictments in four criminal cases as a political attack, vowing &quot;retribution&quot; against perceived enemies and embracing increasingly dystopian rhetoric. He has also made ominous comments about &quot;the enemy within&quot; the United States and threatened to deploy the military domestically.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/20/pope-francis-says-trump-s-immigration-raids-would-be-a-disgrace-0844">Pope Francis says Trump&#x27;s immigration raids would be a &#x27;disgrace&#x27;</a></div>Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime in May, in New York City. He was also the first president to be impeached twice. He denies any wrongdoing.Trump, who chose U.S. Senator JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate, has refused to commit to accepting the 2024 results or to rule out possible political violence, while he and Republicans lay the groundwork to contest a potential loss. He promised to pardon supporters imprisoned for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and threatened to prosecute election officials, donors, Google and others if he wins.He said he would not run again if he loses.Trump is the oldest U.S. presidential nominee and would become the nation&#x27;s second oldest president. He faced two assassination attempts, one at a Pennsylvania campaign rally in July and another one in September near one of his Florida golf courses.Trump-friendly think tanks&#x27; sweeping &quot;Project 2025&quot; policy agenda would target the Justice Department&#x27;s independence, among other plans. Trump has sought to distance himself from the project despite his former aides&#x27; and Vance&#x27;s involvement. He also wants the power to replace federal civil service workers with loyalists.On foreign policy, Trump has vowed to fundamentally alter the U.S. relationship with NATO and to resolve the Ukraine war with possible peace talks that might require Kyiv to cede territory. He has said Hamas must be &quot;crushed&quot; and vowed to be tougher on Iran, but has given few details or policy proposals.Trump has made immigration a top issue, promising mass deportations, including legal Haitian immigrants given Temporary Protected Status in Springfield, Ohio. He would end birthright citizenship and expand a travel ban on people from certain countries.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/19/timelapse-video-shows-large-crowd-gathering-ahead-of-trump-victory-rally-0654">Timelapse video shows large crowd gathering ahead of Trump victory rally</a></div>He takes credit for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade protections, saying abortion laws should be left to the states. Trump said he does not support banning birth control.On the economy, Trump would impose sweeping tariffs on imported goods and on specific companies and countries. He pledged to end taxes on tips and overtime, to lower corporate tax rates and to open federal lands to foreign companies and housing. He has also vowed to undo much of Biden’s climate change work.Trump was born on June 14, 1946, the fourth of five children and the son of real estate developer Fred Trump, who specialized in building and running middle-income apartments. His parents sent him to military school at age 13 to instill discipline. He later earned an economics degree from the University of Pennsylvania&#x27;s Wharton School.After taking a $1 million loan from his father in the 1970s, Trump erected his flagship building on Manhattan&#x27;s Fifth Avenue in 1983 and called it Trump Tower. He would put up other residential and office buildings around the city - and the world - with his name prominently affixed.Trump cultivated an image of a successful deal-maker, but experienced chronic financial losses, bankruptcies and business failures. Trump put his name on neckties, steaks, bottled water, cologne, an airline and even a real estate &quot;university&quot; that a few days before his inauguration in 2017 would pay $25 million to settle fraud claims brought by students.Starting in 2003, Trump found broader fame hosting the reality TV shows &quot;The Apprentice&quot; and &quot;Celebrity Apprentice,&quot; in which each episode ended with him dramatically ousting a contestant. &quot;You&#x27;re fired,&quot; Trump would said.In 2005, he married former Slovenian model and future U.S. first lady Melania Knauss - more than 23 years his junior. Trump had five children with his three wives.<div>(Production: Ashraf Fahim, Deborah Lutterbeck, Eva Weininger, Andrea Rodriguez)  </div>

Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on Jan. 20, ushering in his second term in office and capping one of the most astounding political comebacks in American history.

Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on Jan. 20, ushering in his second term in office and capping one of the most astounding political comebacks in American history.

A look back at Donald Trump's journey to the White House

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A look back at Donald Trump's journey to the White House

Reuters

Published January 20, 2025 11:57 AM PHT

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