There is something deeply suspicious about a man who refuses to live with an animal. I don’t mean allergies or tragic childhood incidents involving a rabid terrier. I mean a cold, calculated absence of fur and unconditional loyalty in the highest office of the land.
Since the office was established in 1789, 45 men have served as President of the United States. Interestingly, only 3 of them did not own pets: Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Donald Trump.
Three men out of forty-five with no pets. That’s not a statistic, that’s a red flag.
Let us examine the qualities of good pet owners and leaders, and imagine why these men chose not to have a pet in the White House.
Qualities of Good Pet Owners
Now, consider the basic traits required to coexist with a creature that owes you nothing:
- Compassion and empathy
- Responsibility and commitment
- Selflessness
- Patience
These are not soft virtues. These are survival skills. The same ones, incidentally, you’d want in a leader steering a volatile republic through storms of recession, war, and human absurdity. Even the Dalai Lama man who has spent decades observing the circus of global leadership, lays it out plainly:
“Leaders should be mindful, selfless, and compassionate… Once you have a genuine sense of concern for others, there’s no room for cheating, bullying, or exploitation; instead you can be honest, truthful, and transparent in your conduct.” Dali Lama (source)
Hard to argue with that. Harder still when you realize the three petless presidents seemed to sprint in the opposite direction. Let us now examine which Presidents did not have pets, and evaluate them as leaders.
Presidents Without Pets:
“If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog” – Harry Truman
In his famous quote, Truman was speaking to both the deceitful nature of politicians and the unconditional love of dogs. That true friendship and loyalty is probably a big reason most Presidents do have a dog in the White House.
Here are the only 3 Presidents without pets:
1. Andrew Jackson:
President Andrew Jackson was a controversial president probably known best for his mistreatment of Native Americans. His Indian Removal Act of 1830 lead to the forced relocation of Native Americans to Oklahoma called the Trail of Tears which killed thousands.
They called him “King Andrew I,” and not as a compliment. The nickname came from his dictatorial actions including frequent use of the presidential veto and willingness to override congress.
He was also known for use of tariffs and the Spoils System which rewarded political supporters with jobs and appointments, and is consistently ranked as the worst President in U.S. history. You get the sense Andrew Jackson wouldn’t have tolerated a dog unless it saluted.
2. James K. Polk:
Polk did not own a dog, but did own slaves. His aggressive expansionist policies and imperialistic behavior were considered cold and ruthless by his critics, including his strong belief in Manifest Destiny. This idea that the U.S. must expand across North America provoked the Mexican-American War in 1846.
His harsh policies towards Native Americans were another reason he was a controversial and polarizing President. Critics, including a young Abraham Lincoln, called his policies unjust and imperialistic. These policies and the expansion of slavery deepend the divide between the North and South which led to the Civil War
3. Donald Trump:
The Trumps are the first modern family (since 1849) without a pet in the White House.
In 2019 he told a crowd, “How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn?… I don’t know. Feels a little phony, phony to me.” source
As if authenticity meant avoiding even the illusion of companionship. His ex-wife, Ivana, recounted in her memoir that, “Donald was not a dog fan,” and did not want her poodle, Chappy, to move in with their family in New York.
However, just because Trump doesn’t like dogs doesn’t make him a bad man. You can cite other reasons for that!
Trump is often criticized for his boundless greed, selfishness, bullying, sexual abuse of minors, criminal activity, infidelity, corruption, and shocking lack of compassion. Trump is consistently ranked by historians as one of the worst Presidents ever.
Although Trump has never owned a pet, he has called immigrants animals, and also believes that they eat cats and dogs.
“Strong focus on material development and accumulating wealth has led us to neglect our basic human need for kindness and care.” – Dalai Lama
Chairman Meow Say
They say you can learn a lot about someone by how they treat their pets. There are only 3 U.S. Presidents who never owned a pet, and all three seem to lack compassion, and empathy. Maybe that’s why they also appear on lists of the worst Presidents, and are more likely to appear in the Epstein files than to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.
So what does it all mean? Maybe nothing. Or maybe everything. Maybe the refusal to care for something smaller, loving, and entirely dependent is a tell; a flashing neon sign that says: proceed with caution.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!
Believe Chairman Meow.