President Trump’s second term has delivered numerous measurable wins: an impenetrable border, record-low murder rates, the ending of multiple foreign conflicts, a surging stock market, and a replenished military. However, one of his most profound achievements cannot be measured by numbers alone: the resurrection of the American spirit, which has flowed from his deep, unwavering, and evident belief in American exceptionalism.
To grasp this immeasurable occurrence, one must recall the American political sphere when Trump came down the escalator just over eleven years ago. American spirit and patriotism were in a steep decline thanks to Barack Obama’s worldwide apology tour for all of America’s perceived misdeeds, his criticism of our nation’s founding documents and origins (which he continues to express to this day), and his penchant for race-baiting identity politics that divided a nation previously unified in the years following 9/11.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party failed to offer any inspiring counter-movement. Though they possessed better policies (a low bar considering Obama’s steering of the Democrat Party toward socialism), they failed to effectively counteract the new wave of unabashed anti-Americanism. Instead, they settled for a pathetic excuse for a resistance movement that invoked inspirational references to our forefathers but proved to be empty platitudes, given the lack of action behind them. The Tea Party movement struck a chord with some, but it lacked the powerful force, identity, or figurehead necessary for any movement, team, or nation to be great.
Thankfully, the once formidable left-wing dominance of the culture war has swung back even harder in the proper direction and inspired a new wave of American patriotism, just in time for its 250th birthday. While worth celebrating, it is also important to acknowledge that it was far from easy. The only reason for this new “Golden Age” of America is Donald Trump and his insistence on touting American greatness by putting it in the spotlight as often as possible. His presence at our nation’s biggest sporting events, his tactful use of Washington D.C.’s historic landscape, and the concerted efforts to beautify the capital city have reminded Americans of their inherent greatness—and that the decline we have endured for far too long wasn’t inevitable, but rather a choice made by America’s failed ruling class.
Presidents are largely judged on their policy achievements, but one of the lesser-known of the ten roles of the presidency is “Chief Citizen,” which describes the president as THE representative of all the people. In times of national celebration, he acts as the leader and public voice of the American public. Trump is the undisputed champion among all American presidents in this regard.
American sports have predominantly served as a great unifier and display of American greatness, given that the best leagues of the four major sports in the world are played in America. The unfortunate infusion of liberal virtue signaling made them divisive in recent years, but in this second term Trump has made it a point to change that. By attending numerous big-ticket sporting events as America’s chief representative, he has shown that he views sports as an opportunity to unite. He became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals, the Yankees game in New York on September 11 of last year to mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, both NCAA football and wrestling championships, and countless UFC fights and NASCAR events.
He has made further efforts to put sports at the forefront of American culture by using Washington D.C. as the venue to host events such as the recent UFC Freedom 250 fights on the White House grounds, the upcoming INDYCAR Series race that will take place throughout the capital streets with iconic landmarks serving as the backdrop, and the 2027 NFL Draft that will converge on the National Mall. He has even weighed in on topics previously reserved for average Americans outside the political elites, such as new NFL Kickoff rule, NIL in college sports, and the ensuing labor war over an MLB salary cap.
Beyond the world of sports, President Trump has also taken significant steps to beautify Washington, D.C. by cleaning, rebuilding, and potentially even adding new landmarks to the capital of the greatest nation on earth after it was unconscionably left to decay under previous administrations. While his restoration of the reflecting pool between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial (as well as the vandals who desecrated it) has garnered most of the attention, Trump has also revealed plans to build a new Triumphal Arch (with a prototype on display at the Great American State Fair) on Memorial Circle on the Arlington Bridge, as well as a promenade extending from the back of the Lincoln Memorial up to the Potomac River. He even released a newly designed color scheme and interior remake for the iconic Air Force One that will now appropriately feature the colors of the American flag.
And while less glamorous than the aforementioned projects, recent statistics also showed hundreds of instances of monuments, statues, and memorials being cleaned and regilded, fountains repaired, and multiple new statues installed. All of these efforts, including his work within the White House grounds—such as his renovation of the Rose Garden by replacing grass with paved patio stone to make it more easily maneuverable for women in heels, repaving the West Colonnade walkway connecting the residence to the Oval Office with polished black granite, and his renovation of the East Wing into a state-of-the-art ballroom that will double as a venue to host events of importance and a shield for a military complex underneath it—prove that he is paying attention to everything, including the things the average American takes interest in.
Trump’s policy successes speak for themselves, but his going the extra mile in this area is undeniably unmatched. No president—despite all of his predecessors inherently possessing the power that comes with the office—has ever made his deep love for America, and his belief that it is truly the greatest and most exceptional nation to ever exist, so clear. In fact, long before becoming president, he regularly expressed his disgust, displeasure, and disappointment with Barack Obama’s shortcomings in this area, stating that although he was never a supporter, he believed the one thing Obama had a chance to be good at was being a cheerleader for the nation. The fact that Trump was even thinking about this role when all other voices were focused elsewhere explains why he has always exhibited a natural talent for it while serving as President.
Trump has spoken many times recently about how, during his first term, he almost lamented that, given his intent and expectation to serve a second consecutive term from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025, he wouldn’t be able to preside over the America 250 celebrations (2026), the FIFA World Cup (2026), or the 2028 Olympics—all set to take place in the U.S. under whoever would have succeeded him as the 46th president. There are very few silver linings from the awful Biden reign America endured, but if there is one, it is that the most unapologetically pro-America president in American history gets to preside over arguably the most celebratory term in our nation’s storied history, featuring the most unprecedented displays of American greatness ever.
Matt Kane served in President Trump’s second administration as Assistant Press Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. Follow on X:@MattKaneUSA, Truth Social: @MattKane