America has been witnessing the worst speeches in presidential history | Ted Widmer

President Trump’s recent midterm rally speeches rank as the worst ever delivered by a U.S. president, according to historian Ted Widmer, who cites the past two months of appearances ahead of the election. Widmer acknowledges a long history of poor presidential oratory, including George Washington’s halting first inaugural address, but argues Trump’s rallies represent a new low. The assessment comes as voters await election results, with the article framing the speeches as a historic break from prior standards of presidential communication. What to watch next is the election outcome and whether the rhetorical style carries into post-election governance.