A Historic Return to Office

Trump's 2024 victory over Vice President Kamala Harris made him the second person in American history to win non-consecutive presidential terms, after Grover Cleveland — losing to Joe Biden in 2020, then defeating Biden's own Vice President four years later to reclaim the office, this time winning both the popular vote and the Electoral College.

The First President With a Felony Conviction

In 2024, before winning reelection, Trump was convicted in New York state court on felony charges of falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment — making him the first current or former president in American history convicted of a felony. He continued his campaign and won the presidency regardless, a circumstance without precedent in American political history.

An Assassination Attempt During the Campaign

In July 2024, during the campaign, a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump was grazed and survived; a spectator at the rally was killed and two others seriously injured.

An Active, Still-Unfolding Second Term

As of this writing, Trump's second term is ongoing, so this section covers what has happened rather than a settled historical assessment. Since taking office in January 2025, his administration has pursued significant tariff increases on goods from multiple countries, framed as an effort to bring manufacturing back to the United States; taken executive action across multiple federal departments and agencies, including steps toward reducing the scope of the Department of Education (see that department's page); and pursued substantial changes to immigration enforcement and foreign policy posture. Because this term is still in progress, its longer-term outcomes and historical assessment aren't yet settled — this page will be updated as the term continues and its actual effects become clearer.