Trump's reputation will age like fine wine

[Always in His Presence]

"Oh good grief, new low, I'm appalled, clutch the pearls"

Do you have a bit of a flair for the dramatic or something?

He's had accomplishments that are viewed as positive. Operation Warp Speed, his involvement in some middle east peace deals like the Abraham Accords, his involvement in getting the First Step Act pushed through, the opioid support act... those aren't "nothing".

Are you literally suggesting that he's never done anything remotely redeeming or good in his entire tenure as president? If your answer is no, then I know not to take you seriously...because even the most terrible presidents have at least a few accomplishments to their name. (With the exceptions of people like William Henry Harrison who contracted Typhoid and died less than 2 months into his tenure before he had time to accomplish anything.)

QFT

Add to that eight peace agreements in 9 months - several of which had not been helped by the last five administrations.

First Trump Administration (2017–2021)

During this term, the Trump administration prioritized hostage diplomacy and secured the release of over 50 Americans held abroad. Notable cases include:

• Otto Warmbier – Released from North Korea in 2017 (tragically died shortly after returning)
• Joshua Holt – Freed from Venezuela in 2018
• Americans held in Egypt, Turkey, and Iran – Including Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey
• Hostages in Yemen and Syria – Released through quiet negotiations

The administration established the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which played a key role in these efforts.

️ Second Trump Administration (2025–Present)

As of October 2025, the current Trump administration has overseen the release of at least 20 hostages, including:

• Americans held by Hamas – Released during a ceasefire agreement brokered in 2025
• Additional cases in Russia and Venezuela – Including Marc Fogel and Ksenia Karelina, though their current status remains under review

Efforts continue through diplomatic channels and intelligence coordination.


Compare that to a whopping four under his predecessor.

 

[Hans Blaster]

I'm inclined to think the same way as the OP, in that the passing time will do that as well.

Many of the past presidents revered to this day would be considered terrible people by modern standards.

I'd like to see the destruction of the reputation and reverence to Woodrow Wilson. He was definitely a terrible person, and not just by our modern standards. Plus his foreign policy was atrocious.

 

[Always in His Presence]

President Trump on Monday signed a major peace deal in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in front of more than 20 world leaders, characterizing the moment as the first step towards wider peace in the Middle East, calling on nations to "put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us."​

​

​

 

[Oompa Loompa]

No. I'm just sick of your "centrist" apologetics for the far right.

Define "far right." Anyone who disagrees with a liberal?

 

[Nithavela]

I'm inclined to think the same way as the OP, in that the passing time will do that as well.

Many of the past presidents revered to this day would be considered terrible people by modern standards.

Okay, if we are looking at that timeframe, then anything is possible I was more thinking about the mid-term, like 10-30 years. You know, something we might actually live to experience.

 

[DaisyDay]

If I went to a pro-2A rally, but said "Hey, I'm cool with gay marriage, I have a nuanced position on abortion, I'm an atheist...but hey, I feel like people should have the right to defend themselves with the most effective tool possible", they'd be cool with me. If I showed up at a left-wing rally and said "I'm a fan of giving people equal marriage rights, I'm a big fan of separation of church and state, but I'm a capitalist, and think you guys need to tone it down on the various 'critical theories' and that borders are still important", I'd get a urine bottle whipped at my head and told that I'm a fascist.

Cool how made up fantasies prove your point. All that does is illustrate your own pov - it says nothing about anyone else.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Cool how made up fantasies prove your point. All that does is illustrate your own pov - it says nothing about anyone else.

But that's what actually happened, in essence.

Democrats ran certain people out of the party and shunned them for not passing the "purity test", and republicans welcomed many of those people in with open arms despite not having a huge amount of overlap.

Ezra Klein (in an interview -- I think the one with Gavin Newsom) referred to it as a "toxic purification process".

(Paraphrased) "A serious problem our tribe has is a toxic purification process, they'll kick someone out for a single point of disagreement, while the republicans will gladly welcome pretty much anyone, even if they have very little ideological overlap and disagree with them on everything else. Take Joe Rogan for instance, a Bernie bro evolutionist who supports gay marriage, enjoys drugs, and believes in climate change. Conventional wisdom dictates that the republicans should've wanted nothing to do with him. Despite him agreeing with us on most of the issues, we kicked him out because he opposed one particular vaccine, they rolled out the red carpet for him because he aligned with them on trans sports issues, and not much else".

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Okay, if we are looking at that timeframe, then anything is possible I was more thinking about the mid-term, like 10-30 years. You know, something we might actually live to experience.

Even in that 10-30 year window...I think it's still feasible.

Reagan was involved in some rather "interesting" policy decisions during his tenure that weren't necessarily popular with a lot of the country at the time, and by the mid 90's, people already were expressing some "nostalgia" towards him, and it's not like there were any uniquely bad presidents between the end of his tenure and the mid-90's that aided in shifting perspectives.

And that was before the era of the "24 hour news cycle", where there are constantly new things for people to be mad about. That turnover time may be even quicker now.

