The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: A First Historical Assessment

by Julian E. Zelizer (Editor)

Leading historians on Trump's four turbulent years in the White House



The Presidency of Donald J. Trump presents a first draft of history by offering needed perspective on one of the nation's most divisive presidencies. Acclaimed political historian Julian Zelizer brings together many of today's top scholars to provide balanced and strikingly original assessments of the major issues that shaped the Trump presidency.

When Trump took office in 2017, he quickly carved out a loyal base within an increasingly radicalized Republican Party, dominated the news cycle with an endless stream of controversies, and presided over one of the most contentious one-term presidencies in American history. These essays cover the crucial aspects of Trump's time in office, including his administration's close relationship with conservative media, his war on feminism and the solidification of a conservative women's movement, his response to COVID-19, the border wall, growing tensions with China and NATO allies, white nationalism in an era of Black Lives Matter, and how the high-tech sector flourished.

The Presidency of Donald J. Trump reveals how Trump was not the cause of the political divisions that defined his term in office but rather was a product of long-term trends in Republican politics and American polarization more broadly.

With contributions by Kathleen Belew, Angus Burgin, Geraldo Cadava, Merlin Chowkwanyun, Bathsheba Demuth, Gregory Downs, Jeffrey Engel, Beverly Gage, Nicole Hemmer, Michael Kazin, Daniel C. Kurtzer, James Mann, Mae Ngai, Margaret O'Mara, Jason Scott Smith, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and Leandra Zarnow.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, American History, Presidents, American, Economics

467 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

About the author

Julian E. Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University.

Reviews

[Jackson Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to be voting for the first time in 2024, so I thought I’d learn about the possible candidates for the presidency. This book was an absolutely eye-opening look into how Donald Trump’s presidency was like no other. The papers provided by everyone involved in this book do a fantastic job at explaining how Trump’s presidency was influenced by events decades before, and how it transformed U.S. politics moving forward. Along with recent events regarding the former president, this book gave me a better idea of what a second presidency of his could look like if he’s elected next year.

Speaking of elections, learning about Donald Trump’s presidency helped me be more aware and considerate in how I should choose a candidate. His false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him raises concerns for the future and integrity of the U.S. government and constitution, especially so now that the election is drawing closer. To everyone who reads this, I encourage you to take action and to vote wisely. The U.S. government was founded on the belief that everyone could have a hand in shaping and defending the beliefs of their country, and in a time where division amongst ourselves is increasing, it’s up to us to vote for the candidate who will support those values. So when you look at the candidates hoping to win, regardless of their political party, ask yourself “Do they seem honest in their words and deeds? Do they have a history of upholding the laws of the U.S. government that apply to every American citizen, regardless of their status? Are they willing to put the beliefs and values of the Constitution, and the freedoms of the people, over their own interests?” Don’t vote solely based on party ideology. When the time comes to vote, decide on who will uphold the freedoms and rights everyone is entitled to.

Thank you for reading this. I just have one last request: spread this message to others.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent assessment not only of the turbulent 4 years of Trump’s presidency but of the historical background that led us to each crisis that was faced. Each essay focuses different aspect of the Trump years such as the remaking of the GOP in Trump’s image, the crisis of truth in this new age, embedded racism, Latino support of Trump, feuds with feminism, immigration policies, the joke of infrastructure week, denial of climate change and Covid and many other aspects of the Trump years. Some of the most interesting information is the way that Trump himself voluntarily cooperated with the writing of this book and the details around his communication with Zelizer.

Excellent first historical assessment by some amazing modern historians who don’t now to political ideology in their writing. It’s just the facts.

[Ronald Gruner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historically, it's been difficult to judge a president shortly after his presidency. Both Truman and Eisenhower, for example, were viewed as weak presidents as they left office, but today are viewed as two of the nation's best presidents. The book's editor, Julian E. Zelizer, acknowledges the risk of premature judgments -- but also observes that historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. has commented that contemporary history is more vital than ever because "the 'present' becomes the 'past' more swiftly than ever before."

The book relies on eighteen historians to analyze Donald Trump's presidency. Unfortunately, partisan politics is a running theme throughout many chapters starting with "Reckoning with the Trumpian GOP", through the second to last chapter, "The Path of Most Resistance: How Democrats Battled Trump and Moved Left."

A major weakness of the book is that there is almost no discussion of economic issues although they played a major role in the Trump presidency from the 2017 tax cuts to the huge increase in the national debt to historically-low unemployment and large increases in Black employment and income.

I found the chapter "The 60/40 Problem: Trump, Culpability and COVID-19" the most quantitative and objective. The chapter starts with the question "If you had to apportion culpability, how much would you lay at the feet of Trump and how much at the larger social forces in which he operated?" I feel the chapter's author handled the question fairly and objectively.

So, with caveats, I recommend the book as an early judgment of our 45th President. Donald Trump's presidency was so unprecedented it may not take historians decades to render a final judgment.

