Constructing Power Through Language: A Critical Rhetorical Study Of Trump’s 2024 Victory Discourse

Abstract

The analyzed strategic rhetoric elements were combined with ideological discursive elements that were manifested in the election victory speech delivered by President Donald Trump. It was published by Newsweek on Nov 06, 2024 at 7:33 AM EST, 2024. It provides an evidence how language exploits power relations to advance influential authorities as well as create collective identification. Fairclough (1989) CDA approach utilized to conduct an analytical study of the political discourse within three dimensions. The design applied in this research was qualitative. The speech data was collected through purposive sampling. The Trump victory speech is available online source:https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-victory-speech-full-text-1981234. Data analysis shows that repetition techniques are employed in the communication strategy to provoke national identity. The populist nationalism of the speech is achieved by the cultural American overtones as well as national successes. The speech is overflowed with rhetorical and ideological messages that Trump indirectly attacks the traditional leadership and promises to be supported by God to strengthen his leadership and appeals to the cultural heritage. Underground influential properties are at work to create a social impression of being normal in his role and a contributor to nationalist and populist movements. This research has contributed to the political communication knowledge in the sense that it shows the way rhetoric is done as a social process that perpetuates power and forms the perception of politics. The observations give realistic suggestions that will guide the work of the analysts and demonstrate both political player's   possibilities and how citizens could criticize political narratives.