With only months left in his first term, President Donald Trump's average approval rating has never risen above 50 percent.
The President's response to the current pandemic facing the United States is the latest continuation of a tenure plagued by missteps, scandals, and an endless stream of petty tweets.
Despite years of examples, there are still some who expect Donald Trump to suddenly rise to the level of decorum and steadfastness his office demands.
A tweet from the Wall Street Journal paraphrasing one of its conservative columnists appeared to express that misguided belief.
The tweet said that Trump could be remembered as a great President if he rose above the "pettiness of our times" in his response to the current pandemic.
Trump will be remembered as a great president if he rises above the pettiness of our times and rallies the U.S. thr… https://t.co/TtOJDZgBsm— WSJ Editorial Page (@WSJ Editorial Page) 1585231466.0
It overlooked the fact that much of the "pettiness of our times" can be traced back to Trump himself.
Even before Trump ascended to the Presidency, he bickered about his penis size on a national debate stage, publicly called for Russia to spy on his 2016 opponent, and made illegal hush payments to an adult performer with whom he had an affair.
That behavior hasn't changed much, if at all, and is only exacerbated by his botched response to the global pandemic.
People found the idea that Trump would be remembered as a great President laughable, and soon began offering up all the equally absurd ways they themselves will be remembered.
And I will he remembered as the best passing quarterback in Super Bowl history and the greatest artist since Raphae… https://t.co/01G0vvdUvv— Tim O'Brien (@Tim O'Brien) 1585239279.0
My father will be remembered as a great monster truck if he grows giant wheels and starts jumping over things. https://t.co/O8RjkQRROc— Joshua Holland 🔥 (@Joshua Holland 🔥) 1585234809.0
I will be remembered as a great scientist if I can get into medical school at age 61 and then rid the world of all… https://t.co/YsuNoOHVOG— Will Bunch 🆘 (@Will Bunch 🆘) 1585234515.0
John Wayne Gacy Will Be Remembered as a Great Birthday Clown if He Rises Above the Whole Murdering Children Thing https://t.co/cPJR6xSDGI— Gary Legum (@Gary Legum) 1585233534.0
The Hindenburg will be remembered as a great dirigible if it can somehow “un-explode” https://t.co/W7PzXWJ0nd— Jason O. Gilbert (@Jason O. Gilbert) 1585240615.0
Daniel Henninger writes in the op-ed:
"Ironically, Mr. Trump's path to presidential greatness may begin by doing something small but desired by virtually all Americans: Separate himself from the pettiness of our politics."
People soon pointed out that "our politics" aren't the source of the pettiness—the pettiness is part and parcel of Trump's personality.
What kind of lead is this? In no way shape or form is DT going to be remembered as a great president. AND he will n… https://t.co/iUNNC5zZz1— NatsMusicTeacher (@NatsMusicTeacher) 1585237379.0
He literally *is* the pettiness of our times. https://t.co/VYsEdilc88— Blue Heron Farm (@Blue Heron Farm) 1585233477.0
I admire Dan's optimism, but pettiness is Trump's bread and butter. https://t.co/pZegDZ5ES4— Jay Caruso (@Jay Caruso) 1585232564.0
It's unclear who will be writing the history of our current times, but it's hard to imagine one in which Donald Trump is remembered as great.
For evidence of Trump's ineptitude from people who saw it firsthand, check out A Very Stable Genius, available here.