The Ordinary Presidency of Donald J. Trump

by Jon Herbert, Trevor McCrisken, Andrew Wroe

The presidency of Donald J. Trump is rather ordinary. Trump himself may be the most unusual, unorthodox and unconventional president the US has ever had. Yet, even with his extraordinary personality and approach to the job, his presidency is proving quite ordinary in its accomplishments and outcomes, both at home and abroad. Like most modern US presidents, the number and scope of Trump’s achievements are rather meager. Despite dramatic claims to a revolution in US politics, Trump simply has not achieved very much. Trump’s few policy achievements are also mostly mainstream Republican ones rather than the radical, anti-establishment, swamp-draining changes promised on the campaign trail. The populist insurgent who ran against Washington has followed a policy agenda largely in tune with conservative Republican traditions. The Ordinary Presidency of Donald J. Trump provides a detailed explanation for the discrepancy between Trump’s extraordinary approach and the relative mediocrity of his achievements. Ironically, it is precisely Trump’s extraordinariness as president that has helped render his presidency ordinary.

252 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2019

Reviews

[Justin Hiltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is a great primer on the Trump presidency, I found much of the chapters repetitive and redundant. Much of the same was stated: besides for chapter 3 (electoral politics) and 8 (foreign policy), which also proved to be the most interesting. Chapter 3 provided a very in depth public behavior/opinion of the American public in comparison to past presidencies (e.g. voting trends and favorability levels). While chapter 8 helped bring to life many of the foreign policy philosophies and theories of the Republican Party.

Another frustration was the lack of citations on the many claims presented by the authors. For a book so in depth and specific on the Trump administration, there should have been a much larger list of references. Not to mention claims made without any citation whatsoever. A quick example; “The elite are doing very well in Trump’s America.” While I agree with this general statement based on other research, this book fails to provide that much needed citation, thereby making the information seem less reliable.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. It only covers up through 2018, and I'm sure the authors would revise some of their arguments in light of subsequent events. But it's extremely well-argued and hones in on the right questions very well.

[Louis Mirzoeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Combatant and reductive to a self-defeating extent