Donald Trump has released a new memoir titled “Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America,” which is now available to the public. The memoir comes at a time when the public is reflecting on his illustrious legacy. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury has trumped them all by designing a $1 coin with Trump on both sides. This coin honors the upcoming quarter of this great nation, America’s 250th birthday—a momentous occasion. It has led to raucous debates over what legacy history will afford Trump.
Trump may be tokenizing the coin to further his own legacy. He would like to see his name carved in stone, bronze, pavement, cold hard cash—the longer the lasting legacy the better. Alongside the coin project, Trump is moving forward with plans for a new addition to the White House—a $300 million ballroom named “the President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.” Donald Trump is technically treated as a donor to the project. Here’s the thing…he’s already publicly announced that he has no intention of naming the new ballroom after himself.
The timing of these developments is notable. Trump’s memoir recounts his experiences and perspectives on America, while his proposals for the coin and ballroom reflect his desire to leave a lasting mark on the nation’s history. We must acknowledge, though, that his legacy is far from unambiguous, defined by monumental, tragic events in his presidency.
Trump’s administration saw heightened political tensions, including his controversial decision to deploy military forces into American cities against the wishes of local leaders. He has been influential in one coup attempt already that was based on false electors. This nefarious scheme culminated in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This abhorred attack claimed five lives and injured 174 members of law enforcement.
To respond to the aftermath of these events, Trump gave pardons to over 1,600 people who partook in the Capitol insurgency. He pardoned 77 people involved in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election. When those controversies were unfolding, Trump proudly referred to the people who stormed the Capitol as “patriots.” This announcement deepened the chasm in the public response toward his decision.
Amidst this backdrop, Trump has expressed interest in having the Washington Commanders name their planned $3.7 billion stadium after him, illustrating his ongoing ambition to shape public memory and recognition. Critics argue that his attempts to erase or reshape history through pardons and monuments only serve to highlight the challenges of reconciling his administration’s tumultuous legacy with the ideals of American democracy.