People have been surprised after finding out the difference between Donald Trump’s and Barack Obama’s education levels, and opinions are all over the place.
Obama was president for two full terms, from 2009 to 2017. Trump didn’t manage to get reelected right after his first term Joe Biden won instead but now Trump is serving a second, non-consecutive term. As Trump’s recent actions and policies continue to cause debate, people have started looking more closely at his educational background.
Of course, a person’s schooling doesn’t tell you everything about their intelligence or leadership skills, but it can give some clues about what they might bring to the table as a leader. While Trump had fame from The Apprentice and even made a cameo in Home Alone 2, some people feel that when it comes to education, he doesn’t stack up to Obama.
Trump’s education has been a talking point since he first entered politics. He first attended the New York Military Academy, then went to Fordham University for two years before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). At UPenn’s Wharton School, he completed a business degree and graduated in 1968. However, details like his grades have never been publicly released.
Obama, on the other hand, first studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles before transferring to Columbia University, where he majored in political science, focusing on international relations and English literature. Later, he went to Harvard Law School, where he became the first Black president of the *Harvard Law Review*, a major achievement. He graduated magna cum laude in 1991, meaning he was near the very top of his class.
On platforms like Quora, people are still debating who has the stronger academic background. Some point out that earning a law degree from Harvard is a major accomplishment, while others argue that more education doesn’t automatically mean someone is smarter.
One commenter said, “Barack Obama has a law degree! That takes a lot of work!” Another person said that even though Obama spent more years in school, that doesn’t necessarily make him smarter. Others are getting tired of the constant comparisons, saying things like, “Is there no end to this question? Obama has a law degree and was president of the law review. What more do you want?”
Another commenter warned that people often confuse education with intelligence, and just because someone went to school longer doesn’t necessarily mean they’re smarter.
Even though he’s no longer president, Obama still plays a major role on the global political and cultural stage. Using his background in English literature, he releases end-of-year lists recommending books, music, and movies, often highlighting both famous artists and new voices from underrepresented communities.
