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Plagued with antagonism, the 45th Presidency of the United States of America has not been without it’s controversies, however it is simply ignorant to deny Donald Trump of his successes. It goes without saying, on a personal level Trump’s immorality is omnipresent, but perhaps it is necessary to look beyond the intense political polarisation which overwhelms the global media and to look objectively at Trump’s time in office.
I highlight first, Trump’s continued support for the withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan. President Donald Trump has exhibited diminished pursuit of global hegemony, with less interest in imperial territorial expansion, he instead backed policies of disengagement. Trumps efforts to handle conflict within Afghanistan can be echoed within his commitment to diffusing tensions between the US and both Russia and North Korea. The United States’ foreign policy under Trump’s administration has essentially been tasked with recovering from the detriments of his predecessors, namely Bush, Obama and Clinton.
Trump’s approach to trade is somewhat unconventional when measured against the United States’ previous policies. Unlike free-market liberals, Trump does not attribute economic success purely to the liberalisation of global markets and free trade, instead favouring bilateral solutions. President Trump has created a stark contrast to the trade policies under the administration of Reagan. By imposing tariffs on China, Canada and the European Union, America saw a dramatic increase in tax revenues and in 2019 alone the US government saw in an additional $79 billion.
When Donald Trump came into office in 2017, he inherited an economy with already low employment levels, and yet saw continued improvement throughout his administration. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it appeared that US growth was relatively robust.
I think this opinion presents an interesting and fresh view of the US president but there are some points I disagree with. I agree that decreased active military presence abroad is a good thing but I wouldn't say his tactics led to a diffusion of tensions at the international level. Just because Trump stopped pursuing US military hegemony doesn't mean that the US has stopped being the hegemon. The US has, for better or worse, held a top position in the international system for a hundred years and with that comes entrenched practices and responsibilities. What Trump did was take a sledgehammer to a Jenga tower; methodical techniques were thrown to the wayside when Trump opted for the easiest short term solutions.
For example, the extraction of US forces from Syria. To maintain cooperation and good standing, states need to telegraph their movements. This displays trust to allies and prevents miscommunication in tense relationships, like those between the US and Syria. When the US pulled out in 2019 it caused confusion on the ground and on the international stage; citizens didn't know who the military equipment belonged to - the Russians, Kurds, Turkish? It also came as a shock to allies and transmitted a message of US inconsistency, secrecy, and insincerity. The consequences of this action has led to chaos at all levels, even though it's not felt directly by anyone not from Syria.
Trumps emphasis on the economy has also been misguided, led by short term gains at the expense of long term stability. Take for example the renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA. Most changes were cosmetic, and on the international level they only portrayed an image of a belligerent and unrepentant American exceptionalism. I would also be hesitant to praise Trump's economy. In part because of an instinct I have about the man (his incompetence and insincerity rank high on the list of characteristics I attribute to him). While his economy might be better on paper, the behavior it inspires will lead to a worse future. It exacerbates inequalities in the American, and global, economy by benefitting wealthy individuals disproportionately.
Where I do agree with you is that the effect that Trump has had has not been all bad, but its not through any effort or policy of Trumps. Indirectly Trump has exposed the fault lines in American politics, life, and social structure. He is a figure head of all that is bad to some, and all that is good to others. He has shown that so much of democracy is norms, the behavior of a democratic politic that keeps democracy alive. His presidency has brought racial tensions to the forefront of American life and, in the wake of the Capitol Insurrection, shown how serious people are in these beliefs. This kind of anti-democratic behavior cannot be ignored, it is at the core of party politics.
It also exposes the hegemonic tensions at the international level. While treating China with more aggressive trade policies sounds righteous, I think it will lead to large scale conflict in the future. China is undoubtedly a rising power with an incredibly strong economy on par with the US. The Obama administration saw this with their foreign policy 'pivot' to Asia. What China doesn't have (yet) is the extra oomph of cultural hegemony. Blue jeans and Coca Cola (with a side of Rambo badass) define the American presence abroad. Perhaps we are starting to see this with Tik Tok. This is directly reflected by China's foreign economic policy: the Belt and Road Initiative.
It spells trouble that the US is becoming more aggressive. Even though some policies indicate deescalation, I think it would be more prudent to read the retreat from Syria as regression. So the US is becoming more aggressive, less trustworthy, and China provides a more stable alternative. This is, in large part, the fault of Trump's gung-ho foreign policy.
Trump is far from making any deliberately 'good' foreign policy decisions, and instead better serves as the shrieking canary in the coal mine.
