Donald Trump: Unusual
2024-01-07
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. president.
3He was elected in 2016. Because his presidency is so new, this program will not discuss his time in office.
4Instead, it will discuss his early life.
5And it will note a few ways that Trump's background is unusual compared to most U.S. presidents.
6Donald Trump was born in Queens, a borough of New York City.
7He was the fourth child.
8He had two brothers and two sisters.
9His mother had been born in Scotland.
10His father, whose relatives were German, became a successful businessman in New York.
11Donald and his two brothers helped their father in the family business.
12At the time, the business was called Elizabeth Trump and Son, after his grandmother and father.
13The work related to building, buying, and managing property.
14By his own telling, young Donald often created trouble in school.
15So when he was 13 years old, his parents sent him to a military-style school.
16Donald said that, for the most part, he enjoyed the experience.
17Other students there remembered him as a good baseball player, as popular with girls, and as someone who wanted to succeed.
18Trump went on to college first at Fordham University in New York, and then at the University of Pennsylvania.
19He earned a degree in economics.
20He was also already investing in real estate.
21After he graduated, Trump quickly returned to New York City and his career.
22In time, he became the head of the family business.
23He re-named it the Trump Organization.
24As its president, Trump developed and put his name on luxury buildings, casinos, hotels, and golf courses around the world.
25Later, he became linked to the entertainment industry, too.
26He became a part owner of beauty pageants, hosted a television show, and wrote a book about how to succeed in business.
27During those years, Trump also married three times and divorced twice.
28The media wrote especially about his first and second marriages because he openly had a relationship with his second wife while he was married to his first.
29In 2005, he married Melania Knauss, a former model from Slovenia.
30She is only the second first lady who was not born in the United States.
31The first was Louisa Adams, who came from Britain in 1801.
32All together, Trump has three sons and two daughters.
33Because Trump has been a public figure for most of his life, many Americans were familiar with him before he ran for president.
34To some, he is linked to success in business and branding.
35To others, notes journalist Jackie Calmes, he is linked to debt and legal battles.
36But, until he officially entered the 2016 campaign as a Republican candidate, few linked him to politics.
37Trump is unusual among past presidents in that he had never worked in the government before.
38Nor has Trump served in the military.
39Only Presidents Taylor, Grant, and Eisenhower had no past government experience; however, they had all been generals.
40During the campaign for president, other candidates spent money to buy advertising.
41But Trump spread his message on free television, radio and social media.
42Trump won the Republican nomination over 16 candidates.
43He went on to defeat Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton to win the presidency.
44Trump was 70 years old when he was sworn in.
45Trump was unusual in how he communicated with the public.
46As a president, he continued to use Twitter, now known as X, to communicate his thoughts directly to anyone who wanted to follow him.
47Many earlier presidents also used changes in technology to interact with the public.
48Woodrow Wilson was the first to hold press conferences regularly with reporters.
49Franklin Roosevelt famously spoke to Americans on the radio.
50John F. Kennedy - and later Richard Nixon - are credited with using television to their advantage.
51While the long-term effects of Trump's presidency are not yet known, he will likely be remembered in part for his direct and unscripted style of communication.
52I'm Caty Weaver.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. president. He was elected in 2016. Because his presidency is so new, this program will not discuss his time in office. 3Instead, it will discuss his early life. 4And it will note a few ways that Trump's background is unusual compared to most U.S. presidents. 5Early life 6Donald Trump was born in Queens, a borough of New York City. He was the fourth child. He had two brothers and two sisters. 7His mother had been born in Scotland. His father, whose relatives were German, became a successful businessman in New York. 8Donald and his two brothers helped their father in the family business. At the time, the business was called Elizabeth Trump and Son, after his grandmother and father. The work related to building, buying, and managing property. 9By his own telling, young Donald often created trouble in school. So when he was 13 years old, his parents sent him to a military-style school. 10Donald said that, for the most part, he enjoyed the experience. Other students there remembered him as a good baseball player, as popular with girls, and as someone who wanted to succeed. 11Trump went on to college first at Fordham University in New York, and then at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in economics. 12He was also already investing in real estate. After he graduated, Trump quickly returned to New York City and his career. 13In time, he became the head of the family business. He re-named it the Trump Organization. As its president, Trump developed and put his name on luxury buildings, casinos, hotels, and golf courses around the world. 14Later, he became linked to the entertainment industry, too. He became a part owner of beauty pageants, hosted a television show, and wrote a book about how to succeed in business. 15During those years, Trump also married three times and divorced twice. The media wrote especially about his first and second marriages because he openly had a relationship with his second wife while he was married to his first. 16In 2005, he married Melania Knauss, a former model from Slovenia. She is only the second first lady who was not born in the United States. The first was Louisa Adams, who came from Britain in 1801. 17All together, Trump has three sons and two daughters. 18Because Trump has been a public figure for most of his life, many Americans were familiar with him before he ran for president. 19To some, he is linked to success in business and branding. 20To others, notes journalist Jackie Calmes, he is linked to debt and legal battles. 21But, until he officially entered the 2016 campaign as a Republican candidate, few linked him to politics. 22Trump is unusual among past presidents in that he had never worked in the government before. Nor has Trump served in the military. Only Presidents Taylor, Grant, and Eisenhower had no past government experience; however, they had all been generals. 23During the campaign for president, other candidates spent money to buy advertising. But Trump spread his message on free television, radio and social media. 24Trump won the Republican nomination over 16 candidates. He went on to defeat Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton to win the presidency. 25Trump was 70 years old when he was sworn in. 26Trump was unusual in how he communicated with the public. As a president, he continued to use Twitter, now known as X, to communicate his thoughts directly to anyone who wanted to follow him. 27Many earlier presidents also used changes in technology to interact with the public. Woodrow Wilson was the first to hold press conferences regularly with reporters. Franklin Roosevelt famously spoke to Americans on the radio. John F. Kennedy - and later Richard Nixon - are credited with using television to their advantage. 28While the long-term effects of Trump's presidency are not yet known, he will likely be remembered in part for his direct and unscripted style of communication. 29I'm Caty Weaver. 30Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 31_________________________________________________ 32See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. 33_________________________________________________ 34Words in This Story 35borough - n. one of the five political divisions of New York City 36model - n. someone who is paid to wear clothing and jewelry so that people will see and want to buy what is being worn 37branding - n. promoting a product or service by linking it with a name 38debt - n. money that is owed 39broadcast - v. made public 40unscripted - adj. not written or planned at an earlier time