U.S. President Donald Trump posts a tiered ranking of U.S. presidents that places himself in the top category, “The Greatest,” above figures such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In the post, Trump divides 34 presidents into six tiers: “The Greatest,” “Great,” “Near Great,” “Average,” “Below Average,” and “Failures.” He also pairs the chart with commentary referencing a CNN poll highlighted in a video by Harry Enten.
Across outlets, the placement details are largely the same. Washington and Lincoln are listed in “Great,” along with Thomas Jefferson. Trump’s “near great” tier includes Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, John Adams, and James K. Polk. In the “Average” tier, outlets note Bill Clinton among a longer list. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are placed in “Failures,” along with Jimmy Carter.
Both reports also point to the chart’s structure and omissions. The list excludes several presidents, including those who died shortly after taking office, and also omits other well-known modern presidents. One outlet notes the ranking draws heavily from a presidential tier list created decades earlier, which adds context to why the categories and placements resemble earlier lists circulating online.
