In my opinion, 40%, while a very bad approval rating, is still too damn high with everything Trump has done. We have had some pretty terrible presidents In our country’s very short history, but Trump truly takes the cake.
2025/8/14 Edited to
... Read moreIt's always fascinating to look back at the early lives of public figures, isn't it? We see them in the spotlight now, but what were they like before all the fame and political debates? I recently found myself wondering about Donald J. Trump's journey, especially what he was like in his youth and how his early experiences shaped the person we know today. It's a completely different perspective than discussing approval ratings or policy, and I thought it would be interesting to explore the path he took before becoming a household name.
Donald John Trump was born in Queens, New York, in 1946, making him a baby boomer born right after World War II. His father, Fred Trump, was an influential real estate developer in New York City, so the world of property and construction was practically in his blood from day one. Growing up, he wasn't always the polished figure we see today. As a teenager, he reportedly had a reputation for being energetic, assertive, and sometimes even a bit rebellious. This led his parents to send him to the New York Military Academy at age 13, hoping the strict discipline would channel his energy. Looking at old photos from that time, you can definitely see a young man with a serious demeanor, often in uniform, already displaying a certain confidence and a no-nonsense attitude. It’s quite a stark contrast to the casual images of many teenagers, hinting at the disciplined, goal-oriented individual he would become.
After graduating from the military academy, he attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s top business schools. This was a crucial period for him, as he immersed himself in business studies, particularly real estate finance. Imagine being a young student at Wharton in the late 1960s, learning the ropes of finance, urban planning, and development from leading experts! He graduated in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics. During these college years, photos often show a young man with a characteristic sharp haircut, dressed in suits, already seemingly geared towards the corporate world rather than typical student life. His ambition was palpable even then, clearly setting him on a path distinct from his peers.
Upon graduating, Donald J. Trump officially joined his father's company, Elizabeth Trump & Son. He initially worked on smaller projects in his father's established territories, gaining hands-on experience in construction, property management, and negotiation. It wasn't long before he began to envision larger, more ambitious projects in Manhattan, aiming to transform the family business from its Brooklyn and Queens focus to the glitz and glamour of prime New York City real estate. His early career involved a lot of navigating complex urban politics, securing significant financing, and executing massive undertakings like the redevelopment of the Commodore Hotel into the Grand Hyatt and the iconic Trump Tower. Seeing images from these early days of his career, perhaps from grand openings or construction sites, you notice a palpable drive and a relentless focus on expansion. He really seemed to thrive on the challenge of building big and making a name for himself, demonstrating a consistent personality trait that would define his later public life. It just goes to show how much a person can evolve, yet remain fundamentally themselves, from their younger days to become the prominent public figure we recognize today.