MAGA movement turns 10: Trump’s most transformative moments
The article reflects on the 10-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, starting from his iconic descent down the escalator at Trump Tower in 2015 to announce his candidacy. It outlines significant milestones during his time in politics, including his election as the 45th president in 2016, the controversial policies he enacted, and major moments that shaped his presidency, such as immigration reform and tax cuts.
Key events include his historic meetings with North Korean leader Kim jong Un, his impeachment in 2019, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.The article also discusses his loss in the 2020 election to Joe Biden and the subsequent january 6 Capitol riot, for which trump was impeached a second time.
In November 2022, Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election amidst ongoing legal troubles. Notably, in August 2023, he became the first former president to face criminal charges, which he framed as election interference. The article concludes with his recent campaign efforts leading into the 2024 election, emphasizing the challenges and political climate he is navigating.
MAGA movement turns 10: Trump’s most transformative moments
Monday marked the 10-year anniversary of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump descending the Trump Tower’s golden escalator in New York City.
At the time, a crowd awaited his announcement that he was running for president in the 2016 election, birthing his trademark slogan: “Make America Great Again.”
While many politicians thought Trump was initially running for attention, it is now apparent that he was serious. He has changed the entire course of the Republican Party and the political landscape.
Every year has brought major wins and losses, but Trump’s time in the White House has changed political discourse and will never be forgotten.
2015: Trump announces 2016 run
After decades of hinting at the idea of running for president, Trump made it official on June 16, 2015.
“So ladies and gentlemen … I am officially running … for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again,” Trump said in his presidential announcement speech.
The announcement sparked major backlash from the media, with many not taking his candidacy for the Republican nomination seriously. However, Trump caught the attention of the Republican Party through his comments regarding Mexican immigration.
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump said. “They’re sending people who have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with them. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
He rose to the top of the Republican polls during his run, despite criticism from politicians and media outlets, and became the 45th president.
2016: Trump clinches presidency in major upset
On Nov. 9, 2016, at 2:31 a.m., Trump crossed the 270 electoral vote threshold, making him the incoming 45th president.
Trump won the electoral vote 306 to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s 232, but lost the national vote by a 1.7% margin. He won Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — the major swing states in that election.
Trump’s win followed heated debates with Clinton, which resulted in memorable moments between the two.
“It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country,” Clinton said during the second 2016 presidential debate.
“You’d be in jail,” Trump responded.
Alongside Trump’s presidential win, the GOP also won Congress, marking its first time in control since 2006.
The “Make America Great Again” agenda was ready to take off, with new economic and immigration policies planned.
2017: New economic and immigration policies
Four days after Trump’s inauguration, he signed an executive order called “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements,” which led to the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Later in the year, on Dec. 22, 2017, Trump secured his first major legislative victory as president with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The act cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, provided temporary tax relief to individuals and families, and repealed the individual mandate penalty from the Affordable Care Act.
“And the bottom line is, this is the biggest tax cuts and reform in the history of our country,” Trump said in remarks from the White House. “This is bigger than, actually, President Reagan’s many years ago. I’m very honored by it.”
2018: Trump becomes first US president to meet with a North Korean leader in person
On June 12, 2018, Trump became the first U.S. president to meet with a North Korean leader in person at the North Korea-United States Singapore Summit.
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and Trump signed a joint statement agreeing to policies, including security guarantees for North Korea, new peaceful relations, and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Trump said the summit was “as good for the United States as it was for North Korea” in a press conference afterward, leading to a budding trusting relationship between the two leaders.
2019: Trump visits North Korea and first impeachment trials
On June 30, 2019, Trump made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to enter North Korea. Trump took 20 steps into the country and shook hands with Kim.
During their meeting, Trump said he was “proud to step over the line,” and thanked Kim, creating a newfound relationship between the two countries.
However, later that year, Trump was impeached by the House on Dec. 18 for “abuse of power and obstruction of Congress,” making him the third president to face removal from the Oval Office.
