People have been shocked by discovering Donald Trump’s level of education in comparison to former president Barack Obama, and not everyone is of the same opinion.
Obama served for two consecutive terms from 2009 to 2017 – a feat that Trump didn’t manage to pull off, leading to former POTUS Joe Biden to be elected in between Trump’s two terms.
As Trump’s policies have been proving controversial, talk has turned to his academic achievements.
While education isn’t certainly defining of a person’s culture, it can be an indicator of what a good, knowledgeable politician could do for their country.
While Trump’s Apprentice stint and his Home Alone 2 cameo are not his only accolades before becoming president, when it comes to education, some people are claiming his resume pales in comparison to that of Obama.
Since Donald Trump entered the U.S. political scene, questions about his education have persisted, although details about his time at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) remain scarce.
Trump first attended the New York Military Academy before enrolling at Fordham University. Two years later, he transferred to UPenn, where he pursued a four-year business degree at the Wharton School. He graduated in 1968, but his grades have never been made public.
In contrast, Barack Obama gained national attention in the early 1990s when he became the first Black president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review, a journal published by independent law students at Harvard University.
Before his time at Harvard Law, Obama attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, then transferred to Columbia University, where he majored in political science with a focus on international relations and English literature. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law in 1991, placing near the top of his class.
The debate about the two presidents’ academic achievements continues on platforms like Quora. One commenter emphasized, “Barack Obama has a law degree! That takes a lot of work!” while another pointed out, “Just because Obama went through more education doesn’t mean he’s smart.”
Some commenters were clearly frustrated with the ongoing debate: “Damn!!! Is there no end to this ridiculous question? Unlike 47, Obama has a law degree, was president of the law journal in college, etc. Do people really think that constantly asking this will somehow change who he is?”
Another user responded, “Now all the idiots will ‘presume’ Obama is smarter than President Trump just because he spent more time in school. The confusion between intellect and education is alarming, since they’re two very different things, but if pushing this narrative serves an agenda, I guess it’s fine. How dumb.”
Though he’s left the White House, Obama remains a prominent political and cultural figure on the global stage.
Using his English literature background, Obama shares end-of-year lists of his favorite books, music, and movies, promoting both well-known authors and those from underrepresented communities.
