Trump’s Revised Ranking of U.S. Presidents
Trump’s Presidential Ranking Revisited
President Donald Trump has shared an updated version of his ranking of U.S. presidents. This follows a previous chart that placed him at the top, above presidents like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. In this revised ranking, Trump remains in a standalone category labeled “The Greatest.” However, he has added several former presidents who were absent from the earlier chart. These include Ronald Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
What Changed in Trump’s Presidential Rankings?
The revised version of Trump’s chart, which was posted on Truth Social, includes several changes. Ronald Reagan, previously absent, is now listed in the “Near Great” category, recognizing his status as a conservative icon. Eisenhower also joins Reagan in this tier. The chart now includes several 20th-century presidents who did not appear in the original version. Kennedy and Nixon have been ranked as “Average.” Ford and George H.W. Bush have been added to the “Below Average” tier, along with Lyndon B. Johnson, who was missing from Trump’s earlier chart.
Herbert Hoover has been moved from “Average” to “Failures,” joining George W. Bush in this category. Despite these additions and reshuffling, Trump remains alone at the top above Lincoln, Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson, who are grouped in the “Great” tier.
Ronald Reagan’s Absence Explained
Reagan’s omission from the original chart drew attention due to his significance in the conservative movement. Many Republicans view Reagan as a pivotal figure. Trump and Reagan are frequently compared concerning the Republican Party’s direction and leadership. Recent polling suggests Trump has surpassed Reagan among GOP voters in terms of admiration.
The initial absence of Reagan in a ranking that included other conservative figures like Washington and Jefferson was noticeable. Trump has not publicly explained the changes, but the revised version now places Reagan in the “Near Great” category.
Presidents Not Included in Trump’s List
Trump’s revised chart includes 43 presidents, leaving some commanders in chief off the list entirely. John Tyler’s predecessor, William Henry Harrison, and Chester A. Arthur’s predecessor, James Garfield, are not included. Harrison’s presidency was the shortest in U.S. history, lasting just 31 days before his death in office, while Garfield was assassinated after less than a year.
Number of U.S. Presidents
The United States has had 45 different individuals serve as president, from George Washington to Donald Trump. Trump is officially the 45th and 47th president, having served two nonconsecutive terms, similar to Grover Cleveland during the 19th century.
Therefore, there have been 47 presidencies but only 45 individual presidents. Trump’s revised ranking includes most of these, categorized from “Great” or “Near Great” to “Failures,” with Trump alone in “The Greatest.”
Comparison with Historians’ Rankings
Trump’s rankings differ significantly from those by presidential historians. According to the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey, historians have ranked Lincoln as the nation’s greatest president, followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Jefferson. Trump, who places himself above all others in his ranking, finished last in that survey.
The revised chart still elevates figures whose legacies are debated. Woodrow Wilson holds a “Great” category spot despite recent criticism over his administration’s racial segregation and civil liberties record.
Biden, Obama, Ulysses S. Grant, Warren Harding, Carter, and Hoover are grouped in the “Failures” category. Trump’s updated chart provides insight into his view of presidential history and underscores his unique position within the GOP, where polling shows many view him more favorably than previous Republican presidents like Reagan.
For further details, contact Newsweek editors Rebecca Flood and Cristina Diciu.