Some sources if you'd like to see what I referenced:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/why-the-u-s-decision-in-syria-has-left-some-of-their-allies-anxious
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2018/10/02/5-things-to-know-about-usmca-the-new-nafta/
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-10-30/trump-s-economy-really-was-better-than-obama-s
I do agree that Trump has, at the very least, attempted to right some of the wrongs that have dominated US politics, such as the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan.
But as the Trump years draw to a close, I ponder over what his legacy will be. Initially, I presumed it would be his endless rants on Twitter if he did not get his way, or active promotion of fake news but I come to find that his inciting of violence against a federal branch of government to be THE defining feature of his presidency.
Sure, the result of the Capitol riot was the product of his spewing of fake news and Tweetstorms. But the fact that he, intentionally or unintentionally, incited a riot by his followers to suppress the 2020 presidential election and seize power supersedes any of the good work he has done throughout his presidency.
Other presidents that have faced similar scrutiny have never been able to shake their scandals off their legacies as president. President Nixon, for example, is remembered primarily for Watergate with little other significant legislation that directed US politics in a progressive election. President Clinton is also remembered for his impeachment over his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky over his three-strike crime policy.
I commend for the occasions President Trump attempted to usher world peace whether it was through meeting Kim Jong-Un or withdrawing the remaining US troops in Afghanistan. But twice as much has he promoted the killing of civilians to demonstrate US foreign policy (https://theintercept.com/2019/10/02/trump-impeachment-civilian-casualties-war/) and pardoning them if they ran into legal issues: (https://www.businessinsider.com/blackwater-guards-trump-pardoned-shot-killed-civilians-2-kids-2020-12).
Such foreign policy inadvertently enflamed tensions with foreign countries. Sometimes, he did so without informing his political advisors and acted on his own instinct (https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/14/trump-biden-foreign-policy-alliances/).
Trump attempted to ease tensions with hostile nations such as North Korea, but those peace talks fell through. Later, he attempted to withdraw US troops without informing his political advisors. Regardless of where one personally falls on the side of the debate over US troops along with 38th parallel north, the decision should at least be made with consulting experts on the matter.
Trump showed that he failed to demonstrate even basic leadership skills. I won't end this argument by summarizing Trump as the single worst US president, but I will assert that President Trump was the most politically unempathetic president in modern history.
Trump is one of the greatest presidents in the last 50 years
he is not. the only good thing he did was pull troops out of Afghanistan.
Not only did he veto a bill that would give troops a 3 percent raise, he pardoned war criminals, put millions at risk by threatening to veto a coronavirus relief bill,failed to ban travel from Europe when he had the chance, literally fighting with reporters, saying the Coronavirus would just disappear,failed to distribute vaccines, and more.
Donald J. Trump represented one of the worst presidents in modern U.S. history. While substantial debates can exist about the merits of the policies from his administration, such cannot extend to his presidency. Unlike other presidents, Donald Trump did not establish his legacy based on his policies, but his governing. Pundits can disagree on the merits of the 2017 tax cuts, the withdrawal of troops, and the new foreign policy focus on China. However, facts have portrayed a president who shuns professionalism, eschews transparency, and disdains checks for power. These approaches influence almost every decision he made in his presidency, and they will leave more impacts than any specific legislation. Together, they define the dark legacy of a failed president. Thus, the Trump presidency is inexcusably disastrous.
Trump avoided and actively discouraged professionalism in politics. This tendency manifests best in his treatment of civil servants and his cabinet members. Under Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the State Department effectively shut out career diplomats and foreign policy experts out of the decision circle. Instead, Tillerson chose to hire politicized outside advisers to make foreign policy decisions. [1] This trend worsened even further under Secretary Mike Pompeo, who sought to use the department for Trump’s reelection effort. [2] In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Trump installed Gen. Christopher Miller and Kash Patel at the Department of Defense. The two significantly hindered the orderly transition of power at the Pentagon, despite concerns from military commanders. [3] Such politicization exists in almost all aspects of his government. In the long run, this misuse of power sets dangerous precedents for problematic decision-making in the federal government. In the short run, his loyalists in the government can cause significant dysfunction for the Biden Administration. [4]
Trump showed disdain for transparency. No matter the merits of the policies, there is no question that a president’s decisions should be visible to relevant stakeholders. Such visibility became non-existent to the general public and the government oversight agencies during the Trump Administration. He actively spread misinformation on various important subjects, such as the spread of Covid-19, the substance of his healthcare plan, and the 2020 election. [5] He prevented oversight for the functioning and decisions of his agencies. [6] This lack of transparency has no place in a democracy, even if the government is making sound and reasonable decisions.
