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| Is Donald Trump a Well-Regarded President? A Balanced Look at His Legacy |
Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States, served from 2017 to 2021 and left behind one of the most divisive legacies in modern American history. For some, he’s a political outsider who disrupted the status quo and championed forgotten Americans. For others, he’s a deeply polarizing figure whose presidency weakened democratic norms and amplified division.
So, is Donald Trump a well-regarded president overall? The answer depends on who you ask—and how you define presidential success.
According to Gallup, Trump's average approval rating over his four-year term was 41%, the lowest of any U.S. president in the modern polling era. However, his Republican support remained consistently high, often above 85%, even through scandals and impeachment proceedings.
This deep partisan divide means that while Trump is admired by his base, he is broadly disapproved of across the political center and left.
Trump’s defenders credit him with several policy wins and economic successes, including:
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017): A major overhaul of the U.S. tax system, praised by corporations and conservatives.
Deregulation: Trump cut numerous environmental and business regulations, which supporters argue helped economic growth.
Judicial Appointments: Appointed three Supreme Court Justices and hundreds of federal judges, reshaping the judiciary for decades.
Foreign Policy Shifts: Pursued direct diplomacy with North Korea, pressured NATO allies on defense spending, and moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
Pre-pandemic Economy: Unemployment hit historic lows, and stock markets surged through most of his term.
For many on the right, these accomplishments define Trump as a results-driven, bold leader who kept promises and shook up Washington.
Trump’s detractors cite a wide range of concerns, including:
Impeachments (Twice): First for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and second for inciting the January 6 insurrection.
Handling of COVID-19: Widely criticized for downplaying the virus, pushing misinformation, and failing to coordinate a national response.
Racial Division and Extremism: Accused of inflaming racial tensions and emboldening white supremacist groups.
Attacks on Institutions: Undermined the media, intelligence agencies, and the judiciary. Frequently challenged the integrity of elections.
January 6, 2021: His refusal to accept the 2020 election results culminated in a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol—an unprecedented moment in American democracy.
To critics, these actions define Trump as a threat to democratic norms, national unity, and institutional integrity.
Internationally, Trump was widely unpopular, especially among U.S. allies. Pew Research showed that global trust in the U.S. presidency fell sharply during his administration.
However, some praised his “America First” approach, which prioritized national interests and challenged longstanding diplomatic norms, particularly with China and Iran.
Historians tend to rate Trump among the lower-tier U.S. presidents, primarily due to his divisiveness, impeachment record, and erosion of institutional norms.
In a 2021 C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey:
Trump ranked 41st out of 44 presidents in overall performance.
He scored lowest in categories like moral authority and administrative skills, but ranked higher in public persuasion.
However, these rankings are fluid. Some argue that Trump's political impact—especially on the conservative movement—may be reassessed over time, for better or worse.
So, is Donald Trump a well-regarded president?
Among his supporters, absolutely. He is seen as a transformative leader who fought against political elites, prioritized American interests, and kept his promises.
Among his critics and most historians, no. He is seen as a dangerously divisive figure whose leadership damaged key democratic institutions.
Trump's legacy is still unfolding, and how future generations regard him may depend on the outcome of the ongoing legal cases, the state of the GOP, and the lasting effects of his policies and rhetoric on American democracy.
