Don’t look now. Fine, you can look now because the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey polled 154 "experts" to rate and rank all American presidents on their overall greatness. Abraham Lincoln topped the list with an average rating of 95.03 out of 100, followed closely by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and George Washington. Donald Trump ranked lowest at just 10.92.

The survey results showed remarkable consistency with previous expert polls in 2015 and 2018. Lincoln has consistently ranked number one, while Trump has been firmly at the bottom. Barack Obama and Ulysses S. Grant have moved up the most over time, gaining nine and four spots, respectively, since 2015, which indicates increasing positive assessments from experts. Conversely, Andrew Jackson dropped 12 places as perceptions of his presidency have soured. 

The rankings also exposed partisan and ideological divides. Unsurprisingly, conservatives ranked Trump higher, while liberals ranked him lowest of all presidents. Large gaps emerged in assessments of Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. However, experts displayed bipartisan agreement in evaluating Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton.

Inexplicably, Joe Biden came in at number 14.

When asked which modern president should be added to Mount Rushmore, Franklin Roosevelt dominated, with over 65 percent selecting him. Barack Obama came in a distant second at just 11 percent. Roosevelt seems firmly cemented in the top presidential echelon, while Obama's legacy remains debated. Honorable mention, as for Mt. Rushmore status, went to John F. Kennedy. 

The survey went beyond simply rating presidents to evaluating deeper dynamics driving public assessments. Donald Trump was rated the most polarizing president by far based on the number of mentions and ranking order. Andrew Jackson and Barack Obama rounded out the top three, illuminating how presidents who sought major change often spark enduring polarization. 

On the other end of the spectrum, George Washington was rated the least polarizing, with Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower also seen as uniting figures. The results highlight how presidents perceived as consensus builders tend to avoid stirring major backlash. 

The poll also found Jimmy Carter to be the most underrated by experts, followed by Ulysses Grant and George H.W. Bush. John F. Kennedy topped the overrated list, with Ronald Reagan close behind. These results reveal the wide gulfs between expert assessment and popular portrayals of certain presidents' legacies.

Finally, William Henry Harrison was rated the most difficult to assess, given his one month in office. Short-tenured presidents like James Garfield and Millard Fillmore also posed challenges. The rankings suggest an inverse relationship between the amount of time in office and the complication of evaluation.

In total, the 2024 Presidential Greatness Survey synthesizes current academic consensus while still allowing for partisan and methodological disagreements. As expert assessments evolve, particularly of recent presidents, the value of periodic surveys to capture changing perceptions over time is clear. The project illuminates both consistencies and shifts in how we view those entrusted with the nation's highest office.

And since I know you’re wondering who makes my list of the top 5 greatest presidents of all time, here it is in order: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Calvin Coolidge, and Ronald Reagan. Honorable mentions go to James Madison, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy.