Donald Trump Is The Worst President Ever

Originally published May 4, 2026

The Office of the President of the United States has always carried with it an expectation of sophistication, dignity and civic restraint.

Until about ten years ago.

Somehow, we went from losing our goddamn minds over a tan suit to collectively shrugging off “grab ’em by the pussy," and elected a man to the highest office in the country who would go on to be twice impeached (so far), try to overturn an election, incite insurrection, and drag the presidency to new lows.

We elected a man who would turn out to be the worst president in the history of the United States.

Donald Trump isn't the worst just because he's corrupt, cruel, dishonest, incompetent, authoritarian, or vulgar. He's the worst because his presidency combines all of those failings into one sustained assault on democracy, truth, accountability, institutional restraint and the civic responsibility and dignity of the office.

It's been a long-held belief that James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson rank at the bottom of any presidential comparison project. Buchanan failed to confront secession, enabled the continuation of slavery, and saw the Union torn in two in Civil War. Johnson then sabotaged Reconstruction and obstructed civil rights for freed people after the war. Strong evidence for condemnation.

Until now.

The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey recently ranked Trump dead last, giving him 10.92 out of 100, with Buchanan next at 16.71 and Johnson at 21.56.

Richard Nixon, a more modern example, represents a different kind of dishonor as his criminal abuse of power led to the Watergate scandal and his resignation in shame. But even Nixon more than triples Trump's bottom-dwelling score on the PGP.

Buchanan and Johnson will always remain in the conversation because of slavery, secession and Reconstruction. Nixon will too because of his resignation. But when you combine anti-democratic conduct, institutional corruption, public dishonesty, legal impunity, cruelty, incompetence, a record of harm and the degradation of the office of the president, Trump stands alone.