After much speculation , Trump officially decided to run for president as a Republican in 2016 , using the motto " Make America Great Again . " In his announcement speech in June 2015 , Trump took a tough stance against illegal immigration and promised to build a wall on the U.S. – Mexico border if elected president . After announcing , Trump became the front-runner for the nomination , taking the lead in nearly every national poll , ahead of his rivals for the Republican nomination including Jeb Bush , retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson , Senator Ted Cruz of Texas , and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida . Trump styled himself as the candidate of anti-establishment Republicans and received praise from former rival Pat Buchanan , who compared Trump 's run to Buchanan 's 1992 and 1996 campaigns . His attacks on the Republican establishment included a slight against the war hero status of John McCain , whom Trump complimented during his 2000 campaign . Republican voters favored the purported honesty of Trump 's message and his abrasive approach , which eschewed political correctness . Roger Stone , who headed Trump 's 2000 presidential committee , served as an adviser for the 2016 campaign until a much publicized split in August 2015 . The campaign generated major media attention and attracted large crowds to campaign events . Trump won multiple Republican primaries , receiving more votes than any previous Republican candidate , and earned the party 's presidential nomination at the 2016 Republican National Convention . In the general election , Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to be elected the 45th President of the United States
2016 Republican National Convention
2016 Republican National Convention
Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign