The Rise of Donald Trump

Donald Trump: How a real estate giant became presidential candidate

The American real-estate giant Donald Trump has become the official Republican candidate for upcoming presidential elections. The most surprising candidate to win primaries with largest vote bank, Trump will now fight general elections against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. In the beginning of the primary race, even the Republican Party was weary of supporting his candidacy as it was deemed unlikely that he would be taken seriously by anyone. But ironically he has managed to set a record of running most polarizing campaign by winning 14 million votes in primary elections.

Donald Trump: How a real estate giant became presidential candidate

Donald Trump’s campaign for primaries was marked with several controversial remarks, including the wall between US and Mexico. He has consistently called for ban on immigration from Mexico, war-torn nations, especially Muslims. 

Donald Trump: How a real estate giant became presidential candidate

By early 2016, the race had mostly centered on Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. On Super Tuesday, Trump won the majority of the delegates and remained the front-runner throughout the primaries. By March 2016, Trump reached over 50% in national support from Republican primary voters and became poised to win the Republican nomination.

Donald Trump: How a real estate giant became presidential candidate

After a landslide win in Indiana on May 3, 2016, which prompted the remaining candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich to suspend their presidential campaigns, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus declared Trump the presumptive nominee. Finishing in June 2016 with nearly 14 million votes, Trump broke the all-time record for winning the most primary votes in the history of the Republican Party.

Donald Trump: How a real estate giant became presidential candidate

One of richest American, Trump largely self-financed his primary campaign. However, he always maintained that he will seek donations for campaigning during general election. Now that he has been declared an official nominee by his party, he is likely to launch donation drive for campaign funds soon. Trump has announced US Governor Mike Pence as his running mate.