In a prior essay, I covered a comparison of Thomas Jefferson and Donald Trump on presidential power. The discussion was more theoretical, than practical. In this essay, I compare the two US presidents from the perspective not of how each thought about presidential power, but of how each exercised that power.
His First Inaugural Address (1801) is without question one of the greatest documents Jefferson has left to posterity: to my mind, his best writing. In it, Jefferson lists the “essential principles of our Government” in 13 doctrines. Jefferson sums:
These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety.
In this writing, I limn those principles and see whether Jefferson was consistent with his principles and whether Trump, by his presidential actions, can be considered Jeffersonian.
- equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.
- Several have questioned whether Jefferson thought Blacks were deserving of equal and exact justice. The draft of his Declaration that he submitted to the Congress makes it clear that he did, for he called Blacks “MEN” and says that the axial rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness extended to them.
- For Trump, his deportation of “illegal Venezuelan gangsters” without due process; his importation of the Tate brothers, Andrew and Tristan (and each of whom is suspected of human trafficking, sexual misconduct, and money laundering), to the US; and his removal of US veterans from Federal posts shows a questionable commitment to equal and exact justice.
- peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none;
- Thomas Jefferson aimed in his foreign policy for open trading with all willing nations. “I am in all cases for a liberal conduct towards other nations,” he says to Albert Gallatin (28 Mar. 1803), “believing that the practice of the same friendly feelings and generous dispositions which attach individuals in private life will attach societies on the large scale, which are composed of individuals.” It might be that his policies were more Franco-friendly than Anglo-friendly.
- Trump, in contrast, has shown thus far friendliness with autocratic nations—e.g., Russia and North Korea (e.g., the US vote in the United Nations late in February not to accuse Russia of invading Ukraine)—and unfriendliness with longtime US democratic friends—e.g., Canada, England, France, Germany, and Ukraine (e.g., the heavy tariffs against Canada and Canada’s recent condemnation of Trump’s administration).
- the support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns and the surest bulwarks against antirepublican tendencies;
- Jefferson was throughout his life a staunch advocate of states’ rights. His actions during the embargo of his second term as president were actions apropos of foreign policy and do not count against his view of states’ rights.
- Trump, an unquestioned advocate of a strong Federal government through a heavy-handed presidency, seems committed to anti-states rights.
- the preservation of the General Government in its whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety abroad;
- Jefferson clearly acted consistent with this principle except for his purchase of the Louisiana Territories and certain anti-Constitutional actions concerning his Embargo Act.
- Trump is certainly a vigorous president, but he has little regard for the Constitution and has regard for the Congress and judiciary only insofar as they conform to his political aims.
- a jealous care of the right of election by the people—a mild and safe corrective of abuses which are lopped by the sword of revolution where peaceable remedies are unprovided;
- Election by the people was a given in Jefferson’s day.
- Today there are numerous ways to sway popular opinion today through corporate “donations” or cyber-interference. Russia, for instance, has an influence on the elections of numerous democratic countries, not only those of the US.
- absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism;
- Jefferson was uncompromisingly committed to the decisions of the majority, even if they were misguided (e.g., eradication of slavery)
- Trump seems to care little about the views of the majority of American people on issues about which he feels strongly (e.g., war in Ukraine where the majority of Americans are decidedly anti-Putin and only four percent are pro-Russia).
- a well-disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace and for the first moments of war till regulars may relieve them;
This issue is irrelevant. Jefferson speaks of a militia, not of a standing army. The US spent 820 billion in 2023 on its military.
- the supremacy of the civil over the military authority;
- Jefferson’s actions (e.g., his embargo) strongly show a preference for civility over militarism.
- For Trump, civil and military authorities seem to work hand-in-glove.
- economy in the public expense, that labor may be lightly burthened; and
- the honest payment of our debts and sacred preservation of the public faith;
- Jefferson’s presidency was fiscally very responsible. Despite spending 13 million on the Louisiana Purchase, he still reduced the debt by 26 million after leaving office.
- Trump has openly addressed the issue of Federal debt and expressed interest and has taken actions, through Musk, to reduce the debt. Yet political theorists argue that the debt will increase with tax cuts to the wealthy. It is noteworthy that the US increased each year of Trump’s first term as president: 19.6 trillion to 22.7 trillion.
- encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid;
Jefferson always pushed for the US to be predominantly agrarian; the issue today is moot.
- the diffusion of information and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of the public reason; freedom of the press, and freedom of person under the protection of the habeas corpus, and trial by juries impartially selected;
- Jefferson consistently championed respect for the sacrosanctity of the judiciary and its processes. He championed free presses though his life, though he often was highly critical of biases of the presses
- Trump makes a mockery of judicial authority. He often bids “impeachment” of judges who have ruled against his interests, business or otherwise. Apropos of the presses, he formally removes agents who ask difficult questions. He has banned the Associated Press for refusal to call Gulf of Mexico Gulf of America.
- freedom of religion.
- Jefferson always campaigned for freedom of religion as a needed component of republican government. Christians were warned, prior to Jefferson’s first term, to hide their Bibles, for Jefferson would collect them and burn them. That did not happen. There was instead his celebrated letter to the Danbury Baptists.
- Trump, during his first presidency, issued an order proclaiming, “Religious freedom, America’s first freedom, is a moral and national security imperative.” Yet his MAGA base aligns him with Christians of the conservative sort
In sum, Trump is far removed from the principles of Jeffersonian republicanism.
Enjoy the video below….
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