The Legacy of the Trump Administration

This book analyzes the legacy of the first Trump administration on a variety of different fronts. Whether it was the extensive use of Twitter, the tendency to express controversial, and often dubious views, or to even slander foreign leaders, Trump was a disruptive president. The presidency of Donald Trump raises questions for political scientists and researchers. How consequential was he? While he garnered much attention both in and out of the White House, how much of his legacy remains? The authors in this book address these questions with essays that cover an array of issues related to his tenure in office, and the years since. The chapters provide a broad analysis of the legacy of the Trump presidency, focusing on all aspects of his presidency and representing multiple perspectives across the partisan and disciplinary divides. Additionally, the contributions in this book aim to (re-)assess the Trump legacy in light of the subsequent efforts by his successor to undo much of the policies embraced by and implemented during the Trump years. The chapters in this book are grouped into three major legacy categories: domestic policy, foreign policy, and rhetoric. Domestically, the contributors examine both the policy (focusing on the auto industry) and how Donald Trump conducted policy (with a focus on executive vacancies, intergovernmental relations, and the use of executive orders). In foreign policy, the contributors look at the broader trends of Trump’s foreign policy as well as a more focused examination of his relationship with NATO. Finally, in the rhetoric section, the contributors look at his use of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Trump's rhetorical strategy. Michael Grossman is a professor of International Affairs and National Security at the University of Mount Union and a senior scholar at Strategy International. His most recent books include National Role Conceptions in a New Millennium (co-edited with Francis Schortgen and Gordon M. Friedrichs) (2022) and Achievements and Legacy of the Obama Presidency (co-edited with Ronald Eric Matthews and Francis Schortgen) (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022). Francis Schortgen is the associate dean of Faculty at the University of Utah (Asia Campus) in Incheon, South Korea, and a senior scholar at Strategy International. Most recently, he co-edited National Role Conceptions in a New Millennium: Defining a Place in a Changing World (2022) and Achievements and Legacy of the Obama Presidency (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022). Ronald Eric Matthews, Jr. is a visiting assistant professor at Thiel College in Greenville. PA. His recent publications include Achievements and Legacy of the Obama Presidency (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022). David B. Cohen is a professor of political science, Director of the Applied Politics Program, and Fellow of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at The University of Akron. In addition to his academic pursuits, Professor Cohen is a frequent media contributor and guest speaker on national and Ohio politics. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Akron Press Club since 2007 and is the former Vice President for Programs.