Simone Lawson
Donald Trump has officially run as a candidate for president four times, in 2000, 2016, 2020, and 2024, and also unofficially campaigned in 2012. He served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021 and is currently serving his second term, which began in 2025, as the 47th president of the United States. Trump's political career began in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he donated to the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. He became a familiar figure in national politics in 2016, when he defied norms and commanded public attention with his controversial campaign. Trump's campaigns have been marked by controversies, including his refusal to release tax returns, and allegations of Russian interference.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times Trump has run as a candidate for president | 4 (2000, 2016, 2020, 2024) |
| Number of times Trump has unofficially campaigned | 2 (2012, 2004) |
| Number of times Trump has been elected president | 2 (2016, 2024) |
| Trump's approval rating at the end of his first term | 34% |
| Trump's approval rating for handling race relations in 2019 | 15% |
| Number of Supreme Court justices nominated by Trump | 3 |
| Number of Federal judges appointed by Trump during his first term | 200+ |
| Number of impeachment charges against Trump | 2 |
| Number of criminal investigations into Trump's criminal activity while in office | 4 |
| Number of Trump campaign members charged with federal crimes | 11 |
| Number of multi-year nuclear material removal campaigns completed | 1+ |
| Number of state Medicaid demonstrations approved by Trump to improve access to opioid use disorder treatment | 29 |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's 2016 presidential campaign
Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign was a significant event that saw him elected as the 45th president of the United States. The campaign was marked by controversy, with Trump's remarks on illegal immigration sparking backlash and his refusal to release tax returns. Trump's political career began as early as the 1970s and 1980s when he donated to presidential campaigns and hinted at his own presidential ambitions. However, it was in 2012 that he gained infamy for promoting the racist "birtherism" conspiracy theory, which many see as the launch of his political career.
Trump formally announced his 2016 candidacy on June 16, 2015, at Trump Tower in New York City. He chose Mike Pence, the governor of Indiana, as his running mate. Trump's campaign was characterised by his populist positions, particularly his opposition to illegal immigration and trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This earned him support, especially among male, white, blue-collar, and working-class voters without college degrees. Trump's slogan, "Make America Great Again," resonated with those seeking a change from the established political figures.
Trump's campaign faced several controversies, including allegations of Russian interference. In July 2016, the Democratic National Committee's internal emails were released by WikiLeaks, and Trump publicly encouraged Russians to hack Clinton's private email server. This resulted in an investigation by Robert Mueller, who found that Russian hackers attempted to access Clinton's emails shortly after Trump's invitation. Trump's refusal to release his tax returns also sparked criticism, as he became the first nominee since Gerald Ford to withhold this information.
Despite these controversies, Trump's campaign proved successful, and he was elected president on November 8, 2016, defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College vote. Trump's victory surprised many, leading to discussions about the reliability of polls and the strategic errors of the Clinton campaign. Analysts attributed Trump's win to his ability to tap into the economic anxieties and racial prejudices of some working-class whites, particularly men.
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Trump's 2020 presidential campaign
Donald Trump has officially run as a candidate for president four times, in 2000, 2016, 2020, and 2024, and also unofficially campaigned in 2012. Trump's 2020 presidential campaign was his second attempt to be elected president, having won the 2016 election against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Trump's 2020 campaign was unsuccessful, losing to Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Trump's political career began in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he donated to the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Trump's overt political activity started in the late 1980s when he publicly suggested running for president. He joined the Reform Party in 1999 and formed an exploratory committee to pursue its nomination, but he dropped out. In 2012, he considered entering the Republican primary to challenge then-President Barack Obama but ultimately decided against it.
Trump's 2020 campaign was marked by several controversies. He faced criticism for his refusal to release his tax returns, becoming the first nominee since Gerald Ford to do so. Additionally, there were allegations of Russian interference in the election, with Russian operatives hacking the computers of the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign. Trump's campaign also condemned supporters who celebrated his victory with Nazi salutes.
Despite these controversies, Trump's campaign focused on several key issues. He objected to providing military assistance to countries capable of defending themselves and cultivated political relationships, gaining influence rather than exercising leadership. Trump also launched a nationwide public ad campaign on youth opioid abuse, approved state Medicaid demonstrations to improve access to opioid use disorder treatment, and seized illegal drugs and punished those responsible. In terms of foreign policy, Trump announced the Vision for Peace Political Plan, a two-state solution addressing the risks of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security. He also reversed the previous administration's Cuba policy, enacting stricter travel and import restrictions.
