The Donald Trump story

President-elect Donald Trump attends a campaign event, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 29, 2024. / Reuters/Brendan McDermid

When Donald Trump secured a series of key swing states, paving the way for his victory in the November 2024 US Presidential elections, a simple question emerged: Who is Donald Trump? And how did he ascend from a wealthy real estate scion to the presidency?

Enter a Netflix recommendation: Trump: An American Dream, a 2017 documentary tracing the life and career of Donald Trump. This four-part series delves into various phases of his journey—his family roots, real estate ambitions, media scandals, love for tabloid culture, his rise as a reality TV icon, and eventual transformation into a political figure during the 2016 campaign.

At the outset, the filmmakers promise a balanced portrayal, featuring insights from Trump's friends and foes. Yet, as the episodes unfold, it becomes evident that the documentary does little more than rehash what has been known about him for four decades of being in the public conscience.

Unsatisfied, this writer decided to dig deeper—and here's what she discovered!

Donald Trump was born to affluent parents – Mary Anne Trump, a socialite and philanthropist, and Fred Trump, a real estate developer and businessman. The couple comes from immigrant families – Fred is a son of German immigrants while Mary Anne hailed from Scotland. Both influenced his upbringing and values, but Donald is always seen revering his father publicly; he seldom talks about his mum.

As a child, he and his brother would accompany his father to his construction sites and collect soda bottles for deposit money. He told Forbes in a 2012 interview that that was his first income! A little while later, he went around with rent collectors to see how it worked. Donald would stand out of the doorway to "avoid the possibility of being shot". When asked how much the odd job paid him, he replied: "Probably equal to a below-average allowance," adding, "I found that collecting soda bottles was safer than collecting rent."

Born in June 1946 in Queens, New York, Donald is the second youngest of the five Trump siblings. That he grew up being closest to the oldest brother – Fred Trump Jr – is well documented. But how Fred Trump Jr.'s struggle with alcoholism affected Donald, not very much!

For an extroverted, media-crazy, party-goer such as Donald Trump, one would imagine him to be a tippler. But little do people know, he's a teetotaller. His decision to abstain from alcohol stems from his brother's untimely death at 42 due to alcohol addiction. Donald, in fact, strongly advises committing oneself to sobriety.

At a young age, Donald showed interest in his family business, often admiring his father's construction sites and observing the building process. With his older brother deviating, the responsibility to grow the real estate company naturally shifted to Donald.

He is a graduate of Wharton School in economics. This is much in contrast to his early school years as a troublemaker. A PBS article mentioned that at age 13, Donald's parents sent him to the New York Military Academy to discipline an "energetic" teenager. That same article states he emerged from the academy with a "blueprint for leadership with force and ridicule" and that his time there was a "lesson in bullying".

He also learned to navigate and succeed. The academy also played a key role in shaping his competitive nature.

Fast forward to the 1970s, when Donald delved into his ventures in Manhattan real estate; that decade defined his career. By the 1980s, he developed a drive to become a prominent figure in the New York business world "by hook or by crook".

He rose to fame when he offered Mayor Ed Koch the idea that he would rebuild the famous Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park.

During the fiscal crisis, the New York City's Parks Department struggled to repair the facility. But then they promised to have it up and running in two years. Six years passed, and $13 million flushed down the drain, but the rink did not see the light of the day. In comes a knight in shining armor – Donald Trump.

He took it upon himself to finish the project, and in less than six months, he did for no more than $3 million. New Yorkers cheered! Donald triumphed! And he learned a good lesson – the press likes drama, so give them drama. In the following years, he ensured he stayed in the limelight, be it for his personal or professional life.

He built the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue for an estimated $300 million amid high anticipation. He was at the center of high-profile divorces (he was married twice before Melania). He built casinos (in Las Vegas) and saw the highs, but later faced financial troubles. Throughout this, though, he appeared in tabloids, mainly on the front pages.

In the Netflix documentary, Donald is said to take a keen interest in how the media portrayed him. Clipping articles about himself, calling journalists to correct details about him, and sometimes giving them more than what they asked for – Donald loved to indulge in a media frenzy.

He even toyed with the idea of running for president in the 1980s. In interviews, he vocalized his views against the government. In 1999, Trump explored a campaign under the Reform Party but withdrew, citing party dysfunction. His loyal fan-following urged him to run for the presidency, but he left everyone waiting.

Finally, in June 2015, Donald officially announced his candidacy for president. Trump launched his campaign with a speech that sharply criticized illegal immigration, famously stating, "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best."

His platform emphasized "Make America Great Again," promising to bring jobs back to the US, renegotiate trade deals, and strengthen borders.

A decade later, when one looks back, one knows how Donald "hit where it hurt the most". The immigration card struck a chord with his base then and even worked in his 2024 campaign.

Love him or hate him, Trump's story is one for the history books.