Of Course Trump Looks Up To Jackson

Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States (1829–1837), was another of our presidents who owned slaves. He has often been cited by former President Donald Trump as an inspiration, with some observers noting similarities between their leadership styles and controversial policies. Both are accused of displaying racist tendencies in public, both wanted a Cabinet of loyalists, each had a Department of War (Trump’s Defense Department was renamed to this in late 2025), and each had accusations of infidelity by Cabinet members in that Department, causing public scandals. Unlike Jackson, who ran his administration like the military commander that he was, Trump lacks military experience.

Jackson was focused on territorial expansion and determined to open Native American lands to white settlers. He championed the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and signed over 70 removal treaties, which led to the forced relocation of several tribes, including the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw. These removals, including the most well-known, the Trail of Tears, led to tens of thousands of deaths and the loss of native languages and cultures. The new land was quickly converted into cotton plantations. Jackson also ignored a Supreme Court ruling (Worcester v. Georgia) that sided with the Cherokee, allowing forced removals to continue.

Jackson enslaved over 160 people, forcing them to build his home and work in his cotton fields, which elevated his social status in the South. There are records of him ordering harsh punishments for enslaved people who tried to escape or disobey. He was a vocal opponent of the abolition movement, supported the “Gag Rule” in Congress to block anti-slavery petitions, and worked to suppress abolitionist literature, especially in the Southern states.

Jackson was inaugurated in 1829 and owned 95 slaves at the time. In 2024, 28 graves were found on his former property, The Hermitage. The Andrew Jackson Foundation used advanced scientific methods to locate this cemetery, which is believed to contain the remains of enslaved people owned by Jackson. The study of this site is still ongoing and documenting the daily lives, family structures, and community of the enslaved people.

In 1859, writer James Parton met Hannah, a woman who had been enslaved by Andrew Jackson and later by his adopted son. She was reportedly favored by Jackson and was present in his bedroom when he died. Multiple reports said his last words were along the lines of “I hope to meet you all in Heaven, both black and white.” Hannah later freed herself after the Civil War, became a midwife, and stayed with her family until her death in 1895. Oral family histories claim that Hannah had a child with Jackson, Charlotte, though this has not been definitively proven. There are also stories that Rachel Jackson, the president’s wife, was furious after rumors spread that a white soldier was frequently seen in the women’s slave quarters. Some interpreted her anger as suspicion of inappropriate relationships between white men and enslaved women (and perhaps her husband), although the exact details remain unclear and are based on speculation and hearsay.

Jackson’s legacy remains controversial, with many accounts documenting his harsh treatment of enslaved people.

Turning to the present day, comparisons have been made between Jackson’s policies and Trump’s approach to governing. Critics have described Trump as a narcissist who dismantled decades of work on affirmative action for women and people of color. Many see his ego as needing constant validation. He is either rude to women or goes out of his way to compliment them on their looks rather than their skills and talents. He issued executive orders targeting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) offices and programs in the federal government and among contractors, calling them "illegal" and "divisive." His administration in the second term focused on rolling back protections against workplace discrimination for federal contractors. Federal workplace firings and reorganizations, most stemming from the newly created "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, impacted agencies with high percentages of women and Black employees, such as HUD, Education, and HHS. Black women, in particular, are reported to be disproportionately affected by these employment changes.

Trumps' second administration has ignored many Federal judges' orders, it is ripe with ethics violations and some of the DOGE firings were found to be illegal.

Over the years, in and out of the office, scandals have followed Trump and many of his Cabinet members. He has often blamed others, and critics say his authoritarian, loyalty-first style of running the government is similar to that of a mafia boss.

More in-depth information about Jackson can be found at the links below.

The Trail of Tears

The Hermitage and cemetery

Hannah

The Hermitage Slave Stories

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