Rhetorical Devices in the Donald Trump Inauguration Speech

Political speeches are full of literary / rhetorical devices and Donald Trump’s speech was no exception. Although my analysis primarily reviews specific devices like anaphora, it also considers pragmatics with an emphasis on politeness. Enjoy!

1. Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you.

· Traditional greeting followed by giving thanks, formal manner.

2. We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.

· “We, the citizens of America,” reflect historical “We, the people” reference.

· “are now joined”; implicature of “now” is we were previously not joined.

· “effort to rebuild our country”; implicature of “rebuild” is that the current state is broken, requiring a rebuild.

· “restore our promise”; implicature of “restore” is that the rebuilding attempt to take it back to the peak of a prior historical state.

· “for all of our people”; implicature of “all” is that prior efforts were less than “all” (most, some, …); “our” is a reference to citizens of the United States.

3. Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.

· “Together” acts as an adverbial phrase denoting ‘union’ of the parties indexed in line 2.

· First use “will” switches the sentence to future tense.

· First reference of “the world”; scope grown on affect.

4. We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.

· The intentional use of “we will” over the more common contracted form “we’ll” puts emphasis on the auxiliary verb “will” to indicate future action.

· Leads with “We will”, which used in prior sentence and repeated 3 times. The use of anaphora is for style. Rewrite is “We will face challenges and confront hardships but we’ll get the job done.”

· The coordinator “but” acts as an expletive used to begin the 3rd sentence, enabling the final sentence to act as a subordinating clause on the prior 3 sentences.

· “get the job done” is common multi-word expression, a folksy colloquialism.

5. Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.

· “Every four years” is an adverbial phrase. In the lead position, it places emphasis on time/events.

· “we gather on these steps”; “we” now indexes the people on the steps (not the citizens of the US); use of determiner “these” (over “the”) put emphasis on the importance of the steps.

· “carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power”; the desire for order and peace are universally implicit; the explicit call-out for it indicates potential doubt.

· “and we are grateful to President Obama…”; the politeness statement (issue of being grateful) didn’t make a standalone sentence. It’s been moved to a subordinating clause for a reduced effect.

· “They have been magnificent”; “have been” feels like past tense, as in, ‘they were magnificent, but are not currently magnificent’. However, “have been” is used to state current tense.

6. Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another — but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.

· Emphasis on “today” (Today’s ceremony, Because Today)

· “Washington D.C.” is introduced as a reference to the ‘Prior Administration’.

· “we are transferring power … to… the American People.”; is a figurative transfer.

· “giving it back” indicates that previously, the American People had the power.

7. For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.

· “For too long” — adverbial phrase in lead position puts emphasis on time.

· “nation’s Capital” refers to [Prior Administration, Washington D.C.]

· “while” acts as a subordinating conjunction; X received benefit “while” Z received detriment. The statement insults X.

8. Washington flourished — but the people did not share in its wealth.

· “Washington” refers to [Prior Administration, Washington D.C., nation’s Capital]

· The word “flourished” (as well as “prospered” and “protected”) are intentionally put in the past tense. The implicature is that they will not occur again. The statement insults X.

9. Politicians prospered — but the jobs left, and the factories closed.

· The context is the US Federal Government.

· “Politicians” refer to [Prior Administration, Washington D.C., nation’s Capital, Washington]

· “Politicians prospered” indicates the fixed wage Federal employees benefited in some manner, greater than other parties. This could imply wrong-doing.

· “jobs left” is a euphemism for “fired” or “terminated”. This is an act of politeness.

10. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.

· The “establishment” refers to [Prior Administration, Washington D.C., nation’s Capital, Washington, politicians]; the constant rotation of reference indicates intentional abstraction, perhaps ‘antonomasia for insult’.

· Use of X “but” Y in lines 8, 9 and 10 indicate antithesis and clausal epistrophe within the sentences. Symploce and bdelygmia (repeated insult) exist across the sentences.

11. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.

· “Their” refers to refers to [Prior Administration, Washington D.C., nation’s Capital, Washington, politicians, establishment]

· “Their victories have not been your victories;” use of epanalepsis to highlight conflict between “their” and “your”. Same in second sentence.

· Use of X “celebrated” and Y “struggled” insults X.

12. That all changes — starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.

· “That” refers to the propositions identified in sentences in 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

· “starting right here, and right now” is idiomatic epistrophe used for effect.

· “this moment is your moment” another epanalepsis for effect.

13. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America.

· “It” refers to the moment.

· Speaker is ‘giving’ to the audience, if audience likes the ‘gift’ it’s an act of politeness; if not, it’s an act of impoliteness.

14. This is your day. This is your celebration.

· “this” is an existential, but refers again to ‘the moment’.

· Repeated act of ‘giving’; same effect as line 13.

15. And this, the United States of America, is your country.

· “this” is reindexed by an appositive “United States of America”, which has a copula relationship to “your country”.

16. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.

· The author identifies as an expert by stating “what truly matters”.

17. January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.

· “will be remembered as the day” draws an allusion to President Roosevelt’s December 8th, 1941 speech.

· Use of “again” implies a prior state equal to the desired state.

18. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

· Use of anaphora for effect.

· The term ‘forgotten man/men’ is likely an allusion; see historical references by William Graham Sumner, Franklin Roosevelt, and later analysis (e.g., Amity Shales).

19. Everyone is listening to you now.

· Hyperbole and cliché for effect.

20. You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before.

· “came” implies a physical transfer of body; hence, “tens of millions” is hyperbole.

· “the world has never seen before” is idiomatic cliché

· “you came” + “to become part of a historic movement” implies the author believes that’s why people attended; if false, it acts as an insult.

· “movement” references the propositions identified in sentences in 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11

21. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.

· This seems to be the summary statement for the “movement”.

22. Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves.

· Speaker identifies universal truths as a reference point.

23. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.

· “reasonable demands” and “righteous public” are implied compliments and acts of politeness to the general audience.

24. But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.

· Speaker begins to use vivid imagery to draw on emotions (“children trapped”, “rusted out factories”, “tombstones”, …)

· Use of “young and beautiful” is a compliment and act of politeness.

25. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.

· Use of “carnage” denotes the slaughter of a great number of people, butchery or a massacre; hence, it’s hyperbole for effect.

· “stops right here and stops right now” is an idiomatic cliché.

26. We are one nation — and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.

· “We are one nation” is a potential allusion to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

· “Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success.” — another epanalepsis for effect.

· “We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.” — use of zeugma for effect (share: heart, home, destiny); direct objects are figurative symbols.

27. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.

· Reference to allegiance could reinforce index to line 26’s “pledge”

28. For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;

· For the first time, the speaker uses “we” (self-inclusive pronoun) to indicate a negative activity.

· Going forward, the audience determines if they believe he intends to include himself as part of the problem, or if he’s indicating that by “we” he means “they”; if the latter, the follow-on statements are insults to the prior administrations and those listeners who maintain group identity with those administrations.

29. Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military;

· The lack of subject implies the carry-over of “we” as the subject. See 28.

30. We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own;

· Speaker continues to include himself as a participant in negative acts. See 28.

31. And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.

· Additional negative comments; see 28.

32. We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.

· Additional negative comments; see 28.

33. One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.

· Amplified negativity with nullified empathy “not even a thought about … millions of Americans”.

· Additional negative comments; see 28.

34. The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.

· “ripped from their homes” is figurative hyperbole for effect.

· Additional negative comments; see 28.

35. But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future.

· Explicit statements indicating a change in tense.

36. We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.

· “in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.” — use of epistrophe for effect.

37. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.

38. From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.

· Lines 37 & 38 are anaphora for effect. Emphasis is placed on “America”

39. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.

· “on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs” use of epistrophe for effect.

40. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.

· Speaker suggest “protection” which, in the context, seems to be a euphemism for “protectionism”.

41. I will fight for you with every breath in my body — and I will never, ever let you down.

· Speaker switches to first person and future tense; use of figurative hyperbole and anaphora for effect.

42. America will start winning again, winning like never before.

· “start winning again” implies prior administration was losing (an insult)

· “winning like never before” — forecasted hyperbole.

· “… start winning, winning like” is anadiplosis for effect.

43. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.

· “bring back” implies [jobs, borders, wealth and dreams] were gone. If so, this acts as an insult.

· Use of anaphora for effect.

44. We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.

· “roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, “ — use of polysyndeton for effect.

· Predeterminer “all” used for effect.

45. We will get our people off of welfare and back to work — rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.

· Use of “off of” implies that a statistically large number of people are currently “on” welfare, relative to norms.

· “With American hands and American labor” implies non-American participants (such as Mexico and China) are not welcome to participate.

46. We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.

· Assumption is “we” refers to the new administration. Again, inclusive groups imply exclusion of other groups.

