FRONTLINE: President Trump

On the Eve of a New Presidency, FRONTLINE Unveils a Major January Lineup Investigating Trump’s Rise, Obama’s Legacy, and a Nation Divided

When Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, he'll inherit a country deeply divided by politics, race, gender, culture and economics — divisions that helped fuel his rise to the White House.

How did Trump win? What ignited the intense polarization in the country and in Washington? And what is the legacy of President Barack Obama, who rode to power on the promise of transforming politics and uniting America?

This January, FRONTLINE will present "President Trump," "Divided States Of America" and "Trump’s Road To The White House."

Totaling six hours, this unprecedented series of documentaries chronicles Trump’s rise, tells the inside story of his campaign, and explores the roots of the division and polarization in Washington that frustrated the Obama presidency and laid the groundwork for the election of a defiant outsider.

“This January lineup from our acclaimed investigative team illustrates FRONTLINE’S deep commitment to examining our politics and powerbrokers – from looking closely at President-Elect Trump as he takes over, to looking back at President Obama’s eight years and the polarization that has ensued,” says FRONTLINE Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath.

“These films are focused on helping Americans understand the state of their government at this important historical moment, and telling the inside story of how we got here as only FRONTLINE can,” says FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk, who most recently helmed "The Choice 2016," and who with his team has made more than a dozen documentaries on the Obama administration.

First, on January 3, FRONTLINE examines key moments that shaped the president-elect in "President Trump" — an in-depth biography drawn from "The Choice 2016," in which advisors, business associates and biographers reveal how Trump transformed himself from real estate developer to reality-TV star to president.

Then, on January 17 and 18, FRONTLINE presents television’s most comprehensive exploration of the Obama era: a four-hour, two-night series called "Divided States of America," airing at a special time 9 p.m.

Featuring new, in-depth interviews with White House officials, Cabinet members, and senior Congressional leaders from both parties, as well as one of the richest archives in broadcast journalism, "Divided States" examines how Barack Obama’s promise of change and unity — and his belief in the possibility of bipartisanship — quickly collided with political realities and racially-charged resistance.

On January 24, FRONTLINE will continue that story with "Trump’s Road To The White House" — the inside story of how, despite historically high unfavorability ratings, Trump successfully tapped into frustration and calls for change to win the election. Featuring revealing interviews with campaign insiders, the film investigates how Trump rallied millions of supporters and defeated his adversaries — and what it reveals about how he will govern.

"He’s an unconventional candidate who used very unconventional methods to be elected president of the United States,” says Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Conway.

Together, FRONTLINE’s January films will be essential viewing for Americans looking to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s shifting political landscape as a new era begins.

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CREDITS:

FRONTLINE productions with the Kirk Documentary Group. The producers are Michael Kirk, Mike Wiser, Philip Bennett, Jim Gilmore and Gabrielle Schonder. The director is Michael Kirk. The writers are Michael Kirk and Mike Wiser. The reporters are Jim Gilmore and Gabrielle Schonder. The executive producer of FRONTLINE is Raney Aronson-Rath.