President Donald J. Trump

Donald J. Trump was born in Queens, New York, on June 14, 1946. His father, Fred Trump, was a highly successful real estate developer. The elder Trump was of German heritage, and his wife, Mary McLeod, was of Scottish background. Their son Donald was the second youngest of five children. He was educated at the New York Military Academy and the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania.

Even before he graduated he was drawn to real estate and construction, and as a young man he took over his father’s firm, renaming it the Trump Organization.

The Trump Organization soon became involved in a myriad of projects, including hotels, resorts, residential and commercial buildings, casinos, and golf courses, both in the United States and abroad. His first of many books was The Art of the Deal, published in 1987. In 2004 he launched the Apprentice (later The Celebrity Apprentice), a popular television series that aired until 2015.

During the 2016 primary season, Trump defeated more than a dozen seasoned rivals to win the Republican nomination and went on to win the election over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. His campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again,” and he moved swiftly to reinvigorate “Buy American and Hire American” policies. 

First Lady of the United States Melania Trump is the wife of President Donald J. Trump. She is the second First Lady born outside of the United States, and she is the only First Lady to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Melania Trump is the wife of President Donald J. Trump and the mother of Barron Trump. She was born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

She is the second first lady born outside of the United States, and she is the only first lady to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. Like the first ladies before her, Mrs. Trump has made her mark on history.

As first lady, she continues to serve as an ardent advocate for children and devotes her time and efforts to helping young people navigate the many issues they face in an ever-changing society. In 2018, she announced BE BEST, an awareness campaign that strives to promote a world for children based on healthy living, kindness, and respect. The initiative consists of three pillars representing key areas of concern for Mrs. Trump: well-being, including the social and emotional health of children; social media, focusing on understanding its positive as well as negative effects on children; and opioid abuse, striving to protect the most vulnerable from the effects of drug abuse while educating people of all ages about the detrimental effects of opioids.

Since its launch, BE BEST has affected local communities across the country and the world, spreading its message of kindness and shining a spotlight on successful programs and services that help children and families with the support and tools they need to thrive. Mrs. Trump continues to evolve and expand her campaign based on research and information learned from her many visits to schools, hospitals, organizations, and companies, and from speaking to children directly about their ideas and concerns.

In all that she does, Mrs. Trump puts children at the forefront of her agenda. Whether in the United States or abroad, she has made a positive impact on the lives of children, especially those in vulnerable communities around the world. She has traveled the United States from coast to coast meeting the nation’s youth and families of all backgrounds. She has embarked on trips to more than nine countries, including Africa on her first major solo international trip. She has met with more than thirty foreign diplomats and heads of state or their spouses to exchange ideas on the challenges children are facing all over the world.

One of her most memorable visits was at the Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital in Vatican City, Italy, where she met a boy who had been waiting for a new heart. Upon arriving in Belgium the following day, Mrs. Trump learned that the hospital had found a transplant for the boy. She celebrated this discovery in a press statement and said, “My own heart is filled with joy over the news.”

In 2019, during a BE BEST anniversary celebration in the Rose Garden, Mrs. Trump reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to shaping a brighter future for children, declaring, “I am here with one goal, which is to help children reach their full potential so they can grow up happy, healthy and contribute positively to society and the world.”

Learn more about Melania Trump’s spouse, Donald Trump.

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