Is Donald Trump's "permanent campaign mode" as POTUS part of an ongoing trend?

[All Along The Watchtower]

I believe so. You definitely saw some of this with George W. Bush, especially in his relationship with Karl Rove. But it started before even then - Bill Clinton literally would adjust his policy priorities based on what political opinion pollsters would tell him, most notoriously Dick Morris after 1994 (*shudder*). And the Obama Presidency was obsessed with controlling and projecting a public image of a "transparent White House" even as they doubled down on secrecy, punishing leakers and whistleblowers, and even prosecuting journalists (James Risen, for one).

I don't know when this all started - Nixon? Reagan? Whatever the precise history, it certainly seems to be a largely recent phenomenon, and an extremely negative one. And I suppose President Trump has, consciously or not, recognized that his particular version of "the Bully Pulpit" -  deployed aggressively at supportive rallies - and his intuitive and long-practiced grasp of how to drive the media cycle to his political advantage are his major (and perhaps only) talents in terms of "governance" and in going directly to his base to rally support for his political agenda.

In other words: For Donald Trump, the permanent campaign isn't a substitute for governance, it is governance. There is no distinction.

Would be interested in reading some other posters' thoughts on this topic.

[KingSweden]

It is certainly part of a trend.

[President Johnson]

Well, didn't campaigns in the 1820s start much earlier? 1828 essentially begun just after John Quincy Adams was put into office in early 1825. Trump is just a self promoter who will never stop campaigning, even if he gets reelected.

[Brittain33]

Trump campaigns because he doesn't want to govern. The next President will have a better use for his time.

[Koharu]

I hope not. It feels like as soon as one cycle finishes, were already focused on the next, with two years being the length of the cycle. We don't need it to literally be constant campaigning everywhere. Ick.

[RFKFan68]

Trump campaigns because he doesn't want to govern. The next President will have a better use for his or her time.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Trump campaigns because he doesn't want to govern. The next President will have a better use for his or her time.

[Where's the Epstein Client List?]

IIRC the term "permanent campaign" was coined during Nixon's presidency.

It's not new, but Trump has been unprecedentedly brazen and shameless about it.

[IceSpear]

It'll always exist to some extent, but whoever is president after Trump will probably dial it back a bit.

[Brittain33]

Trump campaigns because he doesn't want to govern. The next President will have a better use for his or her time.

Normally editing a quote without some indication is moderatable but I approve

[ProudModerate2]

Trump campaigns because he doesn't want to govern. The next President will have a better use for his time.

Not only that, but I really do believe that trump does these over-the-top "rallies" because he needs to feel that people "out there" support him and treat him like a god.
It's the severe narcissism in him.

[Yank2133]

No.

Not every future president is going to be a shameless grifter.

[Take your vitamins and say your prayers, Brother!]

Trump campaigns because he doesn't want to govern. The next President will have a better use for his or her time.

Normally editing a quote without some indication is moderatable but I approve

Bill Clinton was pretty much in permanent campaign mode.  George H. W. Bush lost because he wasn't.  The nature of the mass media and social media today makes ongoing campaigning almost a necessity.

[Progressive Pessimist]

No. The next Democratic President will focus on governing. Of course they will take advantage of a campaign opportunity when it presents itself like emphasizing certain policy accomplishments, but it won't be so ham-handed. Trump campaigns because he is a deeply insecure man that needs fanfare to feel good about himself since he sucks at governing.