Why is Donald Trump both the 45th and 47th president?
WASHINGTON - As Donald Trump starts another term in office, a question arises: Why is he called the 47th president, even though he’s already the 45th? The answer lies in how the U.S. counts presidencies – a system rooted in historical precedent and consistency in official records.
Why does the U.S. count presidencies this way?
The backstory:
The practice of numbering each presidency separately began with Grover Cleveland, who served as both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland’s two terms were separated by Benjamin Harrison’s presidency (1889–1893), leading historians to count Cleveland’s terms as distinct presidencies.
This approach avoids confusion in historical records. Each presidency is tied to a unique electoral mandate and represents a separate term in office, even if served by the same individual. For example, George Washington served two consecutive terms, but they are counted as part of the same presidency because they were uninterrupted.
The numbering system occasionally creates confusion, even for presidents. During his 2009 inaugural address, President Barack Obama mistakenly referred to himself as the "44th American to take the presidential oath." In reality, he was the 43rd individual to do so because Grover Cleveland is counted twice due to his non-consecutive terms. This reflects how the system prioritizes terms over individuals.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as former U.S. President Joe Biden looks on during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th presiden
Who decides the official presidential count?
Big picture view:
The numbering system for U.S. presidents isn’t established by law but is upheld by historical precedent and institutional documentation. The National Archives, the Library of Congress, and presidential historians all adhere to this convention.
The debate over numbering goes back decades. President Harry Truman, for instance, disagreed with counting Cleveland’s non-consecutive terms separately, saying, "If you count the administrations of Grover Cleveland twice... then why don’t you number all the second terms of other presidents?"
Truman preferred to be known as the 32nd president, aligning with the number of individuals who had served before him, rather than the official designation as the 33rd.
This view is even reflected in a plaque at Truman's birthplace in Lamar, Missouri, which identifies him as the 32nd president. This discrepancy underscores the ongoing debate about how presidential terms are counted in U.S. history – even at the highest levels.
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The Source: This story is based on historical references and documentation from the National Archives, the American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara and PresidentsUSA.net, which provides a comprehensive collection of historical photography and information about U.S. presidents and presidential history.