The scars can be long-lasting in the wake of tragedy, and the ongoing ramifications may exacerbate the initial harm. When the devastation in New York rocked the world on September 11, 2001, Americans looked to the president for leadership. George W. Bush became the lightning rod for both criticism and praise as he formulated the military and political response. But with 20 years' worth of hindsight, Liberty Nation thought to ask the question: Which president would you most trust to answer another 9/11-style terrorist attack?
The response from thousands of readers was overwhelming in its unanimity.
Bad News for Joe Biden
The poll asked readers to choose between Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden to determine which leader had the public’s confidence, should a tragedy such as 9/11 occur again. The hypothetical poser concluded that the current president, Joe Biden, had the faith of a mere 0.58% of respondents.
That Biden is the man overseeing the tumultuous happenings in Afghanistan – a perilous position for any leader – could be sounding alarm bells for those old enough to have been of a contemplative age in 2001. Correspondingly, polling from Civiqs and other sources suggest that the commander-in-chief is in negative territory in 44 out of 50 states. This precipitous drop followed the president's handling of the withdrawal. The logic implies that if he couldn't responsibly handle the Afghanistan pullout during relative peace, how could he manage a response in a time of war?
Good News for Donald Trump
Donald Trump (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
As a polar opposite to Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump scored an enormous 96.4% in the poll. Despite being a damning indictment of the other three leaders, it should perhaps be of little surprise that The Donald rated so highly.
During his four years in the White House, Trump notably did not take the United States into any new conflicts. In fact, for all his bluff and bluster, 45 may go down in history as one of the most competent presidents in terms of displaying strength globally while at the same time pushing peace on the world stage. From the historic outreach to North Korea to his menacing all-caps messages to the Iranian government, he made it clear that any threats against America would be met with "CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE."
The Fourth Estate, and even Joe Biden, condemned this bellicose diplomacy and insisted that Trump's use of social media was a danger to American lives. Thus far, history has proven this position wrong, and maybe people are slowly beginning to realize that projecting strength often means you don't have to utilize it.
Ramifications for the Future
With the uncertainty over what role the Taliban will play on the world stage and whether the nation will once more become an exporter of terrorism, people all over the globe are looking for a leader who can cut the mustard. If the LN poll is indicative of public sentiment, Trump is in the prime position to instill confidence.
Between now and 2024, should the Taliban and other terror networks continue to pose a threat, Americans might discover that they have an eye on who best can manage a clear and present danger despite other misgivings. And Donald Trump may once again find himself sitting behind the Resolute Desk.
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Thank you to all who took part in Liberty Nation's polling.
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Read more from Mark Angelides.
