Donald Trump Puts Himself as Greatest President Ever

President Donald Trump has declared himself the greatest U.S. president, placing himself alone in a category labeled "The Greatest" above other presidents like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Trump's claim appears in a post on Truth Social, which categorizes presidents into tiers such as "Great," "Near Great," and "Failures."

The post comes as Trump's popularity among Republican voters continues to surpass that of previous GOP leaders. A recent poll found Republicans were significantly more likely to name Trump as their most admired president than either Ronald Reagan or Lincoln. Trump's ranking closely mirrors a famous 1948 ranking published by LIFE magazine, which was compiled by historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr. Trump's list includes several presidents he has previously praised, such as Andrew Jackson, who Trump considers a presidential inspiration, and William McKinley, whom Trump has linked to his trade policy.

Despite this, Trump notably omitted several prominent presidents, such as Ronald Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. The ranking also places former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter in the "Failures" category. The omission of Reagan is particularly notable, as he has traditionally been seen as the modern standard-bearer of American conservatism.

The ranking contrasts sharply with surveys conducted by presidential historians, where Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt consistently rank at the top, followed by George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. In a 2024 survey, Trump placed last among modern historians, while Reagan ranked 16th. This discrepancy highlights Trump's unique standing within the modern Republican Party, as Republican voters continue to view him more favorably than many of the traditionally revered presidents.