What do you say when the, by any and all standards, Worst president in U.S. history is re-elected for a second term?
What do you say when, by any and all standards, the worst president in our nation's history is re-elected for a second term? The irony, in hindsight, is that Bret Baier probably had it right. Are the majority of Americans stupid? Yes. If by stupid you mean either uninformed and/or racist, a bigot, sexist, or simply okay with that behavior, then yes. For right now, the majority of Americans are stupid.
Trump’s first term was filled with chaos, divisiveness, and an unprecedented disregard for truth and accountability. Historians are already lining up to rank him as our nation's worst president. Sean Wilentz of Princeton University and Jon Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, have labeled his tenure as a very low point in American history. Trump’s administration not only failed to address significant challenges but exacerbated existing inequalities, fueled political polarization, and tarnished the U.S.’s reputation globally. Scholars often compare Trump’s presidency unfavorably to those of James Buchanan or Andrew Johnson, pointing to his role in deepening national divisions and undermining democratic norms.
Rex Tillerson, Trump’s first Secretary of State, called him a “moron”, a sentiment echoed by John Bolton, Trump’s former National Security Advisor, who labeled him as "erratic" and unfit for office. Bolton said that Trump’s decision-making was simply always driven by personal or political gain, never national interest. James Mattis, Trump’s former Defense Secretary, described him as having no mature leadership qualities, calling him “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people.”
Trump’s failures spanned multiple domains. Instead of promoting science and unity during COVID, he spread misinformation, downplayed the severity of the virus, and politicized public health measures. Economically, while he boasted about a booming stock market, his tax cuts overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy, and his trade wars hurt American farmers and manufacturers.
His behavior and rhetoric stoked racial tensions. His equivocation after the 2017 Charlottesville rally, where he claimed there were “very fine people on both sides,” emboldened white supremacists. Trump's administration also attempted to dismantle civil rights protections, rolling back regulations meant to address systemic discrimination in housing, education, and policing.
Historians argue that Trump’s disdain for democratic institutions may be his most enduring legacy. His efforts to overturn the 2020 election culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack, an event many compare to the darkest days of American democracy. As historian Timothy Snyder warned, Trump’s actions represented a textbook case of authoritarianism taking root.
Trump’s presidency has left and will leave again an indelible stain on American history, with experts, former allies, and his record serving as evidence of his profound unsuitability to be Earth's most powerful human. But the American people, undoubtedly, wanted him again. And ... they got him.
Wall Street Journal, AP News, Reuters, The Room Where It Happened by John Bolton
