Happy Presidents Day, NOT!

Key Points:

• Survey conducted by political scientists from the University of Houston and Coastal Carolina University, with participation from APSA scholars and published experts in presidential studies.
• Donald Trump is ranked as the lowest-rated U.S. president, falling below Buchanan and Andrew Johnson.
• His presidency is characterized by institutional challenges, including tensions with the judiciary and oversight agencies.
• He is identified as the most polarizing president, intensifying partisan divisions and public distrust in institutions.
• Comparative historical analysis contrasts his governance style with previous controversial administrations, such as Nixon’s.
• His rejection of electoral outcomes is a key factor in scholarly assessments of democratic resilience.
• The long-term implications of his presidency remain a subject of ongoing academic debate, particularly regarding executive power and institutional stability.

The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, conducted by Brandon Rottinghaus (University of Houston) and Justin S. Vaughn (Coastal Carolina University), provides an empirical assessment of U.S. presidents from George Washington to Joe Biden. The survey was distributed to current and recent members of the Presidents & Executive Politics Section of the American Political Science Association (APSA), as well as scholars who have recently published peer-reviewed research in presidential studies. Of the 525 invited experts, 154 provided usable responses, offering an academically rigorous evaluation of presidential leadership.

The survey ranks Donald Trump as the lowest-rated U.S. president, placing him below James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson, two presidents historically associated with crises that threatened the republic—the Civil War and Reconstruction, respectively. The survey’s findings suggest that Trump’s administration presented significant institutional challenges, contributed to heightened political polarization, and raised concerns about the resilience of U.S. democratic norms.

Institutional Challenges and Democratic Norms

A key finding of the survey is that Trump’s presidency was marked by frequent tensions with democratic institutions. Respondents highlighted his strained relationship with the judiciary, intelligence agencies, and independent oversight bodies, which raised concerns about the separation of powers and the rule of law. The survey results also emphasize the significance of Trump’s post-election actions in 2020, particularly his rejection of electoral outcomes and efforts to challenge election legitimacy. These elements contribute to scholarly debates about the extent to which executive behavior influences democratic stability.

Polarization and Its Consequences

The survey identifies Trump as the most polarizing president in U.S. history. While political polarization is not unique to his tenure, respondents indicated that his presidency exacerbated partisan divisions, particularly in areas such as public trust in institutions, congressional oversight, and executive authority. Political scientists have long analyzed the effects of partisan entrenchment on governance, and the survey’s findings align with broader concerns that polarization may erode institutional effectiveness and democratic consensus.

Comparative Analysis of Presidential Leadership

Presidential greatness rankings are historically shaped by factors such as crisis management, institutional impact, and governance style. Scholars have compared Trump’s administration to those of previous controversial leaders, such as Richard Nixon, whose presidency ended amid the Watergate scandal. However, a key distinction noted in the survey results is that Nixon ultimately resigned in response to institutional pressure, whereas Trump’s refusal to accept electoral defeat and his role in post-election controversies have been central to scholarly assessments of his administration.

Long-Term Implications for Democratic Governance

The survey results raise broader questions about democratic resilience and institutional continuity. Research on democratic erosion often identifies key risk factors, including executive challenges to institutional independence, contested elections, and shifts in political norms. The expert evaluations in this survey suggest that Trump’s presidency aligns with several of these concerns, particularly in relation to election integrity and the evolving scope of executive power. Whether these trends are temporary or indicative of broader institutional shifts remains a subject of ongoing academic inquiry.

Conclusion

The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, conducted by scholars from the University of Houston and Coastal Carolina University, provides an empirically grounded framework for assessing presidential leadership. Trump’s ranking at the bottom of the presidential greatness scale reflects expert concerns about institutional norms, political polarization, and executive conduct. While assessments of presidential effectiveness evolve over time, this study underscores the extent to which Trump’s presidency has influenced discussions on democratic governance, institutional resilience, and the executive branch’s evolving role.