Trump responded to the impeachment on X, saying, “SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!”
2020: COVID-19 and Trump loses reelection
On March 13, 2020, Trump declared a national emergency for COVID-19, granting states access to $50 billion in funding. Two weeks later, Trump signed a $2.2 trillion emergency spending bill, the largest bill in U.S. history.
Additionally, Trump accelerated vaccine development, enforcing early actions such as travel restrictions and developing testing infrastructure.
While many think Trump handled COVID-19 well, critics believe he downplayed the pandemic. The divide contributed to Trump losing reelection to former President Joe Biden.
Trump then attempted to overturn the election result.
“He only won in the eyes of the FAKE NEWS MEDIA,” Trump said. “I concede NOTHING! We have a long way to go. This was a RIGGED ELECTION!”
2021: Jan. 6 and second impeachment
On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol after a Trump rally, disturbing a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 election results.
Supporters vandalized offices and broke windows, leading to five deaths, including one Capitol police officer. During this, 1,580 rioters were charged, with 660 facing prison sentences, according to a statistic released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Trump was impeached for “inciting” the Capitol riot, making him the first president to be impeached twice.
The impeachment did not pass in the Senate, allowing him to run for president in 2024.
2022: Trump discloses 2024 run
On Nov. 15, 2022, Trump announced his presidential campaign at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, with the goal of becoming the second president elected to two nonconsecutive terms.
“We are a nation in decline,” Trump said in his speech. “For millions of Americans, the past two years under Joe Biden have been a time of pain, hardship, anxiety, and despair.”
“We will be attacked. We will be slandered. We will be persecuted just as I have been … But we will not be intimidated. We will persevere … and in the end we will win. Our country will win,” Trump said.
His announcement came as the Republican Party faced worse-than-expected midterm election results, and he faced multiple criminal and civil investigations.
2023: Trump’s charges and mugshot
In August 2023, Trump became the first president to have a booking photo released and be criminally charged. Trump faced 88 criminal charges across four indictments.
The charges included allegedly retaining classified documents, a hush money case, and election interference.
On Aug. 24, Trump’s mugshot was released. He responded in a statement on X — his first post since January 2021.
“Election interference. Never surrender!” Trump said.
He also posted the mugshot and linked his website.
The Trump campaign began selling T-shirts and mugs with the booking photograph. By Aug. 26, 2023, the campaign had raised $7.1 million since the photo’s release, according to the Trump campaign’s spokesperson.
2024: Assassination attempt and clinching 47th presidency
Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13 at a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. He was shot in the ear, and one supporter in the crowd was killed.
A week later, he accepted his Republican presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention and spoke about the shooting.
“I’m not supposed to be here tonight,” Trump said. “I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God.”
According to an ABC News poll, Trump’s favorability rose 40%, the highest rating in four years. His favorability continued to stay positive, and led to him winning the 2024 election.
“We have to put our country first for at least a period of time. We have to fix it, because together, we can truly make America great again for all Americans,” Trump said in his victory speech. “I will not let you down. America’s future will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer, and stronger than it has ever been before.
Not only did Trump win the election, but he also won the popular vote — the first time in 20 years that a Republican nominee won — against former Vice President Kamala Harris. The GOP also took full control of Congress.
2025: What’s happened and what’s next for Trump
A DECADE OF MAGA: HOW TRUMP’S GOLDEN ESCALATOR RIDE CHANGED AMERICA
Trump has already started strong in his second term, signing 161 executive orders in the first half of 2025. These actions reflect his agenda to “restore America,” with initiatives ranging from stronger immigration enforcement to cutting funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Trump has generated momentum, but new challenges lie ahead. From responding to the recent protests in Los Angeles to gaining support for his “big, beautiful bill,” the remainder of 2025 promises to be eventful for the Trump administration.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Auto Amazon Links: Could not resolve the given unit type, . Please be sure to update the auto-insert definition if you have deleted the unit.