President Donald Trump posted a presidential ranking on Truth Social on August 27, declaring himself “the greatest” U.S. president while placing Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and other historically prominent leaders in a tier below him. The ranking, shared on his social media platform, breaks presidents into five categories: “The Greatest,” “Great,” “Near Great,” “Average,” and “Failures.”
Trump’s “Great” category includes Lincoln, Washington, FDR, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson—figures historians typically rank among the nation’s finest leaders. Theodore Roosevelt and several other presidents landed in his “Near Great” tier. Bill Clinton received an “Average” rating, while Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jimmy Carter, Ulysses S. Grant, and Warren Harding were placed in Trump’s “Failures” category.
Several prominent presidents were notably absent from Trump’s ranking, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, and both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Trump has previously spoken favorably of Kennedy; in July 2026, he called the former president a “great guy” and claimed Kennedy was considered the second-most good-looking U.S. president.
Trump’s self-ranking stands in sharp contrast to how professional historians and political scientists assess presidential performance. In a February 2024 C-SPAN survey of presidential historians, Trump ranked last among all 45 presidents evaluated, scoring 10.92 out of 100. Lincoln topped that survey, followed by Washington in second place. Biden entered the rankings at 14th, ahead of recent Republicans but well above Trump.
According to the 2021 C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey, Lincoln consistently ranks first, Washington second, and FDR third—the same three figures historians have identified as “Great” across multiple decades of surveys. The contrast reflects a longstanding divide: professional assessments by scholars emphasize Lincoln’s preservation of the Union and moral authority, Washington’s role in establishing the presidency itself, and FDR’s leadership during the Depression and World War II. Trump’s approval rating currently stands at 33%, the lowest of his presidency, according to recent polling.
Trump has a history of comparing himself favorably to Lincoln and Washington. In October 2025, he suggested he had surpassed both in presidential capability, stating that Lincoln’s greatness “should have been settled” and questioning whether the 16th president truly deserved his historical standing. At 80 years old, Trump is the oldest president serving a second term, according to White House records.
The ranking drew commentary from observers who noted its unusual construction. Some pointed out that Trump appeared to have updated a historical 1948 presidential ranking, adding contemporary figures like Clinton, Obama, Biden, and himself to an older scholarly framework. Historians have not publicly issued formal responses to Trump’s personal ranking, though the gap between his assessment and professional scholarly consensus remains stark.
Sources
- WION — Trump’s ranking categories, included presidents, and notable absences
- People — Trump’s Truth Social post declaring himself “the greatest” president
- C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey (2024) — Trump ranked last with score of 10.92 out of 100; Lincoln first, Washington second
- C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey (2021) — Lincoln, Washington, and FDR consistently rank as top three presidents
- Yahoo News — Trump’s Truth Social post date (August 27, 2026)
- The Daily Beast — Trump’s previous comparisons to Lincoln and Washington (October 2025)
