The Perils of the Trump Historical Comparison

Is Trump like Nixon? Clinton? Or maybe Andrew Jackson? And does it matter?

President Donald Trump, John Kelly, and Steve Bannon at a White House meeting. Source: CNBC

Ever since the beginning of Donald Trump’s campaign, historians and pundits have jumped at the chance to contextualize him with historical comparisons. To some of his supporters, he is the second coming of Ronald Reagan or Andrew Jackson, a trusted patriarch who also speaks to the common people. His critics have…