Trump’s Ego Projects and the Problem of Self‑Made Legacy
James Quillian, Economist, Political Analyst, Natural Law
People keep calling these things “ego projects,” but the comparison to earlier presidents shows why they stand out. Washington, Lincoln, and the others never built monuments to themselves. They didn’t name buildings after themselves, and they didn’t stage big personal displays. Whatever honor they received came later, from people who appreciated them after they were gone. That’s how respect usually works.