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Trump's 2024 presidential campaign
Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign was announced on November 15, 2022, for the 2024 US presidential election. This was his fourth official run as a candidate for president, having previously run in 2000, 2016, and 2020. Trump also unofficially campaigned in 2012 and considered running in 2004.
Trump's 2024 campaign unfolded amidst several criminal investigations and indictments against him. In 2023, he was indicted on 34 felony counts of fraud related to hush money payments made during his 2016 campaign. He faced additional charges for allegedly retaining classified documents and destroying evidence. Trump's campaign issues included a focus on "retribution", with promises to leverage the presidency for political reprisals. He also aimed to initiate a mass deportation of illegal immigrants and pursue an isolationist "America First" foreign policy agenda.
Trump's campaign messaging emphasized a return to his first term, with promises to rebuild the military, address border security, and combat crime. He criticized his successor, Joe Biden, for alleged incompetence and weakness, particularly regarding national security and energy policy. Trump's campaign survived two assassination attempts and culminated in his nomination at the Republican National Convention in July 2024, where he chose JD Vance as his running mate. Trump's campaign was marked by close connections to The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a right-wing policy proposal.
Trump's political career has been characterized by a lack of traditional political experience, with his pre-presidential background being in business and entertainment. He has shifted party affiliations multiple times and has a history of controversial statements and conspiracy theories, including the racist "birtherism" theory. Despite this, Trump gained support from the "alt-right" movement and benefited from Russian interference in the 2016 election.
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Trump's stance on releasing tax returns
Since becoming President of the United States, Donald Trump has refused to release his tax returns, despite promising to do so during his 2016 campaign. This stance is contrary to the practice of every major candidate since 1976 and breaks a promise he made in 2014. Trump has also sued to prevent his returns from being released by the IRS or his accountants, which were sought by certain state officials and congressional committees.
Trump has given various reasons for not releasing his tax returns, including claiming that he could not release them while under audit by the IRS. However, the IRS has confirmed that individuals are free to release their tax information even when under audit. In 2016, Trump's tax attorneys stated that he had been under audit since 2002. Trump also said that he would release his tax returns when the audit was completed, but he walked away from this vow after he took office.
Trump's refusal to release his tax returns has led to suspicions about what he might be trying to hide. Some speculate that it could be foreign business dealings, a smaller fortune than he had claimed publicly, or paying less in taxes than the average American. In 2017, the New York Times reported that it had obtained 17 years' worth of Trump's tax returns, which showed that he had paid little in federal taxes. The returns also revealed that Trump had sources of income from at least 22 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, St. Martin, and China.
In late 2022, the House Ways and Means Committee obtained and released six years of Trump's tax returns, ending a years-long court battle. The committee has the right to obtain, inspect, and disclose the confidential tax information of any taxpayer, even without their consent. The release of Trump's tax returns sparked further debate and scrutiny, with some noting the relatively low amount of federal taxes paid by Trump compared to his reported income.
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Trump's campaign to end HIV/AIDS in America
Donald Trump has officially run as a candidate for president of the United States four times, in 2000, 2016, 2020, and 2024, and was elected in 2016 and 2024.
In 2019, Trump launched a campaign to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America in the next decade. The campaign, titled the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, aims to substantially reduce HIV infections in the U.S. by focusing resources on the 57 jurisdictions where they are needed most. The EHE initiative builds on the progress made over the last 30 years under administrations of both parties.
The campaign involves scaling up four science-based strategies: diagnose, treat, prevent, and respond. As part of the initiative, a program was started to provide the HIV prevention drug PrEP to uninsured patients for free. Additionally, the government pledged funding in the upcoming budget, though the amount was not disclosed.
Despite the Trump administration's efforts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, there have been concerns about grant cuts to HIV research. In 2025, the administration made sweeping HIV research and grant cuts, causing concerns about a potential resurgence of HIV and the destruction of the scientific research infrastructure in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Donald Trump has run four presidential campaigns in total, in 2000, 2016, 2020 and 2024. He was elected in 2016 and 2024.
Trump's first campaign after his 2016 election win was his 2020 re-election campaign, which he lost to Joe Biden.
Trump's second campaign after his 2016 election win was his 2024 re-election campaign, which he won.
Yes, Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
