This picture shows a blonde-haired little boy who grew up to become one of the most famous – and divisive – political figures in history, and shows a side to him that the world has rarely ever seen.
With his golden hair, twinkling eyes and angelic expression, this toddler looks like a regular, unassuming child.
But in a twist that stunned the internet, this innocent young boy turned out to be none other than US President Donald Trump.
And while Trump has been at the forefront of worldwide fame for several years, the rare image of the US leader sparked a storm of reactions from social media users when it first emerged.
While some were quick to gush over how ‘wonderful’ and ‘sweet’ he was as a toddler, others branded him ‘the worst monster there could ever be’.
One internet user also questioned why he had to ‘grow up’ when he was an ‘innocent little kid’.
As Trump celebrates his 79th birthday today, the president’s baby photo has taken a new meaning.
The millionaire-turned politician has spent the majority of his life under the spotlight, reinventing himself from real estate mogul to reality TV star, and finally, the president of the United States.
Childhood picture of US president Donald Trump
Trump is celebrating his 79th birthday this month
Born on June 14, 1946 in the New York borough of Queens, Trump was the fourth of five children to property tycoon Fred Trump and wife Mary Anne.
His mother was Scottish and his father the son of German immigrants.
After joining the family business in 1968, the ambitious young Trump quickly made a name for himself and invested in several big real estate projects in New York, including the iconic Trump Tower.
Having transformed Manhattan’s skyline with glitzy skyscrapers, opulent hotels and flashy casinos, his lavish lifestyle and dynamic character turned him into a tabloid sensation throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
As his real estate empire grew, so did his celebrity status. Trump wrote bestselling book The Art of The Deal in 1987 and became the host for TV show The Apprentice in 2004, which cemented him as a household name.
In 1988, Forbes estimated his net worth to be around $1billion.
And throughout the years, his personal life has been just as headline-grabbing as his business ventures.
The millionaire-turned politician has spent the majority of his life under the spotlight
Trump and his firs wife Ivana. The pair tied the know in 1977 and had three children together
The couple divorced after it emerged Trump was having an affair with model Marla Maples. Pictured: Trump and Ivana at the Costume Institute Gala in 1985
Trump married his first wife Ivana in 1977. A glamorous Czech model, she played a significant role in the family business and helped build the Trump brand while the couple raised their three children children together.
But their 13-year marriage came to an end after it emerged that Trump had been having an affair with model Marla Maples.
After Trump’s very public split from Ivana, he and Marla welcomed daughter Tiffany in 1993 before going their separate ways.
He married his third wife, Melania, in 2005, and together the couple had son Barron.
Better known as a celebrity and businessman, Trump stunned the world when he first won the presidency in 2016, as many did not take his bid for presidency seriously.
But against all odds, Trump managed to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton and was sworn in as US president.
He introduced major change during his first term as America’s leader.
Tightening on immigration, Trump cracked down on travel from Muslim-majority countries and strengthened part of the southern border with Mexico.
Trump and Marla pictured on their wedding day in 1993
Marla and Trump welcomed daughter Tiffany in 1993 before going their separate ways
Trump stunned the world when he first won the presidency in 2016, as many did not take his bid for presidency seriously
He married his third wife, Melania, in 2005, and together the couple had son Barron
resident Donald Trump gestures as he and first lady Melania Trump dance at the Freedom Ball in Washington, on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017
His first term in office ended with bitterness after he made unfounded claims that he lost the election unfairly, which consequently prompted his supporters to violently storm the US capitol.
Just months before the 2024 elections, Trump was convicted in a New York trial for falsifying business records in a case about hush-money payments to silence a porn star before the 2016 election.
But a judge gave him an unconditional discharge, sparing him jail time or a fine.
Trump also became the subject of a historic assassination attempt after a gunman fired shots at him during a Pennsylvania rally in July 2024.
One of the bullets grazed his right ear and the shooter was killed by secret service snipers.
Images documented the famed moment, with one photograph showing Trump placing his hand over his bloodied ear.
Another snap showed him with a raised fist and blood on his face – a moment that was widely shared on social media and praised by his supporters.
His first term in office ended with bitterness after he made unfounded claims that he lost the election unfairly, which consequently prompted his supporters to violently storm the US capitol
Trump also became the subject of a historic assassination attempt after a gunman fired shots at him during a Pennsylvania rally in July 2024
Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show
rump was sworn in as America’s 47th president in January
Following a lengthy and unpredictable election period, Trump was sworn in as America’s 47th president in January after he beat his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.
In his inauguration speech, he promised a new ‘golden age’ of America and began his second term with a rush of executive orders which included cracking down on immigration.
This week, Trump has been the subject of widespread protests across the US after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles as part of his crackdown on migrants.
But as he celebrates his 79th birthday this weekend, there is no denying the little boy in the photograph has left a mark.
From building a real estate empire to two stints in the White House, Trump has challenged political norms and defied expectations, making him to many a symbol of reinvention.