Trump practiced a shocking level of executive aggrandizement during his presidency. He used the power of his office for his personal campaign, and consistently breached the Hatch Act. These exercises, however, pale in comparison to his action to dispute the 2020 election. He threatened the Georgia Secretary of State to manipulate the election outcome. [7] He partially incited a historic insurrection against another branch of the government. [8] No reputable sources have discovered substantial proof of election fraud. However, these clarifications miss the point. Even if election fraud existed, such illegal abuse of power would still represent significant and unforgivable damage to the U.S. democracy. While Trump has left office, he created great mistrust of the electoral system among the GOP base. [9] This destruction of democracy will take years, if not decades, to repair.
The three aspects mentioned above overlap and complement each other. Together they portray a reckless and destructive president. Many policies under the Trump Administration should receive objective debates. Some of them may prove beneficial and reasonable. However, they do not salvage a horrifying presidency of historic proportions. The Trump presidency is not defined by its philosophy, policies, or political stances. It is defined by the utter betrayal of his office and the republic. For these reasons, Donald Trump is the worst president in modern U.S. history.
“...There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution… I will vote to impeach the President.” - Statement of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo), Chair of the House Republican Conference, on January 12, 2021. [10]
[1]. Gramer, Robbie, Dan De Luce, and Colum Lynch. 2017. "How The Trump Administration Broke The State Department". Foreign Policy, , 2017. https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/31/how-the-trump-administration-broke-the-state-department/.
[2]. McKinley, P. Michael. 2020. "The Politicization Of The State Department Is Almost Complete". Government Executive, , 2020. https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2020/10/politicization-state-department-almost-complete/169525/.
[3]. Seligman, Lara, and Bryan Bender. 2021. "‘Really Quite Shocking’: Inside The Ugly Transition At The Pentagon". Politico, , 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/20/biden-pentagon-transition-460768.
[4]. Miranda Ollstein, Alice, and Megan Cassella. 2021. "The ‘Deep State’ Of Loyalists Trump Is Leaving Behind For Biden". Politico, , 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/19/trump-loyalists-burrowing-biden-460238.
[5]. Cathey, Libby. 2021. "Legacy Of Lies -- How Trump Weaponized Mistruths During His Presidency". ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/legacy-lies-trump-weaponized-mistruths-presidency/story?id=75335019.
[6]. Hamburger, Tom, Jeff Stein, Jonathan O'Connell, and Aaron Gregg. 2020. "Inspectors General Warn That Trump Administration Is Blocking Scrutiny Of Coronavirus Rescue Programs". The Washington Post, , 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/15/inspector-general-oversight-mnuchin-cares-act/.
[7]. Gardner, Amy, and Paulina Firozi. 2020. "Here’S The Full Transcript And Audio Of The Call Between Trump And Raffensperger". The Washington Post, , 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-transcript-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/2768e0cc-4ddd-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html.
[8]. Alberta, Tim. 2021. "Jan. 6 Was 9 Weeks — And 4 Years — In The Making". Politico, , 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/07/jan-6-was-9-weeks-and-4-years-in-the-making-455797.
[9]. Coleman, Justine. 2020. "Poll: Less Than One-Quarter Of Republicans Trust Election Results". The Hill, , 2020. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/529476-fewer-than-one-quarter-of-republicans-trust-election-results-poll.
[10]. Wyoming Congresswoman and House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY). 2021. "Cheney: I Will Vote To Impeach The President". https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000176-f8dc-d367-a17e-fefc40700000.
Such a strong, clear, evidenced argument.
The media focused on the bad but he actually did a lot of good
On the plus side:
He did a lot of bad also:
Like all leaders, there are pros and cons of his presidential run. The media tended to focus on the cons during his presidency, this is partially his own doing by being so loud and vocal. His blatant protectionism has probably harmed the economy he will certainly be remembered very easily if nothing his presidency was interesting and the constant attacks from the opposition didn't help neither did the regular impeachments every time they didn't get their way.
I feel if he listened to the right people his presidency would have been better like Rand Paul. I honestly believe he was better than Hillary I wish people would give some 3rd parties a chance.
His work in international diplomacy also deserves mention. The Abraham accords for instance. Any other US president who oversaw that would have one a Nobel peace prize. He got nominated but didn't win.
Also the trump peace plan in Israel/Palestine was a fantastic step forward.
Make the case or invite a friend to comment!