President Donald Trump has entered what his administration officials describe as "legacy mode," an approach that involves considering how his presidency will be perceived by future generations, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
A senior official told the newspaper that Trump is conscious of avoiding the perceived failures of past presidents he views as weak, such as Jimmy Carter. Trump shared a ranking of presidents on his Truth Social platform that placed himself at the top and listed Carter among "failures."
Ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican, told the Journal that Trump "thinks on an entirely historic scale" and desires to be seen as a "consequential" president whose time in office "mattered."
This focus on historical standing has reportedly led to concerns among Republicans that Trump's "all-about-me" campaign might be "backfiring with voters," potentially harming their chances in the upcoming midterm elections. The Journal noted that Trump has recently made public remarks about inflation and stated that he does not consider Americans' "financial situations" a factor in negotiations concerning the war in Iran, comments that critics suggest could be used by Democrats in campaign advertisements.
A White House spokesperson, Davis Ingle, stated to the Journal that President Trump is "solely focused" on bringing prosperity and peace to the nation. "The only legacy President Trump is concerned with is making America greater than ever before," Ingle said, adding that the president "will undoubtedly go down as the most successful and consequential president in modern American history."