How did Donald Trump become president?

Donald Trump became the President of the United States through a series of events and strategic moves during his 2016 presidential campaign. Here's a breakdown of how he achieved this:

Background and Early Campaign

• Announcement and Campaign Themes: Trump announced his candidacy on June 16, 2015, at Trump Tower in Manhattan. His campaign focused on themes such as immigration reform, job creation, and reducing the national debt. He also famously promised to "Make America Great Again" and build a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border3.
• Funding and Perception: Trump claimed to be self-funding his campaign, though this claim was disputed. Initially, his campaign was not taken seriously by many political analysts, but he quickly gained popularity among Republican voters3.

Republican Primaries

• Rise to Prominence: Trump was one of seventeen candidates for the Republican nomination, the largest field in U.S. history at the time. Despite initial skepticism, he rose to the top of opinion polls due to his unconventional style and appeal to the party base's dissatisfaction with traditional politicians3.
• Key Victories: Trump performed well in early primary contests, including New Hampshire and South Carolina. His decisive win in Indiana on May 3, 2016, prompted Ted Cruz and John Kasich to drop out, securing Trump's position as the presumptive nominee13.

General Election

• Nomination and Running Mate: Trump officially accepted the Republican nomination in July 2016 and chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate. This selection was seen as an effort to shore up support from conservative voters1.
• Campaign Themes and Controversies: Trump's campaign continued to focus on immigration, trade, and national security. The campaign was marked by controversy, including chants of "lock her up" aimed at his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton1.
• Election Outcome: On November 8, 2016, Trump won the presidential election through the Electoral College, securing 304 electoral votes to Clinton's 227, despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes23.

Unique Aspects of Trump's Candidacy

• Lack of Prior Experience: Trump was the first U.S. president without prior military or government service. His background as a businessman and media personality was unprecedented for a president12.
• Populist Appeal: Trump's success was attributed to his ability to connect with voters disillusioned with traditional politics, particularly white working-class voters in key battleground states3.

Overall, Trump's path to the presidency was marked by his unconventional campaign style, strategic selection of a running mate, and his ability to tap into voter dissatisfaction with the political establishment.