10 Things You Didn't Know About Donald Trump on His 80th Birthday
From a Scottish immigrant mother to a moth named after him, here are 10 surprising facts about President Trump as he turns 80 today.
President Donald Trump turns 80 today, making him the oldest sitting U.S. president in history. The world knows him as a real estate mogul, reality TV star, and the only person to serve as both the 45th and 47th president of the United States. But behind the headlines are some facts that even his most devoted followers might not know.
1. He was born on Flag Day
Trump shares his birthday, June 14, with the U.S. national Flag Day, a coincidence he has referenced more than once over the years.
2. He was sent to military school at 13
After proving to be a disciplinary problem at school, Trump's parents enrolled him in the New York Military Academy at age 13, hoping it would instill discipline. By most accounts, it worked: he excelled there and went on to the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania.
3. He doesn't drink alcohol
Trump has never touched alcohol, a decision shaped by the death of his older brother Fred Jr., who struggled with alcoholism. He has spoken about it frequently as one of the most important lessons his brother's life taught him.
4. He is a self-described germaphobe
Trump has admitted to being "very much a germaphobe," and reportedly avoids pushing elevator buttons that have been touched by others. When he does shake hands, he is known for pulling the other person firmly toward him rather than extending his own hand outward.
5. A species of moth is named after him
In 2017, a scientist named Vazrick Nazari identified a previously unknown moth species native to southern California and Mexico and named it Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, citing the uncanny resemblance of the tuft of scales on the moth's head to Trump's signature hairstyle.
6. He is a WWE Hall of Famer
Trump was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame by Vince McMahon in 2013. His involvement with professional wrestling goes back decades and includes actual on-screen appearances at WrestleMania events.
7. He earned $375,000 per episode of The Apprentice
At the height of the show's popularity, Trump earned $375,000 per episode for hosting The Apprentice, which ran from 2004 to 2015 and made "You're fired!" one of the most recognizable phrases in American pop culture.
8. He ran for president once before
Trump ran for president as early as 2000 under the Reform Party, winning the California presidential primary before ultimately withdrawing from the race.
9. He has cameos in dozens of films and TV shows
Before entering politics, Trump made cameo appearances in numerous productions, including Home Alone 2, Zoolander, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and The Nanny. In several of them, he played a version of himself.
10. His mother was a Scottish immigrant
Trump's mother, Mary Macleod Trump, was a native of Scotland who immigrated to the United States, a biographical detail that rarely comes up amid discussions of his hardline immigration positions.
President Trump marks his 80th birthday today at Mar-a-Lago, where a celebration is expected with close allies and family.