Trump's speech style: performing the exceptional everyman
A businessman and television personality long before he turned politician, US President Donald Trump has shattered the mould of how White House leaders typically act -- and talk.
On stage he often appears to be shooting from the hip, with his meandering digressions, catchphrases, blunt insults and constant use of superlatives.
But what stands out from a closer look at Trump's distinctive rhetoric style?
As he reaches the first 100 days of his second term, here is a roundup of findings from an AFP analysis of 433 hours of Trump's public speaking.
These are compared with millions of sentences of conversations and speeches from average Americans transcribed by the collaborative project American National Corpus.
- Winners and losers -
Competition-related rhetoric dominates, with the world frequently divided between "winners" and "losers", "us" and "them", those who are "very interesting" and those who are "pathetic".
The data shows that competition-related words are 5.4 times more present than in the speech of regular Americans.
Trump also uses superlative adjectives twice as much as average, and superlative adverbs 3.6 times more than average.
Descriptions of others are rarely neutral in Trump speak. They are rather depicted as enemies or insulted as animals or pollutants, often through schoolyard-type nicknames like "Sleepy Joe" Biden or "Crazy Kamala" Harris.
The demonizing simplifies issues -- or oversimplifies -- on purpose.
"Mapping politics onto warlike competition results in a problematic reduction in complexity," wrote linguist Anthony Koth from the Rice University, in his contribution to the 2022 book "Linguistic Inquiries into Donald Trump's Language."
Rules, referees, and opponents become "one and the same: the enemy or opposing force whose objective is to deny Trump".
Linguist Ulrike Schneider from the University of Mainz pointed to Trump's recent rhetoric on global tariffs.
Politics and the economy are a zero-sum game, "where one's perceived losses come about because of another's perceived illegitimate gain," he told AFP.
- Trump as exceptional -
Trump seeks to appeal to the common American while simultaneously emphasizing a vision of himself as an exceptional figure.
"I think that's what (his) language does, he performs being ordinary and he performs being extraordinary: strong and clear in his vision," said Schneider.
"You need to be perceived as the guy next door. But at the same time you also need to prove that you're this kind of messiah, this leader figure", said Schneider.
Trump uses a superlative every 19 adjectives -- twice as often as the average American (every 41 adjectives).
Among his favourites is "greatest." He insists he is there to beat records, his pledges and actions are "never seen", "never happened", "like never", preferably "in the history of our country".
The data finds that Trump says "in the history of our country" on average every five minutes.
- Businessman banter -
Before the White House Trump was a property developer and TV star on "The Apprentice," where he played a successful tycoon. He continues to talk in the same style, with repetitive, short sentences -- two words shorter than the standard -- and relentlessly self-promoting.
One of his most unusual traits is to refer to himself in the third person: Trump says the word "Trump" every six minutes.
For example, take the president's performance at an Oval Office meeting this April where he signed a decree ending protections for a large swath of ocean. At the ceremony, he boasted that he had previously ended the protections during his first term, only for his successor, Biden, to return the area to a no-fishing zone.
"I did it last time. And they undid it. That's why we have to stay president for a long time," Trump said, referring to himself as "we."
eab-rap-vr/sms/dw
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Layoff notices delivered to hundreds of Voice of America employees
Layoff notices were sent Friday to 639 employees of Voice of America and the U.S. agency that oversees it, effectively shutting down the outlet that has provided news to countries around the world since World War II. They included employees at VOA's Persian-language service who were suddenly called off administrative leave last week to broadcast reports to Iran following Israel's attack. Three journalists working for the Persian service on Friday, who left their office for a cigarette break, had their badges confiscated and weren't allowed back in, according to one fired employee. In total, some 1,400 people at Voice of America and the U.S. Agency for Global Media, or 85% of its workforce, have lost their jobs since March, said Kari Lake, Trump's senior advisor to the agency. She said it was part of a 'long overdue effort to dismantle a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy.' 'For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to bankroll an agency that's been riddled with dysfunction, bias and waste,' Lake said in a news release. 'That ends now.' VOA began by broadcasting stories about American democracy to residents of Nazi Germany, and grew to deliver news around the world in dozens of languages, often in countries without a tradition of free press. But President Donald Trump has fought against the news media on several fronts, with the complaint that much of what they produce is biased against conservatives. That includes a proposal to shut off federal funding to PBS and NPR, which is currently before Congress. Most VOA employees have been on administrative leave since March 15, their broadcasts and social media posts mostly silenced. Three VOA employees who are fighting the administration's dismantling of VOA in court were among those receiving layoff notices on Friday. 