Donald J. Trump is an American businessman and politician who served as the 45th President of the United States from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021. A Republican, his administration prioritized tax reform, deregulation, conservative judicial appointments, and an "America First" approach to trade and foreign policy.
Trump's presidency produced major conservative policy changes, including the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, wide-ranging deregulatory efforts, and the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, which reshaped the federal judiciary. Supporters credit these moves with boosting business confidence and advancing conservative legal priorities, while critics cite increased deficits and controversial regulatory rollbacks.
On foreign policy he favored bilateral trade renegotiations and tariffs, notably with China, and finalized the USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA. His term was marked by two impeachments and the global COVID-19 pandemic—events that intensified political polarization and led to sharply divergent assessments of his leadership and legacy.
Enacted the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Appointed three Supreme Court justices (Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett); Negotiated USMCA and pursued tariffs, including a trade dispute with China; Implemented broad deregulation and rolled back environmental rules; Signed the CARES Act and led the federal COVID-19 response during the pandemic; Impeached twice by the House (2019 and 2021)
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
The House impeached Trump on charges related to abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Trump signed an executive order restricting entry from several predominantly Muslim countries.