47. We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world — but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.

· Speaker implies a win/lose relationship, rather than win/win. The request is for each nation to put their interests above the other nations.

48. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.

· N/A

49. We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones — and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.

· Speaker identifies an enemy: Radical Islamic Terrorism; and then makes a promise to “eradicate completely” — this seems to be forecasted hyperbole.

50. At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.

· Speaker restates commitment to ‘America before other nations’ policy.

51. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.

· Use of metaphor for effect.

52. The Bible tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”

· Use of allusion (religious text) for emphasis.

53. We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.

· N/A

54. When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.

· Use of casual colloquialism “totally unstoppable” for group identity (young generation).

55. There should be no fear — we are protected, and we will always be protected.

· This is the first use of the modal verb “should”; the speaker has switched to advising the audience.

· Use of “we are protected” indicates present tense; this could be a compliment to the current administration and an act of politeness. Speaker also state future protection “will be”.

56. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.

· The tense switches back to future and compliments are given to [military, law enforcement, God]

57. Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.

· “Finally,” indicates we’ve reached a climax sentence.

· Use of comparative “bigger” means a state greater than previous; this could be an insult to the prior administration.

58. In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.

· Use of a figurative metaphor for effect.

59. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action — constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.

· Use of “no longer” indicates that prior parties were “all talk and no action — constantly complaining”; this is a direct insult.

60. The time for empty talk is over.

61. Now arrives the hour of action.

· Unusual grammatical style is used for effect. 60: subject=”The time for empty talk”, ditransitive copula used in intransitive mode with a modifying adjective that follows the root verb. 61: consider the Aspects ‘active’ and ‘passive’: rewrite is, “The time for action is now.”, or “Now is the time for action.”

62. Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America.

· This is the speakers first use of imperatives (in negation) “Do not let”.

· “match the heart and fight and spirit of America”

63. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.

64. We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.

· “birth of a new millennium” is personification for effect.

· “unlock the mysteries” is a multi-word idiom for “solve”.

65. A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.

· Use of the word “new” implies that “national pride” didn’t already exist, or in the same form.

· “stir our souls, lift our sights and heal our divisions” is metaphoric imagery for effect.

66. It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.

· “old wisdom” and “red blood” are neoplasms for effect (wisdom is never new, and human blood is always red)

· “whether we are black or brown or white” is a polysyndeton for effect.

· “we all salute the same great American flag” is a figurative reference used for effect.

67. And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.

· “urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska” is a synecdoche for the parts of America. It is used for effect.

· “they fill their heart with the same dreams” is figurative action.

· “Creator” can be used as a euphemism for “God” (for atheists & agnostics)

68. So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words:

· “So” is phatic noise used to draw attention.

· “near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean” is a synecdoche for the parts of America. It is used for effect.

· “hear these words” is asterismos for effect. It complements the phatic utterance.

69. You will never be ignored again.

· Use of forecasted hyperbole as a promise.

70. Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.

· “Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams” is anaphora for effect.

· “And your courage and goodness and love” is polysyndeton for effect.

71. Together, We Will Make America Strong Again.

72. We Will Make America Wealthy Again.

73. We Will Make America Proud Again.

74. We Will Make America Safe Again.

· Use of Symploce (combined anaphora and epistrophe) for effect.

· Repeated use of “Again” indicates that specific attributes were lost [strong, wealthy, proud, safe]; this insults the people responsible for ‘losing them’.

75. And, Yes, Together, We Will Make America Great Again. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.

· “And, Yes,” is rhetorical answer to a rhetorical question.

· “We Will Make America Great Again” is an allusion to speaker’s own campaign slogan.

· Use of a traditional formal degreeting.

In summary, President Trump’s speech was FULL of great literary devices. I believe that this style plays well with older generations such as those who fondly recollect speeches from Roosevelt or Churchill. In addition, I think they cater to rural areas where colloquialisms and ‘style over substance’ often win the argument.

However, the speech would not be well received by the following audiences: 1. Those who prefer facts or logical reasoning (this typically includes STEM enthusiasts: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), 2. Those who prefer ‘substance over style’ (often the younger generations), 3. People who aligned with the previous administration. President Trump seems to go out of his way to attack and insult the current state. Individuals who maintain ‘group identity’ with the political parties or ideal will be attached to the attack by association.

Hopefully, the speech will provide linguists, writers, and all interested parties insight into the communication devices of President Trump!