Young Donald Trump Portrait versus Joe Biden's Long Road to the Peak of Power

Two figures who will change American history begin their journeys from very different starting points. While young Donald Trump was busy building his real estate empire in New York with family support, Joe Biden chose a more challenging path in the world of politics. Currently, these two men in their seventies face each other with over 70 years of life experience each. Donald Trump (74 years old) and Joe Biden (77 years old) bring very contrasting backgrounds—one from the business world, the other from public life—yet both share the same ultimate goal: to lead the White House.

Young Donald Trump: From Military Academy to Building a Business Dynasty

Donald John Trump, born in June 1946, is the fourth child of Fred Trump, a prominent real estate tycoon in New York, and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. From a young age, young Donald Trump was familiar with the business world through experiences in his father’s company. At age 13, he was sent to the New York Military Academy to receive disciplined education. These times at the military academy shaped young Donald Trump’s character, teaching him about leadership and assertiveness.

After completing high school, Donald Trump continued to the University of Pennsylvania, preparing to take over his father’s business legacy. While his brother, Frederick Crist Trump Jr., chose to become a pilot, young Donald Trump took the initiative to delve into and develop the family’s real estate empire. He ultimately continued Fred Trump’s business journey and transformed it into something bigger than before.

Joe Biden: Overcoming Hardships and Choosing a Political Path

In contrast to Donald Trump’s trajectory, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born in 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the eldest of four siblings in an Irish-American Catholic family. Joe Biden’s early life was marked by significant personal challenges. He suffered from a severe stutter during high school, a condition that was considered a serious obstacle at the time. However, through dedication and speech training techniques in front of a mirror for months, Biden managed to overcome this difficulty.

Biden studied at the University of Delaware and continued his legal education at Syracuse University. Unlike Trump, who directly entered his family’s business, Biden chose to build his own political career in Wilmington, Delaware, after marrying his first wife, Neilia.

The 1970s: Trump Organization Expands, Biden Enters Senate

The 1970s marked a turning point for both, though in different directions. Young Donald Trump began his career with a loan from his father—whom he called a “small loan” of one million dollars. With this capital, he joined Fred Trump’s company and helped manage property portfolios in New York City. In 1971, Trump officially changed the company’s name to Trump Organization, marking a new era for his empire. Six years later, in 1977, young Donald Trump married Ivana Zelnickova, a model and athlete from Czechoslovakia. From this marriage, three children—Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric—were born, who would later help their father run Trump Organization.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden experienced a much more dramatic moment. After being elected senator in 1972, tragedy struck his family. His wife and daughter Naomi died in a horrific car accident, while his children Beau and Hunter suffered serious injuries. Biden was sworn in as a Democratic senator for his first term directly from the hospital room where his children were treated. This moment marked a new chapter in Biden’s life, full of personal struggles.

The 1980s: Trump Tower Changes Manhattan’s Skyline

Entering the 1980s, young Donald Trump made bold business expansions. He shifted focus from Brooklyn and Queens to the heart of New York—Manhattan. His biggest project was Trump Tower, a luxury skyscraper built on Fifth Avenue. The landmark was completed in 1983 and quickly became a symbol of success and luxury. Afterward, Trump-branded properties continued to emerge: Trump Place, Trump World Tower, and Trump International Hotel & Tower, all attracting media and public attention.

During the same period, Joe Biden spent his first 14 years in Washington D.C., focusing on rebuilding his personal life. He committed to providing a normal life for his children and even traveled daily from his home in Delaware to Washington. In 1983, Biden decided to remarry Jill Jacobs, a teacher, and together they had a daughter named Ashley. However, his political ambitions did not stop. In 1987, Biden ran for president for the first time, a bold decision. Unfortunately, his campaign ended when he announced his withdrawal after being accused of plagiarizing speeches by Neil Kinnock, then leader of the UK Labour Party.

The 1990s: Trump Ventures into the Entertainment Industry

Entering the 1990s, Donald Trump’s portfolio became increasingly diverse. He no longer focused solely on real estate but also ventured into the entertainment industry. In 1996, Trump began hosting various international beauty contests such as Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA. This showed that Trump’s ambitions extended beyond property—he wanted to become a widely recognized figure.

In 1993, he married his second wife, actress Marla Maples. From this relationship, a daughter named Tiffany was born. Their marriage lasted until 1999 before ending in divorce. The same year, 1999, marked the death of Fred Trump, Donald Trump’s father. His passing left a profound impact—Trump once said that “his father was his greatest inspiration” in life.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden continued building his political career after his presidential bid failure. He remained active in the Senate and prepared for the next opportunity in national politics. In contrast to Trump’s business and celebrity explosion, Biden chose to stay focused on constitutional duties and serving the public through existing democratic institutions.

Two men from the same generation, with vastly different experiences—young Donald Trump successfully built a business empire from scratch, while Joe Biden’s long journey was filled with personal challenges but dedicated to public service. Now in their twilight years, both stand as the most influential figures in America’s highest power game.