The United States has a long history of electing presidents with a college degree, and it has become a requirement for anyone seeking the highest office in the land. However, there was once a time when a college degree was not a prerequisite for the presidency. In fact, there was one president who did not have a college degree, and that was Harry S. Truman. Since then, all those who have served as commander in chief had obtained a college degree before entering political office, except for one.
The most recent U.S. president without a college degree was the 45th president, Donald Trump. Trump attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. Trump has often touted his Ivy League education, but it is worth noting that he did not earn a degree from an Ivy League school.
Trump's lack of a college degree did not seem to hurt him during his 2016 presidential campaign. He appealed to working-class voters by emphasizing his plans to create well-paid jobs that do not require a college education. Trump's populist message resonated with many Americans who felt left behind by the global economy and the political establishment.
Even amid all his legal challenges, Donald Trump has a secret weapon in his drive to win the Republican presidential nomination next year: his popularity among the party's base. Six-in-ten Republicans say they feel warmly toward Donald Trump, according to an October survey. This is down modestly since last summer (67%), but still represents a formidable base of support.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' pre-campaign campaign for president has hit the skids — particularly among key blocs of voters he'll need to win the Oval Office. DeSantis, who has not yet announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination, has faced mounting criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida. DeSantis has also been criticized for his controversial stance on gun control.
When President Joe Biden visited Kentucky yesterday to tout a new bridge project, most media attention focused on his embrace of the state's Democratic governor, who is up for reelection next year. However, the visit also highlighted the Biden administration's commitment to infrastructure investment, which is seen as a key driver of economic growth and job creation. Biden is trying to appeal to working-class voters by emphasizing his plans to create well-paid jobs that do not require a college degree.
Coming into the 2022 midterm elections, the Democratic Party wasn't sure what to do with its standard-bearer. With his poor approval rating, President Biden was seen as a liability for the party in many competitive races. However, the recent passage of the infrastructure bill has given Democrats a much-needed win, and many are now hopeful that they can rally around Biden and his agenda to win back control of Congress.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is apparently considering whether he should mount a campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Walker is seen as a rising star in the party, thanks to his conservative credentials and his success in defeating a recall effort in his home state. However, many Republicans are wary of his lack of foreign policy experience, and some are concerned that he may not be able to appeal to a broad swath of voters.
Demographic change continued to chip away at the cornerstone of the Republican electoral coalition in 2022, a new analysis of Census data found. The study found that the white share of the population fell below 60% for the first time in U.S. history, while the Hispanic and Asian populations continued to grow. This trend is likely to have major implications for future elections, as the Republican Party struggles to appeal to an increasingly diverse electorate.
