Fact Check: Donald Trump is the worst president in US history

Fact-Check: "Donald Trump is the worst president in US history"

What We Know

Surveys and rankings of U.S. presidents have been conducted by historians and political scientists for decades, assessing their leadership qualities, accomplishments, and failures. According to a 2024 edition of the Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, Donald Trump received an overall rating of 10.92 out of 100, which is the lowest score recorded among all U.S. presidents. This survey, which included responses from 154 historians and presidential experts, placed Trump in the 45th position, behind historically low-ranked presidents such as Andrew Johnson and James Buchanan, who are often cited as the worst presidents in U.S. history.

In addition, a NPR report highlighted that Trump's ranking as the worst president is consistent across multiple surveys, with historians generally agreeing on his poor performance. The C-SPAN Survey of Presidential Leadership also corroborated these findings, showing Trump consistently ranked among the lowest in presidential history.

Analysis

The claim that Donald Trump is the worst president in U.S. history is supported by a substantial body of evidence from reputable sources. The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey is particularly noteworthy due to its comprehensive methodology, which involved a diverse group of historians and political scientists. This survey's findings align with other historical rankings, reinforcing the consensus about Trump's presidency.

Critically, the reliability of these surveys can be assessed based on their methodologies. For instance, the C-SPAN survey has been conducted multiple times since 2000, consistently ranking presidents based on various leadership qualities and historical context. The consistency of Trump's low ranking across different surveys, such as the NPR survey and the Guardian article, suggests a strong consensus among historians regarding his presidency.

However, it is essential to note that rankings of presidents can be subjective and influenced by the political climate and the historians' perspectives. While some may argue that Trump's presidency should be viewed through a different lens due to its contemporary nature, the overwhelming agreement among historians indicates a significant consensus on his performance.

Conclusion

The claim that "Donald Trump is the worst president in US history" is True. This conclusion is supported by multiple surveys and expert analyses that consistently rank Trump at the bottom of presidential evaluations. The evidence from various reputable sources indicates that historians and political scientists view his presidency as lacking in effective leadership and significant accomplishments, placing him firmly in the lowest tier of U.S. presidents.