Rhetorical Discursive Moves in Trump’s Inaugural Speech: A Genre Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36327/ewjh.v1i37.24404Keywords:
rhetoric, discourse analysis, genre analysis, inaugural addressAbstract
Abstract
This study explores the rhetorical and discursive moves in President Donald Trump’s 2017 inaugural address via the use of genre analysis. Drawing on Swales’ (1990) model of rhetorical moves and the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 1995; van Dijk, 1998), the study identifies how Trump structures his speech to construct national identity, power relations, and ideological unity. The analysis highlights Trump’s strategic use of personalization, repetition, contrastive framing, and populist rhetoric to evoke solidarity and patriotism. Findings reveal that Trump’s inaugural speech departs from traditional presidential rhetoric. It combines populist discourse with nationalist and revivalist tones, emphasizing “the people” as the legitimate holders of political power. The study contributes to the field of discourse studies and genre analysis. It demonstrates how rhetorical patterns function as ideological tools in political communication, which are utilized to shape public perception through persuasive linguistic strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Asst. Lect. Hassan Wyrawish Marai; Asst. Lect. Zainab Khudhair Abbas al_Mansoori
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