'It spells the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upholds U.S. ideals of democracy and freedom around the world,' plaintiffs Jessica Jerreat, Kate Neeper and Patsy Widakuswara said in a statement. The Persian-language employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing legal case, was in the office Friday when colleagues were barred from reentry. The person was afraid to leave for the same reason — even though authorities said their work had been halted — until receiving a layoff notice. Steve Herman, VOA's chief national correspondent who was in the process of retiring to take a job at the University of Mississippi, called the layoffs an 'historic act of self-sabotage with the U.S. government completing the silencing of its most effective soft-power weapon.' It's not clear what, if anything, will replace Voice of America programming worldwide. The Trump-supporting One American News Network has offered to allow its signal to be used. Although plaintiffs in the lawsuit called on Congress to continue supporting Voice of America, Herman said that he is not optimistic that it will survive, even if a Democratic president and Congress take over. For one thing, every day it is off the air is another day for viewers and readers to get into another habit for obtaining news. 'I believe that the destruction is permanent,' Herman said, 'because we see no indication in the next fiscal year that Congress will rally to fund VOA.' By the time another administration takes power that is more sympathetic to the outlet, 'I fear that VOA will have become forgotten,' he said. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
Newsweek
35 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Welcome to the Resistance? Tucker Carlson Is Leading New Anti-War Movement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Comedian Jon Stewart never expected to nod in agreement with Tucker Carlson. But as the former Fox News host grilled Senator Ted Cruz over U.S. involvement in Israel's war on Iran, Stewart, a longtime critic of Carlson, found himself aligned with an unlikely ally. "We're in such a bizarro world, you've got me nodding my head to Tucker Carlson videos," Stewart said on his podcast Thursday. "You got Tucker Carlson going, 'Why are we going to war with Iran again?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, you tell him, brother!'" The fiery exchange between Carlson and Cruz, part of a now-viral two-hour interview, illustrated the public civil war erupting among Trump allies over the conflict between Israel and Iran, and redefined Carlson's role in the current landscape — not just as a conservative firebrand, but as one of the leading critics of Trump-era foreign policy. Carlson, once a full-throated supporter of the Iraq War, is now one of the most vocal anti-interventionists on the American right. His opposition to military action in Iran isn't particularly surprising for those who have followed him from his perch at Fox News to his role as a podcast host and independent content creator. He holds similar views on the war in Ukraine. But the force of his criticism, especially toward figures like Cruz, caught many off guard. That includes many on the left, like Stewart, who wondered why Carlson was asking some of the more pointed questions in the media about the U.S. role in the latest Mideast conflict. Former Fox News television personality Tucker Carlson speaks to guests at the Family Leadership Summit on July 14, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. Former Fox News television personality Tucker Carlson speaks to guests at the Family Leadership Summit on July 14, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo byWelcome to the Resistance? Carlson's interview and opposition to intervention has found support beyond his usual base. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor, and liberal pundits like Mehdi Hasan and Hasan Piker all praised Carlson for confronting Cruz in ways mainstream media often do not. The reason it matters Ted that you didn't know Iran has over 90 million people is that it makes any regime change war far more difficult, costly, and prolonged than Iraq which had about 25 million in 2003. — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) June 18, 2025 "I haven't seen Ted Cruz get pummeled like this since Trump insulted his wife and father during the 2016 primary," Vietor said. "If he keeps these interviews up, Tucker Carlson is going to have to start selling body bags." Mehdi Hasan, the former MSNBC host turned Substack creator, said he was struck by the contrast with mainstream interviewers. "I remain amazed that it took Tucker Carlson to ask these obvious questions of a U.S. senator, and expose the nonsense that he peddles about Israel and God and the Bible," Hasan said. "All these years, all of the Sunday show interviewers and the rest never asked these simple questions." Hasan Piker, the popular podcaster considered by some to be the "Joe Rogan of the left," added: "Why is Tucker Carlson capable of conducting an adversarial interview about the dangers of American intervention in Iran with Ted Cruz better than everyone else in legacy media? Shame." Eric Alterman, a CUNY distinguished professor of journalism at Brooklyn College, told Newsweek the interview "made quite a splash" because major outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and MSNBC rarely press Republican politicians with such direct, confrontational questions. He said traditional media often avoid challenging topics like Israel out of fear of appearing partisan or facing backlash. "Mainstream media usually want to present both sides. They're hesitant to seem biased," Alterman said. "And with Democrats currently lacking clear direction, many outlets are reluctant to take the lead themselves." He added that mainstream pundits also tend to