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Isndonald trump one of the best USnpresidents
Executive summary
Assessments of whether Donald Trump is "one of the best" U.S. presidents are sharply divided and depend on which yardsticks—historian rankings, public approval, policy accomplishments, or democratic norms—you use. Expert surveys cited in 2024 placed Trump near the bottom of historians' rankings (Trump ranked last at #44 in one survey) while some public polls show pockets of high approval at moments; more recent polling in 2025 finds approval in the low‑to‑mid 40s and significant disapproval (41% approve/49% disapprove in November 2025) [1] [2].
1. Historian and expert rankings: academic judgments put Trump low
Scholarly efforts to rank presidents emphasize leadership during crises, long‑term impact, and statesmanship; the Presidential Greatness Project’s 2024 survey of historians placed Trump at or near the bottom (ranked last at #44 in the cited 2024 findings) — a judgment repeated in commentary about how historians view his first term’s legacy [1]. Academic analysis from Durham University concluded that Trump’s first term was “difficult to define as ‘great’” and noted some rankings that place him among the worst presidents [3].
2. Public opinion: polarized and changeable
Public evaluations differ from historians’ assessments and shift with events. Aggregate polling resources track Trump’s approval daily and show variation across pollsters; analysts note pollsters have struggled to estimate Trump’s popularity reliably [4]. Recent national polls in late 2025 reported approval around 41% with higher disapproval (49%), and pollsters warned those numbers could influence midterm and local races [2] [5]. These figures show a president with substantial base support but significant opposition.
3. Measurable actions and policy footprint: substantial but contested
Trump’s administrations (first term and his second starting in 2025) enacted a wide set of policies and personnel changes that supporters cite as transformative: judicial nominations (dozens of Article III nominees in 2025), many executive orders, and aggressive immigration and foreign‑policy moves early in his second term [6] [7]. Time magazine and other outlets highlighted Trump’s outsized influence on government and politics in 2025, arguing few modern presidents have consolidated power so forcefully [8]. Critics counter that many of those actions intensified polarization and were reversed or limited by institutions; academic commentary argues he failed to embed lasting change from his first term [3].
4. Institutional and legal controversies weigh heavily
Evaluations of presidential greatness also weigh adherence to democratic norms and legal controversies. Reporting and public records note ongoing legal cases and investigations tied to Trump’s actions around the 2020 election and other matters; GovTrack summarizes several outstanding legal issues and investigations that form part of the context for his second term [9]. Some analysts and commentators say these controversies damage his standing in historical rankings and public trust [3] [10].
5. Political legacy: influence vs. traditional measures of greatness
There is a split between measures of influence and traditional “greatness.” Proponents and some outlets emphasize Trump’s influence over Republican politics, appointments, and trade/immigration agendas—arguing he reshaped the GOP and federal government [8]. Opponents and many historians emphasize norms, long‑term institutional health, and consensus leadership; they argue Trump’s style and controversies disqualify him from “great” status [1] [3].
6. How to judge “one of the best”: pick your metrics
If “best” is defined by loyal base enthusiasm, disruption of political norms, or rapid policy changes, some evidence and contemporary commentary support a high ranking for Trump [8]. If “best” is judged by historians’ criteria—constitutional stewardship, crisis leadership, bipartisan respect, and enduring policy legacy—current expert surveys and academic commentary place him low [1] [3]. Polling shows a divided public that both elevates and harshly criticizes him, underscoring that assessments are contingent on perspective [4] [2].
Limitations and closing note: available sources here focus on historian surveys, polling, policy actions in 2025, and contemporary commentary; they do not provide a single definitive metric for “best president” and show that judgments vary sharply by method and observer. Use historian rankings for long‑term comparative judgments, and public approval or policy lists for contemporaneous influence—and expect disagreement between those approaches [1] [4] [6].