Donald Trump’s numerous offenses against the press and his attacks on the integrity of the American democracy during his presidency will have a long-lasting impact on society. Especially his permanent accusations of falsehood towards the media constituted the fundamental principles of his policies and his definite ideas of the American society.
The 45th President of the United States of America accomplished the development of a certain lack of confidence in the media amongst the population by naming the press an enemy of the American people. Thus, he partially succeeded in delegitimizing the work of the press as fake news.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. Introduction: The career of the 45th President of the United States
3. Chapter 1: Donald Trump’s campaign and election 2016
4. Chapter 2: Donald Trump’s presidency and the „war on fake media“
5. Chapter 3: Donald Trump’s perception on Democracy
6. Conclusion:
7. Bibliography:
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper aims to analyze Donald Trump’s systematic rhetoric against the media, commonly referred to as the "war on fake media," and examines how these political communication strategies influenced public perception and the democratic stability of the United States during his presidency.
- The evolution of Donald Trump’s political career and public image.
- Linguistic strategies and campaign tactics used during the 2016 election.
- The institutionalization of the "war on fake media" during his presidency.
- The impact of populist rhetoric on democratic norms and political polarization.
- The correlation between political discourse and instances of civil unrest.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter 3: Donald Trump’s perception on Democracy
Donald Trump’s political style and notion is decisively influenced by the former president Andrew Jackson and the former governors Huey Long and George Wallace, as is elucidated by Douglas Kellner in his publication; the essential aspect of their respective political style was built upon the appointment of scapegoats and playing off society against each other. They all, including Donald Trump, played the population off against the elites, who have allegedly left them behind. Moreover, this beforehand elucidated style of populism required the “appointment” of scapegoats, that are to be held responsible for grievances. Whilst Andrew Jackson declared the banks and transport corporations as the public enemy; Donald Trump highlighted the exorbitant numbers of illegal immigrants that were allegedly crossing the Mexico-US border (Kellner 2016, 19-22; Watson 2016).
Especially Donald Trump’s baseless and false claims about electoral fraud marked a grave assault on the integrity of the US democracy, that was ultimately struck by the storm of the capitol. Prior to that incident of violence in Washington D.C, Donald Trump posted a multitude of misleading and wrong messages on Twitter, that manifested as “violence arousing”. The 45th president of the United States claimed to have won the election, despite having blatantly lost to his democratic contender Joe Biden, by saying (Sardarizadeh and Lussenhop 2021):
We are up BIG, but they are trying to STEAL the Election. We will never let them do it. Votes cannot be cast after the Polls are closed! (Trump 2020)
Summary of Chapters
Abstract: Provides an overview of how Trump’s rhetoric towards the press and his challenges to democratic integrity significantly deepened societal divisions, eventually leading to political violence.
Introduction: The career of the 45th President of the United States: Traces the business trajectory of Donald Trump, highlighting his transformation into a public figure through media exposure and the development of his specific brand identity.
Chapter 1: Donald Trump’s campaign and election 2016: Examines the 2016 campaign tactics, emphasizing his confrontational language and the strategic use of political branding to mobilize his base.
Chapter 2: Donald Trump’s presidency and the „war on fake media“: Details the systematic delegitimization of mainstream media organizations and the usage of "fake news" labels to shape public opinion and deflect criticism.
Chapter 3: Donald Trump’s perception on Democracy: Analyzes how populist rhetoric and the creation of political scapegoats undermined democratic trust and contributed to the polarization that sparked events like the Capitol riot.
Conclusion:: Summarizes the lasting impact of Trump's political style on the American media landscape and the integrity of its democratic institutions.
Bibliography:: Lists the academic, journalistic, and primary sources used to support the research findings.
Keywords
Donald Trump, Fake News, American Democracy, Populism, Political Polarization, Media Integrity, 2016 Election, Rhetoric, Scapegoating, Capitol Riot, Presidential Communication, Political Instability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how Donald Trump’s rhetoric and his systematic attacks on the media throughout his presidency influenced the American political climate and democratic norms.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the rise of populist political styles, the delegitimization of the press, the impact of social media on political discourse, and the resulting polarization in society.
What is the main objective or research question?
The objective is to understand how Trump’s "war on fake media" served as a political strategy to redefine reality for his supporters and how this behavior affected the stability of American democracy.
Which scientific method is applied?
The work employs a qualitative analysis of political discourse, media reporting, and historical comparisons, drawing on journalistic archives and political science literature.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main chapters cover the background of Trump’s career, the communication strategies used in the 2016 election, his presidency's framing of media and news, and his eventual impact on democratic institutions.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Prominent keywords include Donald Trump, Populism, Fake News, Media Integrity, Polarization, and American Democracy.
How does the author connect the "war on fake media" to historical political figures?
The author draws parallels between Trump and figures like Andrew Jackson, Huey Long, and George Wallace, noting a shared strategy of using "scapegoats" to turn the public against established elites.
What role did Twitter play in the author’s analysis of Trump’s presidency?
Twitter is identified as a critical tool for Trump to disseminate information directly, bypass traditional editorial filters, and, ultimately, incite supporters during contested political events.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lucca Ventre (Autor:in), 2021, Donald Trump’s war on fake media and his perception on democracy, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1060122
