The president of the United States is often considered the most powerful person on earth. The US is a superpower, with a powerful military, nuclear weapons, the world's largest economy, and influence around the world.
Forty-five men have held the office, from George Washington, who took office in 1789, to Joe Biden, who was elected in 2020 and sworn in on January 20, 2021.
On Monday, February 20, the US will celebrate Presidents' Day. The federal holiday falls on the third Monday in February.
Originally, the holiday was Washington's birthday, which was on February 22. Washington's birthday was first celebrated in 1885. In addition, from the perspective of some Americans, the holiday was also a commemoration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. was born on February 12 and served as the 16th president of the United States. In 1971, the holiday became Presidents' Day, honoring all presidents.
Is the US president the most powerful person in the world? Is it true what people say?
Northeastern Global News asked students on the Boston campus.
Anthony Casabianca Jr., 18
A freshman from New York majoring in business administration, Casabianca believes the US president has this global power.
“I feel like the U.S. still has a lot of power and we're such a strong nation,” Casabianca says.
“Despite a lot of internal turmoil, I think internationally the US has the power to influence decisions,” says Casabianca. “I think every president has ups and downs. I strongly believe that even a very small action by a president can create a different and big perception of us in the world.”
Akshay Karaoke, 26
A first-year graduate student from India majoring in engineering management, Karaoke says the US has a lot of influence in international relations.
“The policies a president dictates, or the foreign relations he has, make a president powerful in the world,” he says.
Karaoke adds, “I think the U.S. creates stable situations about the foreign policy of other countries in the world.”
Maurin Stubbs, 22
A fifth-year student from Germany majoring in English and design, Stubbs says the president is powerful, but there is great political division in the country.
“I think sometimes the US can be seen as having the most powerful president in the world, and that's because the US has a lot of political influence, but not always for the right reasons,” says Stubs.
“The United States is trying to act as a united front when there are so many internal divisions and so many things that the public doesn't know about. I think there's a lot of disparity in the U.S. and our political structure kind of exacerbates it.”
Tarun Reddy, 25
A first-year master's student in artificial intelligence from India, Reddy says the power of the office can vary depending on the president.
“The US is generally seen as a very powerful country. But I had mixed reactions. Some say Biden is not as strong as a president like Donald Trump or Barack Obama,” says Reddy.
“I think when the president thinks honestly about the people, people will have a lot of positive impressions of the president.”
I think when the president honestly thinks about the people, people will have a lot of positive impressions of the president.
Tarun Reddy
first year graduate student in artificial intelligence from India
Cassidy Rotigliano, 22
An undergraduate from Massachusetts majoring in English, Rotigliano says the office may have lost some of its power.
“It still feels like the president of the United States is the most powerful person in the world, but I don't know if that's really the case,” Rotigliano says. “There are many things that destroy power and make it less stable.”
Rotiliano says his view may be wrong because “he's lived here forever and I don't really know because I only know other places through the filter of transit from the US.”
“I would call it propaganda, and I've mentioned this idea that this is the most powerful part.”
Saoirse McNally, 23
A fifth-grader from Massachusetts majoring in human services, McNally says the office itself holds great power.
“I think it depends on the context historically speaking, we're set up to have a very strong president, but I don't think the idea that he was then I don't think is necessary to the same degree now.”
“I like a president who does a lot of philanthropic work, social programs, welfare reform, and is also politically and financially stable, which cannot be found in one person in American history.”
Sophia Mantell, 22
A graduate student from Oregon majoring in civil engineering, Mantell says the presidency's so-called power shouldn't be concentrated in the military.
“We have more global influence than we have any right to ask,” says Mantell. “I think 40% of our world military can be an example of how much influence we have in the world. I don't like to equate it necessarily with power.”
“I would love to ask presidents to invest more in public transit, stop highway construction, and reallocate money from a military budget to different places that need it most.”
Kimberly Stochaj, 20
A sophomore from Massachusetts majoring in industrial engineering, Stochaj says presidents shouldn't be celebrities.
“There are definitely pros and cons to all of this,” he says. “And I don't want to think that we should idolize political figures because they are there to do their job and make the country better. He's not there to be everyone's favorite celebrity or anything like that.”
“I think right now everything has become like a bipartisan sports game.”
He added: “I think frankly, politicians are very focused on pleasing their party and winning their party.”
I think, frankly, politicians are too focused on pleasing their party and winning over their party.
Kimberly Stohai
Sophomore from Massachusetts majoring in industrial engineering
Sarah Shiferaw, 21
A fourth-year student from New Jersey majoring in cell and molecular biology, Shiferaw says the U.S. is powerful, but there are other powerful nations.
“I think times are changing. I feel like there are stronger countries coming up, but I guess I have a bit of nationalism in the sense that I like to think that our country is doing better.”
“I think we are the best in military, economic and international humanitarian stuff.”
