Historian Victor Davis Hanson explores what will happen to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement when Donald Trump leaves office in his new book, The Counterrevolution. As Trump begins his second term at 78 years old, concerns arise about his health and ability to lead the movement for the remaining four years of his presidency, which would make him 82 by the time he is scheduled to leave office. Hanson's book delves into the prospects of Trumpism outlasting its founder, with some questioning whether the movement can survive without Trump at the helm. The book examines several factors, including Trump's future health and energy levels in retirement.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
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Story summary
Donald Trump, who was 78 years old, had just started his second non-consecutive term as President of the United States on January 20, 2025. His movement, known as MAGA (Make America Great Again), which he founded and led, was facing an uncertain future. Historian Victor Davis Hanson wrote in his book that when Trump's presidency ends, some wonder if the movement will continue or fade away. This question is central to understanding the story of the past decade in American politics, which has been dominated by Trump's presence. In 2024, Trump made a remarkable comeback, becoming only the second president in history to win nonconsecutive terms. Hanson's book explores the future of the MAGA movement after Trump leaves office.
Written for “Trump's Potential Successor” on 2026-09-05,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 4273 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-05
When the story of the past decade in American public life is written, it will, for better or worse, center on one man.
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it → write → man
Since descending the golden escalator on June 16, 2015, Donald Trump has been an omnipresent force in American politics—an object of hatred as much as adoration, fear as much as faith.
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Trump → descend → faith
Much of that story will turn on what happened in 2024: Trump’s remarkable political comeback, which made him only the second president in American history to win nonconsecutive terms.
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him → turn → terms
That is the story acclaimed historian Victor Davis Hanson tells in his new book, The Counterrevolution: The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement, out next week.
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Hanson → acclaim → Trump
In the following exclusive excerpt, he takes on the questions now at the heart of the movement the president built: What happens to MAGA when its founder finally relinquishes leadership?
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founder → follow → leadership
Will Trumpism outlast Trump?
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Trumpism → outlast → Trump
As the 78-year-old Donald Trump entered his second and last term as president on January 20, 2025, almost immediately his friends and enemies alike began asking what would happen to his signature Make America Great Again movement on January 20, 2029.
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what → enter → January
After all, the returning but lame-duck Trump had just four years left as president.
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Trump → return → president
He would be 82 years old when he was scheduled to depart the White House.
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he → schedule → House
Which led to a natural question: Will Trumpism outlast Trump?
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Trumpism → lead → Trump
Will the movement that one man created 13 years ago—a movement that has fundamentally transformed the world in the years since—continue without its founder at the helm?
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that → create → helm
A post-Trump MAGA future involves several preliminary considerations.
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future → involve → considerations
No one can predict Trump’s future vigor and energy with certainty.
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one → predict → certainty
Yet even his supporters accept that the whirlwind pace of the start of Trump’s second term is unsustainable for any 80-year-old man, especially one who reportedly scarcely sleeps, eats as he pleases, and wades into public crowds almost daily.
uncertain
he → accept → crowds
