I finished reading Jon Meacham’s biography of Jackson, “American Lion,” a few weeks ago. It was written in 2008–before Trump–and it shows; the author appears to approve of some of Jackson’s ideas about the presidency that would also apply to Trump. You have to believe the book would have been different if it had been written in 2021.
For all of the similarities between the two presidents, it is still the differences that really matter. These are:
- Jackson tried to keep the country united; Trump divides it further every day in his own interest.
- Jackson was not an amoral narcissist.
- The memorable event involving a mob in Jackson’s time was at the White House during his inauguration. With Trump, it was a bit different.
- Jackson, of course, was a war hero; Trump is Cadet Bone Spurs.
- Jackson genuinely came from nothing; Trump was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but is angry that it wasn’t platinum.
- Jackson, for better or worse, was an actual economic populist; Trump just plays one on TV while he’s cutting taxes for the wealthy.