History has repeated with Donald Trump’s journey back to the White House, trumpeted by the widely embraced “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) slogan. However, another week of economic turmoil makes me wonder whether “greatness” is the target we should be seeking. Why not “Make America Happy Again”?
Seen constantly for the better part of a decade on the president’s signature red baseball caps — as well as on bumper stickers, other merchandise and even the sides of barns — MAGA is more than just a slogan. It’s a globally recognized brand.
The words are mnemonic and adaptable. Upon being sworn into office in January, Trump promised to stop inflation and “Make America Affordable Again” — a winning political idea if ever there was one. He also pledged that steps would be taken to secure the borders and “Make America Safe Again.” Then, when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was named Health and Human Services secretary, Trump promised to “Make America Healthy Again.”
Most recently, when imposing new tariffs on nations far and wide and calling it “Liberation Day,” the president said the action would “Make America Wealthy Again.” Those watching financial markets collapse undoubtedly thought otherwise, and the president partly (and possibly temporarily) backed down.
Given all this and for other good reasons, maybe this is the time to Make America Happy Again. Let’s add “MAHA” to the mix.
After all, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is what the Founding Fathers claimed as the nation’s national purpose. To be sure, feeling safe, happy and prosperous makes it easier. In some ways, the reverse might also be true, and achieving some degree of happiness might enable people to feel safe, healthy, and like their resources are adequate.
In other words, can a nation be great if its population is unhappy?
And that’s where the rub comes in. In the most recent 2025 World Happiness Report, America dropped to 24th among the 147 nations listed, our lowest ranking ever and far below an 11th-place finish in 2012.
And where were people, by their own reckoning, happiest? Following top-ranked Finland were Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg and Mexico.
Specifically, the ranking is based on responses to this question: “Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?”
A quick glance at the top countries suggests what one would expect: that higher income yields greater happiness, though not systematically. Deeper research indicates that if America entered a golden age, as Trump promised, happiness would increase for most people. However, as two Princeton University researchers have shown, a persistent share of miserable people would not get happier no matter how much their incomes increased. (I think most of us recognize this.)
Of course, some deep problems must be resolved if America is to become happy again. “Death of despair” — drug overdose, alcoholism and suicide — is now the leading cause of death for people in the 1-to-44 age bracket. According to the Trust for America’s Health, “between 2002 and 2022, the combined rate of deaths due to alcohol, drugs and suicide has increased by 142 percent, from 74,003 deaths in 2002 to 207,827 deaths in 2022.” A significant upward acceleration started with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Happiness is an elusive thing, but it’s still a fundamentally worthy goal for a nation to pursue. Trump seems to believe there is too much despair in America and that security, prosperity and health are essential remedies. In these early months of his new administration, the chessmen are just beginning to be arranged on the playing board, so to speak.
Every time the pieces are nearly set up, some key Trump player, or Trump himself, turns the board over. Uncertainty, as measured by the weekly Economic Policy Uncertainty index, is approaching an all-time high, and consumer confidence is headed south.
It remains to be seen whether Trump’s results will Make America Happy Again. Ultimately, it’s up to us to find our own happiness. Some of the president’s proposals could help — as would less economic upheaval.