[Gregory Gentry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. I enjoyed the essay/collection structure of this, which broke down Trump's presidency by topic rather than by chronology, as most books like this would.

However, some sections were more interesting and informative than others. The essays on impeachment, how Trump moved both the GOP and Democratic party, and how he dismantled the FBIs ability to function were quite detailed with a lot of facts and analysis, while some other sections (China, the Middle East) were more abstract and editorial than informative.

The biggest weakness, however, is that despite being only a about two years old, it's already slightly outdated- but this doesn't make it any less important. I think this will be an interesting, flashpoint piece of historical analysis in the future.

Overall, I learned a lot from this and recommend it for anyone interested in the current state of U.S politics, Trump, or presidents in general. However, you probably won't enjoy this if you're a big Trump fan, but then again, if you're a big Trump fan you're probably not reading this. Or anything.

[Lillian Small · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I believed half of what is in this book, I would have to never vote Republican again. However, the majority of it is just ridiculous. It is eye opening. If you are conservative like I am and can't understand the other side, this book will open up your eyes as to how they view us. It is appalling.

[Elizabeth Stolar · Rating 4 out of 5]

6/7. This was an excellent book. I wasn't much up for a book that just re-hashes all the tremendous wrongdoing and horror of the Trump administration since that still puts my stomach in knots, but this one is a little easier to take, given its scholarly approach and analysis of the societal elements that were present that enabled Trump to take office and to stave off impeachment. It's an important book to put everything in context, even as it reminded me of the true level of danger that the Trump administration represented. I am so very worried we are not finished with it.

[Adam Gutschenritter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seeks to do two things. First, react in an immediate sense to the just ended term of the president. Second, to place the president in context of time and history. The Second part was what I was looking for, not what Trump did, or appeared to be attempting to do, but the historical process of how Trump's nativist, racist, alt right rhetoric came to be acceptable to the American public to begin with. The book did not disappoint. The best chapters, to me, were those that showed how the left moved left in response to Trump and how the right's movement right (Gingrich) lead to Trump. The chapters on his policies I am waiting for more information, but enjoyed that the historians didn't just demonize him, but also sought to highlight accomplishment, however few those major accomplishments were.

[Megan Chrisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read about how awful Trump is or how dysfunctional his administration was, there's no end to books written by journalists, pundits, and policy experts that will give you that. What this book offers that most of the others don't is historical context. In other words, it shows how Trump is not an anomaly or the catalyst of all the major crises of our time; he is a product of decades of Republican strategy, economic dysfunction, and shifting public opinions. It doesn't simply bash Trump for being a crass bully; it shows the players who came before him that made his presidency possible, how it has (and will) impact American politics, and the factors that somehow made him attractive as a candidate. History will have a lot more to say about Trump before it's all over, but this is a great "first draft" of what will be said about our era.

[Max Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will be a challenge, or nearly impossible, for non academics to read. Expertly written, this book gives an incredible history leading up to Trump's first term in office and what took place thereafter.

If you are looking for a book that details the events, policies, and remarks of the Trump administration '16-'20, I would not recommend this book. If you are looking for an analysis of how the Trump administration has thrown race relations back to the 20th century, perpetuated institutional racism, and challenged objective reality, this book is for you.

[Gary Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important volume. Nineteen eminent scholars, mostly historians, each provide a chapter on their respective areas of expertise. For me, there was much reliving of the dark era, but also coherency and some explanations of the chaos. I started the book justifying my reading as duty, with the January 6th hearings now underway, I add that this work provided well-timed helpful background. I saw some early brief reviews by grousers. I have concluded they did not read the book.

[Vicki Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A learned but accessible analysis of Trump 45

This book is an eloquent masterpiece. I had to stop highlighting remarkable arguments because they were too numerous. I would highly recommend this for those who are alarmed by Trump, and would like to solidify and articulate their reasons.

[Ty Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a collection of essays focusing on a different aspect of Trump 45. It's scholarly, and sometimes eloquent. I may re-read it. After sailing through several of Bob Woodward's "fly on the wall" chronicles of Trump's antics, I welcomed a deeper analysis that detailed the dark side of "impactful" and the reasons the impeachment process has become obsolete.

[Karrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was well organized in the ways this presidency affected the different domains of American government. I thought the different author perspectives and insights were useful, especially to recommend to students.

[Karen Root · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad truths

This book is a very informative and objective history of President Trump’s time in office. I liked the format of the book, it made it easy to understand and follow the different issues/concerns that arose during his presidency.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and disturbing

A scholarly and non-partisan examination of the most disturbing period in modern American history. A compelling read and highly recommended.

[B Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last chapter, "Impeachment after Trump" is a thoughtful if dismaying analysis of the impeachment process to restrain presidential abuses of power.

[Charles M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful reading for Poli Sci 408

[Oliver Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book on Trumps first term, obvious fault of doing an historical assessment when it’s still so modern, but that’s not their fault

[Lukas Chabrecek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative book but strongly biased.