By Craig Shirley
Thursday, 16 October 2025 03:49 PM EDT
Whether history treats our nation’s 47th commander in chief well depends on several conditions, particularly on which historian writes the history. Winston Churchill once said, “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” The current class of left-wing historians will predictably run Trump down, but do they really count? They are liberal clichés, performing for the left-wing parlor game, utterly predictable with little real credibility outside the liberal salons of the academy, MSNBC and CNN.
More importantly, to this author and historian, Trump will score high marks. Another measurement of a president’s success is how the American people will regard him at the end of their presidency. Ronald Wilson Reagan had an approval rating of over 70% when he left office, but he dipped into the 40% range during the tail end of the Carter recession. Trump’s record of success is dizzying—border security, inflation control, economic growth, and now Mideast peace.
The Abraham Accords and the new Mideast peace agreement represent a monumental achievement deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize alone. Who would have thought 20 years ago that there would be Arab embassies in Israel? This breakthrough mirrors General Douglas MacArthur’s administration of Japan’s post-World War II rebuilding, which also warranted Nobel recognition. President Reagan won the Cold War without firing a shot, as did John Paul II. Was it because they were conservatives?
The Nobel Committee preferred to award its prize nearly two decades ago based on racial preferences rather than whether Barack Obama truly deserved one of its highest recognitions. His race will always be a factor in calculating his importance to history for liberals, more interested in identity than merit. Obama’s only skill seemed to be self-study, earning him the title “first Facebook president.” He never met a first-person pronoun he did not like.
The prize was also awarded to former Tennessee U.S. Senator and Vice President Al Gore, whose “out-there” environmental views continue to be proven wrong today. Of the 47 presidents, most rank from mediocre to bad. Joe Biden stands out as the most recent lacking competence and leadership. History will record him not only as America’s worst president but perhaps our most malleable.
Mark Twain joked, “History is merely a list of surprises,” yet most leaders believe they are masters of their fates. John Kennedy said history is the “past rushing into the future.” In today’s hyper-speed communications era, it often seems history is rushing toward us. Presidents like John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, James Buchanan, and others left America worse than they found it, judged as failed leaders.
In the second class of excellent presidents are Andrew Jackson, James Polk, Harry Truman, and John Kennedy. Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis was masterful. Great presidents include George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), and Ronald Reagan. All saved many lives and left their country better.
My wife and I worked for Reagan, giving him a special place in our hearts. Reagan spoke each year during my time running CPAC. The great philosopher Charles Adams asked, “Do the times make the man, or does the man make the times?” In Trump’s case, there is no debate.
Great presidents are known for great quotes: “Government like fire is a dangerous servant and fearful master,” George Washington; “A nation divided against itself cannot stand,” Lincoln; “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” FDR; “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” JFK; and “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny,” Reagan.
Trump’s identifying sentence might soon be, “The hostages are free!” reflecting Mideast peace. As stated, “A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” This applies to great presidents and certainly to Trump today. While not yet placed in history, he ranks high so far. With three more years, he may achieve even greater accomplishments.
Napoleon said, “A leader is one who deals in hope,” and Trump consistently does so. Historian and Reagan biographer Craig Shirley is the author of several works on politics and the conservative movement. Read Craig Shirley’s Reports — More Here.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
