WASHINGTON (AP) – “The buck stops here” is a famous phrase in presidential history, coined by Harry S. Truman. However, President Donald Trump rarely applies it to himself. He often attributes issues, like a weak economy and persistent inflation, to his predecessor, Joe Biden, despite Biden being out of office for over 18 months. Trump once promised a swift economic recovery, yet continues to blame past administrations.
The recent revamp of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool faced significant problems. Trump attributed this to vandalism. However, his appointed prosecutor stated it resulted from poor workmanship. The ongoing unpopular conflict in Iran has kept oil prices high, affecting Trump’s approval ratings and causing global economic disturbances. Trump argues he is addressing failures of previous presidents who missed chances to manage Tehran’s nuclear ambitions effectively.
Modern presidents often deflect blame onto Congress or predecessors. Trump, however, elevates this approach, presenting a strategy where he leads but avoids responsibility when issues arise. Historian Nicole Anslover emphasizes responsibility as a key trait of leadership, yet Trump’s finger-pointing is increasingly scrutinized before midterm elections. This leaves Republican leaders in tough races with little voter reassurance.
The White House insists Trump addresses long-term challenges rather than ignoring them. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers cites policies Republicans can endorse, such as tax cuts, efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, tough stances on immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border, increasing domestic energy production, and a strong stock market.
Deflecting accountability is not new for Trump. Truman displayed a “The Buck Stops Here” sign on his desk, a phrase from the frontier era when poker players passed responsibility to the next dealer. Truman insisted a president must decide without passing decisions onto others. This understanding expanded to mean owning outcomes of tough decisions. Trump previously echoed this sentiment, expressing that business leaders are responsible for all outcomes.
Upon accepting his 2016 presidential nomination, Trump claimed he alone understood and could fix systemic issues. Yet, he frequently suggests solutions and blame lie elsewhere. In 2019, amid a government shutdown, Trump stated, “The buck stops with everybody.” On a day of declaring a national emergency for COVID-19, he denied responsibility for a lack of testing.
Presidents like Truman and Kennedy historically accepted blame for difficult decisions, leading to increased public approval. Ronald Reagan apologized for Iran-Contra involvement, and George W. Bush admitted to errors during his presidency. Barack Obama candidly acknowledged mistakes when a nominee withdrew due to unpaid taxes. Anslover remarks that previous presidents generally took responsibility for their actions.
Recently, Trump noted that public anger targeted congressional Republicans rather than him. He expects the party to maintain congressional control, attributing potential losses to others instead. Trump’s approval on economic issues has declined, with surveys reflecting a significant portion of U.S. adults believing his policies worsened economic conditions. Republican pollster Frank Luntz notes public expectations for presidents to address affordable living.
Trump points to Biden’s term, highlighting past inflation peaks and later declines before rising again due to current events. During a rally, Trump stated, “When we took office, we inherited a total catastrophe,” defending against accusations of high prices. Andrew Bates, a Democratic strategist, emphasized Trump’s fading campaign promise to end inflation immediately.
In dealing with Iran and the Reflecting Pool, Trump has consistently deflected blame. The war in Iran, initially deemed a brief operation, extended beyond expectations. Trump compares its duration to prolonged past conflicts, despite earlier overestimations. On the Reflecting Pool, Trump falsely accused predecessors of mismanagement while citing vandalism as the primary issue, though related charges lack evidence.
Anslover concludes that Trump is not hesitant to challenge presidential norms, resonating with many supporters who prioritize personal beliefs over factual accuracy.
Associated Press writer Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report.