I have heard it over and over -- that Donald Trump did more for the nation in his first term than most other Presidents. Most recently it was by member @Foxfyre who said:
I would love to see some evidence of that. Obama, for example, took over in a recession caused by the financial crisis, and handed Trump a strong economy.
So, and I say this to all members who believe Trump had a great first term: do us a favor, please -- do the research. You've made the claim that Trump accomplished more good -- so no tell us what all that good was, and compare it to what they did. You can find pretty much all the data you need on Wikipedia, you just need to summarize and quantify it.
Now, I'm not cruel, so I'll give it my own shot, first -- just to give you the sense of how you might go about such a task.
This comparison reflects each president’s impact on critical national issues, though assessments may vary depending on political perspectives. Generally, the achievements under Obama and Biden are seen as constructive, while Bush's and Trump's legacies remain more divisive due to long-term policy consequences and specific controversies.
So, there you go. Now, over to you.
Trump had zero political experience when he was elected President in 2016 and yes he made a lot of mistakes learning on the job as ALL new Presidents do, even those with government experience. But he also accomplished more good for America and Americans in the three years before COVID that he had than ANY President in my now very long lifetime.
I would love to see some evidence of that. Obama, for example, took over in a recession caused by the financial crisis, and handed Trump a strong economy.
So, and I say this to all members who believe Trump had a great first term: do us a favor, please -- do the research. You've made the claim that Trump accomplished more good -- so no tell us what all that good was, and compare it to what they did. You can find pretty much all the data you need on Wikipedia, you just need to summarize and quantify it.
Now, I'm not cruel, so I'll give it my own shot, first -- just to give you the sense of how you might go about such a task.
George W. Bush (2001–2009)
- 9/11 Response and War on Terror: Led the U.S. response to 9/11 with a focus on homeland security and counter-terrorism, establishing the Department of Homeland Security.
- Impact: Mixed; improved domestic security but led to extensive surveillance.
- Afghanistan and Iraq Wars: Initiated military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq to dismantle terrorism networks and remove Saddam Hussein.
- Impact: Widely debated; destabilized the Middle East, leading to long-term conflict and instability.
- Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Signed Medicare Part D, providing prescription drug coverage for seniors.
- Impact: Generally positive; helped seniors access medications, but criticized for rising healthcare costs.
- No Child Left Behind Act: Education reform aimed at improving accountability in public schools.
- Impact: Mixed; aimed to close educational gaps, but criticized for excessive testing and limited effectiveness.
Barack Obama (2009–2017)
- Affordable Care Act (Obamacare): Overhauled U.S. healthcare, extending coverage to millions.
- Impact: Generally positive; reduced uninsured rates, though criticized for high premiums and limited choice.
- Economic Recovery (Post-2008 Crisis): Passed stimulus packages and bailouts to stabilize the economy and reduce unemployment.
- Impact: Positive; economic recovery followed, with steady job growth and stock market recovery.
- Paris Climate Agreement: Signed onto the international climate agreement to combat global warming.
- Impact: Positive for environmental policy and climate action, though met with opposition domestically.
- DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): Provided legal protections for undocumented immigrants who arrived as children.
- Impact: Positive for immigrant rights, though controversial and challenged by opponents.
Donald Trump (2017–2021)
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Implemented significant tax cuts, primarily benefiting corporations and high-income earners.
- Impact: Mixed; boosted short-term economic growth but increased national debt.
- Deregulation Efforts: Rolled back many regulations, especially in the environmental sector.
- Impact: Mixed; beneficial for businesses but detrimental to environmental protections.
- COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Managed the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, including initiating vaccine development.
- Impact: Mixed; vaccine development was a success, but overall response criticized for inconsistencies and high infection rates.
- Trade Policies and Tariffs: Imposed tariffs on imports, particularly from China, to protect U.S. industries.
- Impact: Mixed; some gains for U.S. manufacturing but led to trade tensions and increased consumer costs.
Joe Biden (2021–Present)
- COVID-19 Vaccination and Relief Efforts: Oversaw a significant COVID-19 vaccination campaign and passed stimulus bills for economic recovery.
- Impact: Positive; helped reduce COVID-19 impact and supported economic recovery.
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Passed a major infrastructure bill for roads, bridges, broadband, and other improvements.
- Impact: Positive; expected to modernize infrastructure and boost job creation.
- Climate and Healthcare Investment (Inflation Reduction Act): Enacted climate initiatives and healthcare reforms focused on lowering prescription costs and emissions.
- Impact: Positive; supports renewable energy, healthcare affordability, and emission reductions.
- Foreign Policy and NATO Reaffirmation: Worked to strengthen NATO alliances, particularly in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
- Impact: Positive; improved international relations and demonstrated support for allies.
This comparison reflects each president’s impact on critical national issues, though assessments may vary depending on political perspectives. Generally, the achievements under Obama and Biden are seen as constructive, while Bush's and Trump's legacies remain more divisive due to long-term policy consequences and specific controversies.
So, there you go. Now, over to you.