 

[Belk]

Time often smooths rough edges. Political movements tend to turn polarizing leaders into symbols — simplified and idealized.
People will remember “he spoke for ordinary Americans” more than “he tweeted insults at 3 a.m.”
Populism will remain strong globally, Trump will come to represent the origin point of a major political realignment rather than just a single administration.

I don't know. I can see it going the other way as well. I can see the few good things he has accomplished being overshadowed by the damage and chaos he creates. I think it will be determined by how long lasting the negative items prove to be.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

QFT

Add to that eight peace agreements in 9 months - several of which had not been helped by the last five administrations.

First Trump Administration (2017–2021)

During this term, the Trump administration prioritized hostage diplomacy and secured the release of over 50 Americans held abroad. Notable cases include:

• Otto Warmbier – Released from North Korea in 2017 (tragically died shortly after returning)
• Joshua Holt – Freed from Venezuela in 2018
• Americans held in Egypt, Turkey, and Iran – Including Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey
• Hostages in Yemen and Syria – Released through quiet negotiations

The administration established the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which played a key role in these efforts.

️ Second Trump Administration (2025–Present)

As of October 2025, the current Trump administration has overseen the release of at least 20 hostages, including:

• Americans held by Hamas – Released during a ceasefire agreement brokered in 2025
• Additional cases in Russia and Venezuela – Including Marc Fogel and Ksenia Karelina, though their current status remains under review

Efforts continue through diplomatic channels and intelligence coordination.


Compare that to a whopping four under his predecessor.

But what about Brittney Griner? Lol!

 

[Always in His Presence]

Egypt Awards Trump Highest State Honour ‘Collar of the Nile’​

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi will award the Collar of the Nile, Egypt’s highest state honour, to U.S. President Donald Trump for what the Egyptian presidency described as his “significant contributions to promoting peace, resolving conflicts, and his pivotal role in ending the war in Gaza,” the presidency’s spokesperson said today.

The announcement comes as Sharm El-Sheikh prepares to host over 20 heads of state and prime ministers for the Summit for Peace, co-chaired by Al-Sisi and Trump. The Red Sea city has once again become a focal point for international diplomacy, following the Gaza ceasefire that took effect on Friday after four days of intense negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations.

The Collar of the Nile, sometimes referred to as the Order of the Nile, is Egypt’s most prestigious decoration, symbolizing the unity of Upper and Lower Egypt through the life-giving Nile River. Made of gold and adorned with Pharaonic motifs and precious stones, it is traditionally awarded by presidential decree to heads of state and figures whose efforts have offered exceptional service to Egypt or humanity.

 

[Yttrium]

Time often smooths rough edges. Political movements tend to turn polarizing leaders into symbols — simplified and idealized.
People will remember “he spoke for ordinary Americans” more than “he tweeted insults at 3 a.m.”
Populism will remain strong globally, Trump will come to represent the origin point of a major political realignment rather than just a single administration.

Tell that to James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson.

I predict that in 30 years, the large majority of Americans will look back at the Trump years with great embarrassment. This is regardless of whatever accomplishments he might make.

 

[Vambram]

Tell that to James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson.

I predict that in 30 years, the large majority of Americans will look back at the Trump years with great embarrassment. This is regardless of whatever accomplishments he might make.

I predict that in 30 years the large majority of Americans will look back on the Trump years with great admiration.

 

[Hans Blaster]

I predict that in 30 years the large majority of Americans will look back on the Trump years with great admiration.

I can't imagine that it could get that bad.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Tell that to James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson.

I predict that in 30 years, the large majority of Americans will look back at the Trump years with great embarrassment. This is regardless of whatever accomplishments he might make.

"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past," Orwell

 

[eclipsenow]

Time often smooths rough edges. Political movements tend to turn polarizing leaders into symbols — simplified and idealized.

Er, no.

Trump will go down as the demagogue he is - and future laws might even be introduced to require Candidates be tested for NPD.

Remember, a third of adults didn't vote, a third voted for Kamala, and only a tiny percent more voted for Trump.
Just over 33% of a population does NOT signify an overwhelming endorsement or mandate from the people!

If you didn't see the other world leaders go stone faced at Trump's abysmal farce of a press conference after signing the Gaza deal - you're just not looking.

Trump is a horrific pariah on the world stage - even as he whines and demands the Nobel Peace prize! (No other Nobel Laurette has ever done such a self-serving and disgusting thing!)

Want to know how the future will see Trump? How much of the world already sees him?
Don't ask historians. Ask a comedian!
Jim Carey has already summed up the public mood.

 

[eclipsenow]

I predict that in 30 years the large majority of Americans will look back on the Trump years with great admiration.

Ha ha ha.
I "predict" that the world and other 66% of Americans that DIDN'T vote for Trump already see him like this!

 

[Yttrium]

"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past," Orwell

See, that's the thing. I see Trump as a charismatic anomaly. After he's gone, his personal movement is gone. There may be populists who carry some similar ideas, but they'll look back at Trump and cringe too.