The first thing one notices about President Donald Trump is how divisive is his effect on Americans. According to a recent Washington Post article Donald Trump is described as someone:

‘given to vulgarities and gauche behavior, boastful, thin-skinned, politically amoral, vengeful, unforgiving …’ This description, of course, is from one of his professional rivals (Georgia Democrat John Lewis) but it is certainly true he has enraged many on the political left with his brash personal style and lack of political correctness. This post isn’t about Donald Trump’s politics, however; it’s about his astrology:

A cursory look at billionaire Donald Trump’s natal chart shows pretty much what we’ve come to learn about him from exposure in popular electronic media, or from his self authored books. To start with, there is proud and flamboyant Leo rising, emphasised by that Mars only 3 degrees behind the ascendant. (This is in one of the two strongest and highly sensitive ‘Gauquelin sectors’ which give prominence to the planet under consideration. The other sector is a conjunction within 8 degrees of the MC falling in the ninth house.) And because it is Mars rising, here is the energetic and bold self-promoter, anxious to be noticed, together with an element of the impatient, combative ego – just as we saw on the campaign trail.

Thus, here is a person doubly aware of the value of an impressive public image – as we would expect with Leo rising. This stance is even reinforced by Mars’ square to the MC (again, one’s public image) and the sun in conjunction to Uranus, which likes to make its presence felt through ‘shocking’ others – in wilful behaviour which goes against the grain of our common expectations of people. Sun-Uranus in Gemini gives us the original and unconventional ‘one-off’, the rebel, the offbeat type whose behaviour we can’t quite predict. It does seem that Mr Trump loves playing the media game (like a typical Gemini) as he subverts people’s expectations!

On a more intimate and personal level it would appear there’s much vulnerability here – why else would he hide behind that rather combative mask? Venus in emotional Cancer actually suggests a very private man, warm, caring, very family-oriented and with a good deal of sentimentality in his heart. Its conjunction with Saturn, however, also indicates strong emotional defensiveness (against being hurt) and displays of coldness or heartlessness if offended. But, I stress, this is a defensive pose. In any chart, this particular conjunction makes it difficult for the person to trust others. Such a thing would take time!

Everything here – plus the eleventh house Saturn – points to someone who operates best with a small band of loyal advisers rather than the wide circle of associates and colleagues. It’s that trust issue again! The sun-moon opposition also suggests a general being ‘out of touch’ with one’s deeper feelings – perhaps even a sense of discomfort with them. But the fourth-house moon at least indicates that there is a profound awareness of – and sensitivity to – his roots, of which Donald Trump has said he is extremely proud. With eternally optimistic moon in Sagittarius there is little time for introversion and emotionality; rather, an emphasis on freedom and looking ahead. One wants to keeps things ‘light’. Added to which the moon is also in opposition to that Uranus at the top of the chart, which makes one prone to impulse and sudden change in the area of feelings.

The moon also refers to conditions in childhood – it’s also making a harmonious trine to Mars, and this martian factor is indeed prominent in Donald Trump’s upbringing. According to Wikipedia he was an ‘energetic child; his parents hoped that the discipline at the military school would allow him to channel his energy in a positive manner. In 1983, Fred Trump told an interviewer that Donald “was a pretty rough fellow when he was small”. (Mars, of course ‘rules’ all matters military in astrology.) It also seems he wanted for very little as a child, and here we can see the protective side of beneficial, expansive Jupiter – significantly placed in the second house of personal resources. As we all know, his personal resources amount to billions these days, perhaps aided by that trine from the sun-Uranus conjunction (trines for creativity and general ease. And the Saturn square certainly hasn’t really lain too many obstacles in his path).

One has the impression of someone very impatient with whatever might slow him down and his overall persona amounts to a kind of fiery bravado. In fact, bravado is one of his self-confessed psychological ‘techniques’ when making financial deals. Here are some of Donald J. Trump’s own words on the subject in his book The Art of the Deal:

‘The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That’s why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular.’1

DONALD TRUMP’S FIRST YEAR

The progressions to President Donald Trump’s chart for 2017 (indeed, also from the time of his 2016 Presidential campaign) illustrate perhaps why he is where he is right now. The chart has Jupiter on the ascendant, simultaneously square to the MC – in other words, the Jupiter factor is pretty powerful, however you cut it. The sense of confidence, faith and overall exuberance he seems possessed of (that all his critics dismiss as bluster) may just be a very important reason. It is also the year of his Jupiter return (to his second house). Undoubtedly, this Jupiter factor has helped him to seize the moment – think about it; not many commentators ever thought he would get this far!

Of course, to suggest that it is aways going to be a breeze for him in the White House would also be hopelessly naive. Progressed Saturn is also up there in the 10th house, suggesting he may be in for a rough ride from political opponents (and non-political ones) and of course, the job itself brings untold pressures to him. There is also progressed Mercury conjunct Pluto (also in the 10th house of career!) indicating a kind of battle of ideas. President Trump will find others (whom he needs to persuade or influence) in rather entrenched positions. For example, some of his powers may be limited, perhaps because he has already alienated people with whom he must do business. (And with whom Presidents normally do business.) In his own words he will “reduce the corrupting influence of special interests” in Washington. Here, he may have a tough job.

Plus, the astrological picture suggests the mounting sense of public anger at authority in general (which we’ve seen in various riots and demonstrations of late) is likely to be unassuaged. Anger and violence, in fact, seem to be the keywords. On the US solar return of 2016-17, Mars is conjunct the ascendant, indicating, too, the divisiveness (and downright nastiness) we saw in the recent Presidential campaign. The 2017-18 solar return chart doesn’t look much better, with Mars opposite Pluto. Mars here is in the 6th house, suggesting that the unrest and potential conflict of this opposition will be rooted in work related matters – no doubt protests over employment rights and lack of jobs.

On this latter, the US economy is still undergoing a tough time – transiting Saturn is passing through the second house and by May there may be more depression in the markets as transiting Jupiter makes its conjunction with Saturn. Again, economic fortunes maybe in the news in June and September: investors and traders may experience sudden losses as transiting Uranus squares that second house moon and Pluto.

These are the areas over which Donald Trump will, probably, have little control. By July, with transiting Saturn (1) square Neptune (10) on the national chart – repeated in October – there may be a crisis of confidence, one which calls into question America’s very identity. Commentators may be gloomily asking: how did we end up like this? Suffice it to say that America is slowly headed towards its Pluto return (in 2022) when it must take a long hard look at itself. This will coincide with a sense that US power and influence (not merely military power, but economic and commercial – cultural, even) is not the same any longer. That it is, perhaps, not as powerful and influential as it used to be. Food for thought?

1. Ballantine, The Random House Publishing Group, 1987

(Donald Trump Picture Credit: Michael Vadon)