Trump

Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee for president at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, this week. Trump defeated 16 other candidates to win the nomination. The 4-day convention did not show as much unity as the nominee had hoped for. Trump’s campaign spent the first two days of the convention explaining accusations of plagiarism over a speech given by his wife, Melania. The speech contained similar sentences to ones in the speech given by first lady Michelle Obama at the 2008 Democratic convention. Former competitors Marco Rubio, Chris Christie and Ben Carson joined other Republicans to support Trump’s candidacy. Both Christie and Carson spoke on Tuesday aiming strong criticism at the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Rubio spoke in a taped message one day later. On Wednesday, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas spoke at the convention. He was Trump’s strongest opponent in a race for the nomination that many observers considered very divisive. Cruz refused to support, or endorse, Trump. Instead, he asked delegates to “stand, and speak and vote your conscience.” Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich followed the Texas Senator. He said Trump understood the treat of Islamic extremism better than Hillary Clinton. He also addressed Cruz’s speech saying that, if people vote their conscience, they would support Trump. The controversy overshadowed the appearance of Indiana governor Mike Pence. He gave his acceptance speech as the party’s vice presidential candidate.   Trump will face Hillary Clinton in the general election this November. Clinton is scheduled to accept the Democratic nomination next week at its convention in Philadelphia An untraditional candidate Donald Trump has taken an untraditional path to win the nomination. He has never held a public office. On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy from the lobby of his apartment building in New York. Trump said, “I’m really rich.” And he added, “I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created.” Trump has spoken about the unemployment rate in America. During the campaign, he has said China, Japan and Mexico have taken those jobs. He said Mexico and other Latin American countries have sent illegal immigrants to the United States. Trump has been strongly criticized for saying, “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” Trump promised to “build a great wall” on the border with Mexico to keep immigrant out and that he “will have Mexico to pay for that wall.” Other candidates spent money to buy advertising during the primary elections. Trump spread his message and attacked opponents on free television, radio and social media. Trump has made many controversial comments during the campaign. Speaking of Republican Senator John McCain, he said, “He’s not a war hero. … I like people who weren’t captured.” Senator McCain ran for president as a Republican in 2008. He was shot down during the Vietnam War and was tortured as a prisoner of war. Many Democrats and Republicans condemned Trump when he called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States. Many criticized Trump for saying U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot rule fairly because of his “Mexican heritage.” Curiel is hearing the case against Trump University. People who paid money to take real estate classes at Trump University are bringing a legal case against Trump. Others disagreed when Trump praised former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for killing terrorists. Trump’s background Trump was born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York. He graduated from the New York Military Academy and later completed a study program at the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Trump started in business by working for his father who was a wealthy real estate developer in Queens. During New York’s financial crisis, Trump received reduced taxes from the city to build a hotel in Manhattan. The deal was the first of many projects for the developer -- from casinos to golf courses. For a short period, Trump owned a sports team and a small airline company. In 1991, he sought bankruptcy protection when some of his businesses did not make enough money to pay the loans. It was the first of four bankruptcy filings by Trump companies. Trump used his name to sell neckties, water, wines, steaks, books and magazines. He launched the reality TV show, “The Apprentice,” and produced a business seminar called Trump University. In the 1990s, Trump’s name became a headline for New York’s newspapers when he divorced his first wife, Ivana, and married Marla Maples, a little-known actress. He is now married to Melania Knauss, a former model from Slovenia. The businessman has five children by three wives.   Where does Trump stand on the issues? On immigration, Trump has said he opposes giving undocumented workers a path to citizenship. He said he wants to end birthright citizenship, and wants undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S. On foreign policy, Trump has criticized the Iran nuclear agreement. He opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Trump has said he would consider withdrawing troops from East Asia if Japan and South Korea refuse to increase security payments to the U.S. In an interview with The New York Times, Trump suggested that he might not honor America’s commitment to NATO unless the countries meet their financial obligations. On national security, Trump calls for more military spending. He wants to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. He said he supports a form of interrogation called water-boarding which is considered torture. On gun control, Trump generally supports the right to bear arms. But he said he supports the existing ban on some assault weapons, a waiting period on gun purchases, and criminal and mental health background investigations. On healthcare, Trump said he will cancel the Affordable Care Act, if he is president. He will replace it with a “much better and much less expensive [plan] for people and for the government.” He has not given details of the plan. On taxes, Trump said he wants to reduce personal and business income taxes on Americans, and end the “death tax” on inheritances. Trump said he would close loopholes to pay for tax cuts. On China-U.S. relations, Trump called China “a currency manipulator,” meaning that he believes China unfairly controls the exchange value of its money. He would act against hackers and counterfeiters. On the environment, Trump has questioned climate change calling it a hoax. He also has said he would cut the Environmental Protection Agency.   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story plagiarism - n. the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit      

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