Every February 6, America celebrates the birthday of President Ronald Reagan — a president whose optimism, eloquence and unwavering love for his country defined an era. We not only loved him, we loved ourselves and who we were as Americans when he was president. He made us patriotic and proud, courageous and optimistic, and gave deep meaning to our values as we shone the torch of freedom all over the world under his leadership, inviting others to follow. And they did.
We miss Reagan and have missed those feelings of pride and optimism in America these past few years. But since January 20, it feels like Morning in America Again and as the sun is rising on the second term of President Donald Trump, there are similar emotions being evoked. Americans are celebrating.
Having worked for both presidents, I know well that Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are two very different men with vastly different leadership styles, yet they share one love for America. And Americans. All Americans.
Reagan and Trump hail from very different worlds, but both wound up in the Oval Office – something that could only happen in America. Reagan was born into poverty in small-town Illinois, working his way up as a radio announcer, Hollywood actor, president of the Screen Actors Guild, and then governor of California, before becoming president. He understood the struggles of ordinary Americans because he had lived them.
Trump, by contrast, was raised in wealth and built his empire through real estate, doing so by working alongside the very people who build, make and fix America — like architects, concrete layers, plumbers, electricians and housekeepers. His work and his wealth did not insulate him from everyday Americans; it immersed him in their world and exposed him to their problems. And he saw that he could fix those problems.
Both men knew the heart and soul of this nation and loved and respected its hardworking, everyday people.
Another key similarity is their priority to communicating directly with the American public. Reagan did it through fireside chats, weekly radio addresses and Oval Office speeches to connect with Americans. His voice, warm and reassuring, instilled confidence and hope, and provided a vision for a better future which he invited us to create together.
Trump, by contrast, has leveraged the tools of today to communicate – Twitter / X, Truth Social, TikTok, impromptu and formal press interactions, inviting cameras and reporters into the Oval Office – all to help him reach millions of Americans instantly and unfiltered. His transparency and accessibility are unprecedented, ensuring Americans always know what he is promising – and what he is delivering.
