In a recent survey conducted by University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus and Coastal Carolina University political science professor Justin Vaughn, former President Donald Trump has been labeled as the worst president in the history of the United States. The survey, part of the "Presidential Greatness Project," asked academics to rank all 45 presidents on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 indicating failure and 100 representing greatness. Mr. Trump received a score of just 10.9/100, landing him in last place for the second time in a row. The survey also named him as the "most polarizing" president.

On the other hand, Abraham Lincoln was ranked as the greatest president with an average score of 93.9/100, followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson. The survey results showed significant differences in rankings among Democrat and Republican scholars, with Mr. Trump ranking 41st among Republicans and 45th among Democrats. President Joe Biden was ranked at number 13 by Democrats and 30 by Republicans in the survey.

The survey's authors noted that President Biden's ranking may have been influenced by his perceived role in blocking Mr. Trump's presidency. They mentioned that rankings can change over time, pointing out that former President Barack Obama rose from 16th place in 2015 to 7th place in 2024.

According to the survey's press release, the rankings also shed light on the importance of a president's political affiliation and adherence to political and institutional norms in determining greatness. The authors emphasized that the views of academics can evolve over time, and historical figures like Andrew Jackson have seen fluctuations in their rankings despite their presidency being centuries ago.

The survey results provide valuable insights into how scholars perceive the leadership and legacy of U.S. presidents, highlighting the impact of their actions on shaping presidential rankings over time.