Politico’s Editor-In-Chief Comments On President Trump

It’s not every day you see a mainstream media figure like Politico’s global editor-in-chief John F. Harris openly acknowledge what so many of Donald Trump’s supporters have known for years: Trump isn’t just a political figure—he’s a historical force. In his new column, Harris admits that Trump’s second inauguration has cemented his place as one of the most consequential leaders in American history. Whether you love or hate him, Harris argues, Trump’s impact is undeniable, reshaping American politics and forcing a reckoning with what leadership looks like in the modern era.

Harris doesn’t sugarcoat his assessment. He’s not saying Trump’s presidency is an unqualified success or failure. Instead, he’s making a broader, and frankly harder-to-refute, argument: Trump has dominated the political landscape in ways that few, if any, contemporary leaders can claim. From his hostile takeover of the Republican Party nearly a decade ago to his ability to command attention in every corner of political discourse, Trump’s influence extends far beyond traditional measures of political power.

What’s most striking about Harris’s analysis is his acknowledgment that Trump’s second victory erases any notion that his first win was a fluke. For years, Trump’s opponents—both in politics and the media—have painted him as an anomaly, a one-off reaction to a fractured political system. But as Harris writes, Trump’s ability to not only endure but thrive amid relentless attacks, civil suits, criminal prosecutions, and even felony convictions speaks to his rare resilience and combativeness. “No one needs to admire the achievement to recognize that Trump is possessed by some rare traits of denial, combativeness and resilience,” Harris states. In other words, Trump’s political durability is something his critics ignore at their peril.

Harris doesn’t stop at Trump’s durability, though. He draws comparisons to some of America’s most consequential presidents, noting that Trump, like them, has fundamentally altered the terms of political debate. Issues like trade, relations with China, and corporate power have been reframed through a lens that both parties now contend with, even if reluctantly.

Trump’s willingness to buck the conventional wisdom of Washington’s political class has left a mark, forcing Democrats and Republicans alike to grapple with issues they’d rather avoid. It’s a testament to his ability to perceive and exploit opportunities that others miss—an attribute Harris admits he himself was “slow” to recognize.

Harris also credits Trump as a “communications innovator,” noting how he has mastered technological shifts, particularly social media, to engage directly with millions of Americans. Much like Franklin D. Roosevelt used radio or John F. Kennedy harnessed television, Trump turned platforms like Twitter (now X) into a direct line to his base, bypassing traditional media filters. This, Harris argues, is another hallmark of consequential leadership: the ability to define not just the message but the medium.

Still, Harris doesn’t shy away from Trump’s shortcomings. He points out that while some of America’s most controversial presidents were able to unify the country in the long run, Trump has yet to prove he can bring resolution to the conflicts he thrives on. His first term, and even his path to a second, were defined by division, not unity. Harris suggests that Trump’s greatest challenge in his second term will be to evolve into a unifier, to use his undeniable influence to bring the nation to a new level of understanding. Whether Trump is capable of such a transformation remains to be seen, but Harris’s acknowledgment of this potential is noteworthy in itself.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Harris’s column is his advice to Trump’s opponents. He warns that treating Trump as a political aberration is a losing strategy. “They cannot push Trump to the margins, by treating him as a momentary anomaly or simply denouncing him as lawless and illegitimate,” he writes. Instead, Harris argues, they must engage with the larger historical arguments Trump represents, rallying equally large arguments to counter them. This is a stark departure from the usual dismissive tone many in the media adopt when discussing Trump, and it underscores just how much of an enduring force he has become.

Trump’s presidency, Harris suggests, is a reflection of the era itself: a time of disruption, polarization, and profound change. Whether or not Trump can rise to the challenge of uniting a fractured nation, his impact is already written into the history books. Love him or hate him, he’s reshaped the political landscape, forcing both his supporters and critics to grapple with questions about leadership, resilience, and the direction of the country.