Donald Trump, re-elected to the White House on November 5, 2024, joins Grover Cleveland in history by becoming the second president of the United States to win a second non-consecutive term.
The re-election of Donald Trump to the White House on November 5 shook the American political scene, making the Republican billionaire the second president of the United States to lose a second term after losing his previous one. A spectacular feat in the history of elections, but which is not without precedent.
Before Trump, only one president had achieved this feat: Grover Clevelanda Democrat, who in the late 19th century became the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. First elected in 1884, defeated in 1888, then re-elected in 1892, Cleveland was remembered for his integrity, but also for his spectacular comeback after a defeat. Although their styles and eras are poles apart, Cleveland’s journey resonates with Trump’s. His return, in its own way, embodies a political phenomenon as rare as it is unexpected.
A discreet but significant ascent
Grover Clevelandfrom a modest family, never sought glory, but integrity. After studying law, he stood out as a lawyer, then became the mayor of Buffalo where he fights corruption. This reputation as a reformer opened the doors to the office of governor in New Yorkbefore he launched the race for the presidency in 1884. Faced with James G. Blaine, a Republican tainted by scandals, Cleveland narrowly won, driven by a program of probity and the fight against corruption, a scourge of the times.
First Democrat elected after the Civil WarCleveland embodies the renewal of his party. His first term was characterized by budgetary reforms and strict management of public finances. However, his austere and pragmatic approach, and his refusal to intervene too intrusively in the economy, arouses moderate popularity. His opposition to aid measures for farmers made him unpopular with certain sections of the population, contributing to his defeat in 1888.
The unexpected comeback of 1892
In 1888, Grover Cleveland ran again against Benjamin Harrisonthe republican. Although he had a majority of popular support, he lost because of the electoral system. But his defeat does not mark the end of his career. In 1892, after four years of economic discontent, Cleveland revived. General discontent with tariffs and inflation even pushes some reformist Republicans to support him. He returned to power against a backdrop of economic crisis and social tensions.
Her second term is, however, far from being a period of glory… The crisis of 1893 and the strikes which shook the country forced it to adopt a more authoritarian posture, not hesitating to call on the armed forces to quell the protests. Like Trump a few decades later, Cleveland embodies a return marked by a difficult economic context and growing social tensions. Cleveland then retired from politics in 1897, making way for William McKinley.
A president who leaves an imprint
Although he left the political scene quietly after his last term, his legacy remains, notably through his honest and reformative approach to politics. Grover Cleveland was able to face major economic crises and a society in full changewhile remaining faithful to its principles. His prudent management of public finances and his fight against corruption marked the politics of his time. However, despite his qualities, he was unable to avoid economic and social turbulence, which profoundly affected his second term. His return to the presidency after a defeat demonstrates rare perseverance, allowing him to right a nation in crisis.
More than a century later, the history of Cleveland resonates in a new way with that of Donald Trump. While their styles and ideologies diverge, both have proven that, in politics, resilience and the ability to bounce back after a setback can make history.
