Donald J. Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021. A businessman and television personality before entering elected office, Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican nominee and entered the White House with an agenda focused on immigration enforcement, taxes, trade, deregulation, energy policy and an “America First” approach to foreign affairs.
His first presidency included major legislative and diplomatic initiatives, three appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, the COVID-19 pandemic, two impeachments by the House of Representatives and an intensely contested period in American political history. This Sovereign Vault entry focuses specifically on Trump’s 45th presidency. His later return to office as the 47th President is preserved as a separate Presidential Relic record.
Inside the Donald Trump Presidential Relic
The artwork for this relic draws from imagery closely associated with Trump’s rise from celebrity businessman to President of the United States. Rather than representing literal museum artifacts, the two relic windows are fictional collectibles designed to symbolize recognizable elements of his public life and political career.
From Business and Television to the White House
Trump announced his presidential campaign in June 2015 and secured the Republican nomination the following year. He defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College in the 2016 election and was inaugurated as the 45th President on January 20, 2017.
His transition from private business and entertainment into the presidency contributed to a political style that differed substantially from many of his predecessors. Trump relied heavily on rallies, direct communication with supporters and frequent use of social media while maintaining a highly visible public presence throughout his administration.
Domestic Policy and the 2017 Tax Law
One of the central legislative actions of Trump’s first term was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017. The legislation made extensive changes to both individual and business taxation, including changes to tax brackets, deductions and the corporate tax system.
Supporters of the law emphasized lower tax rates and incentives for business investment. Critics focused on its distributional effects, impact on federal revenues and the long-term consequences of individual provisions. Those debates continued after Trump left office.
Trade and the USMCA
Trade policy became another major part of the administration’s agenda. Trump frequently criticized existing trade arrangements and imposed tariffs on a range of imported goods while pursuing renegotiated agreements with several trading partners.
The most prominent result in North America was the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. It replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement and entered into force on July 1, 2020.
Foreign Policy and the Abraham Accords
Trump’s foreign policy combined pressure on some longstanding international arrangements with direct negotiations involving adversaries and regional partners.
In 2020, his administration helped facilitate the Abraham Accords, under which Israel established or advanced normalized relations with several Arab states. The agreements became one of the administration’s most prominent diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East.
COVID-19 and Operation Warp Speed
The final year of Trump’s first term was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government implemented emergency public-health measures and economic relief programs while confronting rapidly changing medical information, disruptions to businesses and schools, and major pressure on hospitals and state governments.
The administration also launched Operation Warp Speed, a federal initiative designed to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and other medical countermeasures.
The Two Impeachments
Trump became the first U.S. president to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives.
The first impeachment occurred in December 2019. The Senate acquitted him in February 2020. The House impeached him a second time in January 2021, shortly before he left office. The Senate conducted the second trial after his term had ended and again voted to acquit.
The impeachments remain an important part of the historical record of the 45th presidency. This archive records the events without attempting to assign a partisan judgment to them.
The 2020 Election and End of the First Presidency
Trump sought reelection in 2020 against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Official state results compiled by the Federal Election Commission show that Biden won the election. Trump and his allies challenged or disputed results in several states through public claims and litigation.
Congress ultimately counted the Electoral College votes for Biden following the disruption of the congressional proceedings at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump’s first presidential term ended at noon on January 20, 2021, when Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President.
Four years later, Trump won the 2024 presidential election and returned to the White House as the 47th President, making his two presidencies nonconsecutive. The Sovereign Vault therefore preserves the two administrations as separate records.
Donald Trump’s 45th Presidency Timeline
A Presidency Continued Four Years Later
Historical Sources & Further Reading
- Archived White House — Donald J. Trump, 45th President
- Internal Revenue Service — Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
- Office of the U.S. Trade Representative — USMCA
- Supreme Court of the United States — Justices 1789 to Present
- United States Senate — Impeachment Cases
- U.S. Department of State — Abraham Accords
- Federal Election Commission — Federal Elections 2020