If you are wondering who holds the office today, the answer is Donald J. Trump. He was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, beginning his second term. His first term ran from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021. That makes him both the 45th and the 47th president, and the two terms are not consecutive.
JD Vance serves as his vice president. Presidents change with elections, so for anything time-sensitive it is always worth checking the official White House website.
Why the Count Goes to 47 but There Are Only 45 People
New readers are often puzzled that the numbering reaches 47 while only 45 individuals have held the job. The reason is a quiet piece of history. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd president, lost his bid for re-election, and then returned four years later as the 24th.
More than a century later, Donald Trump followed the same path, serving as the 45th and then the 47th. Each return is counted as a new presidency, which is why the numbers run ahead of the number of people.
The Early Leaders Who Served Two Terms
The presidents who served two terms form a story of their own. George Washington, the 1st president, led from 1789 to 1797 and chose to step down after two terms. That set a custom that lasted for generations. Thomas Jefferson (3rd, 1801–1809), James Madison (4th, 1809–1817) and James Monroe (5th, 1817–1825) each followed with two terms, guiding a young country through growth, war and expansion.
Andrew Jackson, the 7th president, served from 1829 to 1837 and was also re-elected, leaving a lasting and much-debated mark on American politics.
Leaders of a Divided and Growing Nation
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, won a second term in 1864 while the Civil War was drawing to a close. He was assassinated in April 1865, only weeks into that second term. Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president, served two full terms from 1869 to 1877 during the difficult years of Reconstruction.
Grover Cleveland, as noted, is unusual because his two terms were separated by four years, in 1885–1889 and 1893–1897. William McKinley, the 25th president, was re-elected in 1900 but was assassinated in September 1901, early in his second term.
Twentieth-Century Presidents Who Won Re-election
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, served from 1913 to 1921 and guided the country through the First World War. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president, stands apart. He was elected four times, in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944, and led the nation through the Great Depression and most of the Second World War.
He died in April 1945, shortly after beginning his fourth term. The country later passed the 22nd Amendment, which limits a president to two elected terms. Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th) served from 1953 to 1961. Richard Nixon (37th) won re-election in 1972 but resigned in 1974. Ronald Reagan (40th) served from 1981 to 1989, and Bill Clinton (42nd) served from 1993 to 2001.
Recent Two-Term Presidents
George W. Bush, the 43rd president, served two terms from 2001 to 2009. Barack Obama, the 44th, followed with two terms from 2009 to 2017. Donald Trump then became the most recent president to hold the office twice, in 2017–2021 and again from 2025.
Across all 47 presidencies, roughly eighteen individuals have been elected to the office more than once, if you count the presidents above. Several others, such as Calvin Coolidge and Harry Truman, served close to two terms but were elected only once.
A Closing Thought
Each president, whether he served for a short time or for two terms, has been part of the nation’s story. Looking back at these leaders helps us see how the office has changed and how the country has grown with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the president of the United States now?
Donald J. Trump is the current president. He is the 47th president and took office on January 20, 2025, with JD Vance as vice president.
Who is the president of the United States during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, was in office from 1913 to 1921. He kept the country out of the war at first, and the United States entered in April 1917.
Who is the president of the United States during World War II?
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president, led the country for most of the war. When he died on April 12, 1945, Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president, took over and was in office when the war ended later that year.
Who is the president of the United States in 2008?
George W. Bush, the 43rd president, was in office throughout 2008. Barack Obama was elected in November of that year but did not take office until January 2009.
Who is the president of the United States in 1976?
Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president, was in office during 1976. Jimmy Carter won the election that November and was sworn in as the 39th president in January 1977.