be strongly supportive of Israel. "So when Trump signals support for Israel in a possible war with Iran, there's often little pushback," he said. Carlson, unconstrained by such limits as a now self-employed online gadfly, didn't hesitate to press Cruz on his support for Israel. "You don't know anything about Iran," he told the Texas senator during the interview, even questioning his understanding of Israel's significance to Christians. Cruz responded by accusing Carlson of antisemitism, saying, "You're asking, why are the Jews controlling our foreign policy. That's what you just asked." Carlson pushed back, in another clip from the one-on-one that went viral: "That does not make me an antisemite, and shame on you for suggesting otherwise." Yet his interrogation of Cruz—raising accusations of antisemitism and criticizing the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)—revealed a deeper divide over what "America First" means in 2025. MAGA loyalists like Laura Loomer, in a particularly profane post, called Carlson a "c--- warmer for Arabs", while Trump mocked Carlson publicly, calling him "kooky" and suggesting he should find a TV network to hire him if he wanted anyone to listen. The full interview with Cruz is approaching 8 million views on Carlson's X account, and another 2.5 million on YouTube — or more than three times Fox News' average primetime audience. For Alterman, the media analyst, the virality of the exchange with Cruz underscored Carlson's unique media position. "Tucker can do this because he has his own platform and audience," he said. "Even if Trump denounces him, his followers will stick with him. He's not beholden to the traditional media structure, and he's not scared of Trump like many others are." A Media Giant Of His Own Senator Ted Cruz pictured in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on April 02, 2025 in Washington, DC (left) and Tucker Carlson at a Turning Point Action campaign rally at the Gas South Arena on October... Senator Ted Cruz pictured in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on April 02, 2025 in Washington, DC (left) and Tucker Carlson at a Turning Point Action campaign rally at the Gas South Arena on October 23, 2024 in Duluth, Georgia (right). More Win McNamee/Anna Moneymaker/GETTY Carlson's growing influence, particularly on platforms like X and YouTube, reflects a broader shift identified in the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025. According to the report, Americans—especially younger, conservative-leaning men—are increasingly turning away from traditional outlets in favor of personality-driven voices across digital platforms. The study found that 54 percent of U.S. adults now primarily access news through social media and video networks, with trust in conventional journalism continuing to erode. The report also revealed a striking finding: 14 percent of Americans encountered political content from Tucker Carlson in the week following the Trump inauguration, placing him ahead of many institutional media brands in terms of reach among key demographics. The authors noted that "right-leaning audiences now dominate the conversation on platforms like X," with Carlson cited as one of the most influential figures in the new fragmented media environment. That independence has allowed Carlson to shape political narratives in ways mainstream journalists often cannot—or will not. "The media landscape is splintering," Alterman said. "Different groups trust different voices. Tucker is speaking directly to a segment of the Trump base that's skeptical of endless war and not particularly attached to the old neocon worldview." As The Independent's Richard Hall observed of Carlson: "He knows the ways of the neocons — their secrets, their tricks, their dodges — because he was once one of them." In that way, Carlson's transformation from a cheerleader of the Iraq War to one of its fiercest critics on the right is what makes his case against Iran so potent—and so politically disruptive.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
President Trump Leaves Soccer Team Speechless With Question At White House
President Trump Leaves Soccer Team Speechless With Question At White House originally appeared on The Spun. President Donald Trump had a rather questionable encounter with Juventus players and staff members on Wednesday. Juventus is currently in the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup. Prior to the Italian club's match against Al Ain, several players and coaches took a trip to the White House to meet with President Trump. Although it wasn't necessary, Trump asked Juventus players for their view on transgender athletes. He kicked off the conversation by saying, "Could a woman make your team, fellas?" Juventus general manager Damien Comolli replied, "We have a very good women's team." That led to another interesting comment from Trump. "You do, but they should be playing with women," Trump said. "He's being very diplomatic." Juventus player Tim Weah, who also competes for the United States national team, didn't hold back his thoughts on meeting Trump. "It was weird," Weah said, via The Guardian. "I was caught by surprise, honestly, when he started talking politics, with Iran and everything. I was kind of like, I just want to play football … They just told us that we have to go, and I had no choice but to go. So I guess it was a cool experience, obviously being in the White House as a first time, it's always wonderful. But I'm not one for the politics, so it wasn't that exciting." Weah isn't the only person knocking Trump this week. Countless soccer fans said his question about women competing with men was uncalled Trump Leaves Soccer Team Speechless With Question At White House first appeared on The Spun on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
