By Timothy D. Naegele[1]
Let's assume he accomplishes everything that he envisions, how will Trump compare with Alexander the Great, who conquered the known world before he was 33? Like later conquerors in Russia, China and yes, the USA, he used brute force to subdue his opponents.[2]
Alexander's influence prevailed for centuries, right up to this day. Cleopatra was named for his sister, and was the last of the Ptolemies—a reign that began with his general, Ptolemy. Also, it is said that Christianity became the dominant religion of the world because of Alexander's spread of the Greek language.
Other conquerors come to mind: Joseph Stalin in Russia; Genghis Khan and Mao Tse-tung in China; the Caesars, Napoleon and yes, Adolf Hitler in Europe. But none had the lasting impact of Alexander. Assuming that he survives physically, and perhaps even has a second four-year term in office, can Trump match these feats?
If he can end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and restore American greatness economically and militarily, and truly "Make America Great Again"—with the Democrats fighting him every inch of the journey[3]—then Trump may be an American President for the ages, like George Washington and FDR.
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© 2025, Timothy D. Naegele
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[1] Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass). See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6 and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/ He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at The Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service). Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams. He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com
[2] Compare https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/alexander-the-great/ ("Alexander the Great") with https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/ulysses-s-grant-an-american-hero/ ("Ulysses S. Grant: An American Hero")
[3] Some of us began as Democrats many years ago, but became Independents when the party veered far to the left. For truly dyed-in-the-wool Democrats, anything and everything that Donald Trump says and does is an anathema to them. Hence, the possibility that he might achieve greatness is pure heresy and diabolical, to their way of thinking. "Trump derangement syndrome" governs.
