8 facts
Discover the fascinating interplay between history and politics. Uncover pivotal past events and their profound impact on today's world and global societies.
The construction of Trump Tower in Manhattan in the early 1980s relied heavily on undocumented Polish workers, known as the 'Polish Brigade,' who worked in dangerous conditions for below-minimum wages. Trump was sued over this labor dispute in 1983. The case was settled out of court in 1999, with Trump paying an undisclosed sum.
When Trump won the 2024 presidential election at age 78, he became the oldest person ever elected to the US presidency, surpassing Joe Biden, who had held the record at age 77 in 2020. Remarkably, Trump himself had previously set the record in 2016 by becoming the oldest first-term president at age 70.
In May 2024, a New York jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election. He became the first former US president ever convicted of a crime, yet went on to win the presidential election six months later in November 2024.
Trump's grandfather Friedrich Drumpf emigrated from the German village of Kallstadt to the United States in 1902 and anglicized the family name to 'Trump.' Friedrich made his fortune running restaurants and hotels during the Klondike Gold Rush in Canada before settling in New York — laying the foundation for the Trump family wealth.
Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and again in January 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the Capitol riot. He was acquitted by the Senate both times, making him the only president in US history to face two impeachment trials.
Unlike most countries saturated with advertisements, Cuba's roadsides are largely free of commercial billboards. Instead, you'll find large signs featuring revolutionary heroes like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, or slogans promoting socialist ideals and national unity.
Shortly after the 1959 revolution, Cuba launched a monumental literacy campaign, deploying over 100,000 volunteers to teach reading and writing nationwide. This ambitious effort dramatically reduced illiteracy from 23.6% to just 3.9% in less than a year.
Due to the long-standing U.S. embargo, new car imports were severely restricted for decades. This forced Cubans to ingeniously maintain and repair vintage American vehicles from the 1940s and 50s, turning the island into a vibrant, rolling car museum.
