How will the world remember Donald Trump? The opinion is divided. While many believe that he is one of the worst presidents in US history, others are sure that he will be remembered with reverence. But one thing is clear—he will be remembered as one who left an indelible mark in US history.
He broke all rules, was casual on truth and harsh on critics. He used to make nasty personal attacks and often reduced himself to a cartoon character on social media.
On the domestic front, he slashed taxes, helped step up economic growth, reduce poverty and reduce unemployment.
At international level, he kept US out of new, pointless foreign wars. He even made a deal with the Taliban to withdraw the last remaining American soldiers from Afghanistan. He also ensured withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
However, the US’ global image declined significantly under Trump. His last days in office, especially the storming of Capitol Hill by his supporters, only helped to further aggravate the decline.
His nemesis was Covid-19 pandemic. He botched the handling of the pandemic, resulting in his own defeat in the elections.
His nemesis was Covid-19 pandemic. He botched the handling of the pandemic, resulting in his own defeat in the elections.
A new Fox News poll finds that 42% of voters say history will remember President Donald Trump as one of the worst presidents ever.
An additional 8% say he will be remembered as below average, while 22% say one of the greatest, 16% say above average and 10% say below average.
However, irrespective of the popular opinion, Trump had made some lasting impact on US and world politics.
He reshaped the US federal judiciary. He installed two Supreme Court judges and 187 judges to the federal bench — all for lifetime appointments.
Trump’s signature legislative achievement remains a Republican tax bill that made sweeping changes to the tax code —the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The law was the biggest overhaul to the nation’s tax code in three decades, and the president pitched it as “rocket fuel” for the American economy. It permanently slashed the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% while also providing temporary benefits for individuals and their families.
Trump established the sixth branch of the US Armed Forces — the Space Force–by signing on a $738 billion bill. The Space Force is the first new military service since the US Air Force was created in 1947. It is tasked with protecting the US military’s assets in space.
One of his greatest achievements was his blunt recognition of China as the new geopolitical threat of the 21st century.
The Trump administration was also successful in eliminating ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. The ISIS had shocked the world in 2014 when it took over a large swath of territory across Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate. After a five-year effort led by the US, ISIS’s caliphate was finally defeated in March 2019. However, it is still estimated to have up to 18,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
Though Trump did not enter into a direct war with Iran, he levied a punishing economic sanctions on Teheran.
Under Trump, the US military launched a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3 this year, killing Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani who was purportedly on his way to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi in Baghdad. Soleimani was commander of the Quds Force, one of five branches of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was considered the second most powerful person of Iran, subordinate to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Some recent developments in the Gulf region, especially the UAE’s decision to recognise Israel could also be attributed to the strong policies of Trump administration. The secret visit of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Saudi Arabia recently where he held a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, are among the events that could change the equations in the Middle East in future.
Trump’s quixotic peace talks with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un went nowhere. But the credit for making an attempt at a peace deal goes to Trump.
