The Unconventional President: 15 Fascinating Facts About Donald Trump

1. A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star was dedicated on January 16, 2007, in the television category. The official register places it at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. His hosting and producing work on The Apprentice had made him a national television personality before his first presidential campaign.

2. He Credits His Brother with His Decision Not to Drink

Trump has repeatedly said he avoids alcohol because of his older brother Fred’s struggle with alcoholism. In a 2016 interview with Megyn Kelly, he recalled Fred warning him not to drink. His account identifies his brother’s experience as a lasting personal influence.

3. Famous Cameo in Home Alone 2

In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Trump briefly gives Kevin directions inside the Plaza Hotel, which he then owned. Director Chris Columbus said the cameo was a condition for filming there; Trump later disputed that account. The scene is clear on screen, while its negotiation has competing recollections.

4. His Wharton Qualification Was an Undergraduate Degree

Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He had first attended Fordham before transferring. His business-school connection is therefore an undergraduate qualification, rather than an MBA or another graduate degree.

5. His Board Game Had More Than One Edition

Milton Bradley released Trump: The Game in 1989, with property purchases and deal-making at its center. The Strong National Museum of Play preserves an example. A later 2004 edition, made by Parker Brothers, is in the Smithsonian’s collection, documenting the game’s return in a different television era.

6. He Publicly Explained Eating Pizza with Utensils

After a 2011 meal with Sarah Palin drew attention, Trump posted an explanation of his knife-and-fork approach to pizza. He said it let him eat the topping while leaving the crust, which he linked to controlling his weight. The meal became an unexpectedly prominent piece of political food trivia.

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7. His Film Cameo Received a Razzie

Trump received Worst Supporting Actor for playing himself in Ghosts Can’t Do It. The 11th Golden Raspberry ceremony took place in March 1991 and assessed films from 1990. Distinguishing the film year from the ceremony year resolves why the award is sometimes listed under 1990.

8. He Sold the Pageant Business in 2015

In September 2015, Trump bought NBCUniversal’s share of the Miss Universe Organization, briefly giving him full ownership. WME/IMG announced its purchase days later. The business included Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, so the sale covered an organization rather than only one night’s televised contest.

9. Formative Years at the New York Military Academy

Trump attended the New York Military Academy from the age of 13 and graduated in 1964. It was a private boarding school with a military structure. The uniforms and cadet routines belonged to his school education and did not amount to service in the United States armed forces.

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10. A Desk Button Summoned a Drink

During a 2017 Oval Office interview, Associated Press reporter Julie Pace observed a red desk button that summoned a butler with a Coke. Other contemporary accounts described Diet Coke. The small service button became a memorable detail of his first term, separate from the office’s secure communications equipment.

11. WrestleMania 23 and the Hair vs. Hair Match

At WrestleMania 23 in 2007, Bobby Lashley represented Trump against Umaga, who represented Vince McMahon. Lashley won the “Hair vs. Hair” match, and Trump took part in shaving McMahon’s head. WWE later inducted Trump into its Hall of Fame in 2013. These events were part of professional wrestling’s staged entertainment.

12. He Is Numbered as Both the 45th and 47th President

Trump’s first inauguration was on January 20, 2017, and his second on January 20, 2025. The intervening Biden presidency means he is counted as both the 45th and 47th president. He became the second person elected to nonconsecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland.

13. Trump Steaks Appeared in a Gadget Catalog

The 2007 launch of Trump Steaks put the brand in the Sharper Image’s catalog and retail channels, an unusual outlet for premium beef. The product also appeared through QVC. It illustrates the range of Trump-branded merchandise beyond buildings, without assuming that every steak later served at a Trump property belonged to that discontinued line.

14. First President Without Prior Military or Government Service

Before his first presidential election victory in 2016, Trump had held neither public office nor military service. Earlier presidents arriving from outside elected politics had often been military leaders. His background in property development and television gave his initial route to the presidency an unusual place in the office’s history.

15. The Art of the Deal Had a Co-Author

Trump: The Art of the Deal was first published in 1987 and credits both Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. The book helped establish the public image of Trump as a dealmaker well before The Apprentice. Its publisher continues to identify Schwartz’s co-authorship, an important part of the book’s provenance.