Trump Isn’t Redefining Presidential Rhetoric, He’s Going Old School
Oh, President Trump. The very embodiment of the “I’m rubber and you’re glue” saying. The man once again proved his “unique, modern” presidential rhetoric over the weekend with a couple of tweets that left many on both sides of the aisle in disbelief.Many continue to wonder why? What’s so addictive about this platform? It’s simple really. The social media platform provides the president a direct line to the public so he can share his “nuggets of wisdom.” And that’s my sarcastic air quotes limit for this article.
Many continue to wonder why? What’s so addictive about this platform? It’s simple really. The social media platform provides the president a direct line to the public so he can share his “nuggets of wisdom.” And that’s my sarcastic air quotes limit for this article.
Trump’s rhetoric came full circle in some ways this time. He punctuated the first presidential debate with a comment about blood (related to Megan Kelly). Now he has come back around with yet another comment about blood (related to X). Both women. Both members of the media. And both human beings with the audacity to publicly challenge or question Trump. The comments naturally sparked outrage. High profile democrat and republican figures condemned the comments. Trump’s retweet of a doctored CNN meme drew extra amounts of criticism with people calling it “unpresidential.” Trump’s response? He’s just redefining modern presidential rhetoric. And now I need a cold shower.
The comments naturally sparked outrage. High profile democrat and republican figures condemned the comments. Trump’s retweet of a doctored CNN meme drew extra amounts of criticism with people calling it “unpresidential.” Trump’s response? He’s just redefining modern presidential rhetoric. And now I need a cold shower.The thing is, Trump isn’t redefining anything. His comments were terrible and not classy for a human being, but they weren’t new. In fact, if he wants to really dominate this form of presidential rhetoric, he needs to up his game.
The thing is, Trump isn’t redefining anything. His comments were terrible and not classy for a human being, but they weren’t new. In fact, if he wants to really dominate this form of presidential rhetoric, he needs to up his game.
Controlling A President’s Message
Words and the presidency have a strained relationship. Some presidents, like George W. Bush, had some issues with basic pronunciation. Others, like Bill Clinton, often questioned the very definition of words like “is.” Our current president has had no such issues. Support or hate the guy, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t have a way with words. Trump has been using them in his feud with the mainstream media. His supporters have praised him for taking on their “corruption” and “evilness” (now I’m dipping into my sarcastic quote reserve). However, he didn’t invent this tactic. Nixon went on record (as in he taped himself) saying that the media was the enemy. He perfected the art of slamming the media, even when the attack was warrantless.
Trump has been using them in his feud with the mainstream media. His supporters have praised him for taking on their “corruption” and “evilness” (now I’m dipping into my sarcastic quote reserve). However, he didn’t invent this tactic. Nixon went on record (as in he taped himself) saying that the media was the enemy. He perfected the art of slamming the media, even when the attack was warrantless. That’s not even taking the cake when it comes to the words presidents have used to attack others in the past. Do you think the 2016 election was nasty? That doesn’t set the bar.
That’s not even taking the cake when it comes to the words presidents have used to attack others in the past. Do you think the 2016 election was nasty? That doesn’t set the bar.
Lessons From The Past
“Are you prepared to see your dwellings in flames… female chastity violated… children writhing on the pike?”
That comes from a Federalist Party attack line against Thomas Jefferson in 1800. Since he was running for the 3rd presidency, you can see this country has a long history of nasty political rhetoric. Granted, this wasn’t coming from the president at the time, John Adams. But the attack was aimed right at the Vice President of the US. Yep, the President’s own political party had no issue suggesting
Yep, the President’s own political party had no issue suggesting apocalyptic outcomes would occur if the VP took office. That might give us some indication of what things will be like once Trump takes aim at Pence.
Presidents have muddied the waters of rhetorical decency countless times in the past. John Quincy Adams called Andrew Jackson a dictator. Lyndon Johnson pretty much used his large stature and Little President Johnson to prove his dominance over his competition. Just imagine what these presidents would have done with social media. Oh, the dick pics.
Just imagine what these presidents would have done with social media. Oh, the dick pics. Trump has broken some ground for the consistency and frequency of his comments, but they aren’t new. Presidents use words in ugly ways all the time. If he wants to redefine presidential rhetoric, he’ll need to go in the opposite direction. Maybe say something nice about the media?
Trump has broken some ground for the consistency and frequency of his comments, but they aren’t new. Presidents use words in ugly ways all the time. If he wants to redefine presidential rhetoric, he’ll need to go in the opposite direction. Maybe say something nice about the media?Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! I just made myself happy-sad.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! I just made myself happy-sad.
Originally published at DevAD Magazine.
