Washington: “The buck stops here” is one of the most famous phrases associated with the US presidency. But President Donald Trump has frequently taken a different approach, often shifting responsibility to his predecessors, Congress or other factors when problems emerge.
Concerns over a weak economy and persistent inflation, for instance, have been attributed by Trump to former President Joe Biden, despite Biden having left office more than 18 months ago. Trump has also blamed vandalism for problems surrounding the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, although the office of a prosecutor appointed by Trump has attributed the damage to poor workmanship.
The increasingly unpopular war in Iran, which has contributed to higher oil prices and economic uncertainty, has likewise been defended by Trump as a necessary response to what he describes as decades of missed opportunities by previous administrations to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
While modern presidents have often sought to shift responsibility to their predecessors or Congress, Trump has taken the practice further, critics argue, effectively adopting a political strategy of taking credit when things go well while distancing himself from responsibility when they do not.
“Taking responsibility being a characteristic of presidential leadership or any kind of leadership is absolutely true,” said Nicole Anslover, a history professor at Florida Atlantic University and author of Harry S. Truman: The Coming of the Cold War.
Trump’s tendency to point fingers has drawn increased attention ahead of the November midterm elections, with Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress. His reluctance to acknowledge problems, critics say, could make it harder for Republican candidates in competitive races to convince voters that their concerns are being addressed.
The White House, however, rejects that characterization. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said Trump is addressing long-standing problems left by previous administrations while delivering policies that Republicans can campaign on, including tax cuts, efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, tighter immigration enforcement, increased domestic energy production and a strong stock market.
A pattern dating back to Trump’s first term
The phrase “The buck stops here” became closely associated with former President Harry S. Truman, who famously kept a sign bearing the words on his desk.
During his farewell address in 1953, Truman said the president must make the decisions and cannot pass responsibility to someone else.
Trump himself once expressed a similar philosophy. In 2013, he said that in business, “Whatever happens, you’re responsible. If it doesn’t happen, you’re responsible.”
After accepting the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, Trump also declared, “Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.”
As president, however, he has frequently suggested that responsibility for problems lies elsewhere. During the lengthy government shutdown in 2019, Trump said, “The buck stops with everybody.” In 2020, as he declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, he said he did not take responsibility for the lack of COVID-19 testing.
Trump’s approach contrasts with several of his predecessors. Truman accepted responsibility for the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan. John F. Kennedy acknowledged responsibility for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, while Ronald Reagan expressed regret over the Iran-Contra scandal.
Former President George W. Bush also publicly acknowledged several mistakes at the end of his presidency, including the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. His successor, Barack Obama, similarly admitted responsibility for mistakes involving his administration’s handling of a health secretary nominee.
“Presidents before Trump really usually take accountability,” Anslover said.
‘We inherited a total catastrophe’
Trump has acknowledged that voters are frustrated but has argued that their anger is directed toward congressional Republicans rather than himself.
He has expressed confidence that Republicans can retain their congressional majorities in November. At the same time, he has indicated that he would not accept responsibility if the party suffers losses—similar to his position ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, when Republicans ultimately lost control of the House.
Trump’s economic standing has also weakened. According to Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polling, his approval rating on the economy fell from 40% in March 2025 to 32% in July.
Meanwhile, Pew Research Center polling found that about six in 10 US adults believe Trump’s economic policies have worsened economic conditions.
“The public certainly expects the president to be concerned about, and focused on, making life more affordable,” Republican pollster Frank Luntz said.
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