WASHINGTON — In a fervent address at Madison Square Garden last month, former President Donald Trump declared that the United States is under siege by illegal immigrants, promising to “rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered” if elected. He announced plans for what he termed the “largest deportation program in American history” starting on day one of his potential presidency.
Speaking alongside former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Arizona, Trump suggested that Liz Cheney, a Republican campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris, should face military action due to her involvement in the Jan. 6 investigation. He stated, “Let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face,” labeling her a “war hawk.”
Political analysts and historians are increasingly concerned about Trump’s rhetoric, which they describe as divisive and threatening. Experts note that his speeches and social media communications, characterized by insults, have grown darker and more violent since his political career began in 2015. They urge scrutiny of the real-world impacts of his language.
Trump’s speeches have extended in length and complexity over the years, a style he refers to as “the weave.” The New York Times analysis indicates that his speeches now average 82 minutes, up from 45 minutes in 2016.
Robert C. Rowland, a University of Kansas expert on political rhetoric, describes Trump’s recent communications as delivering “fear, anger, grievance, braggadocio.” Rowland highlights the lack of substantive discussion on implementing the proposals Trump boasts about.
When asked about Trump’s evolving language, his campaign responded with a statement from the Republican National Committee, critiquing media for not covering certain violent crimes. The statement also cited statistics on immigration and terror suspects crossing the border, claiming broad support for Trump’s policies from Americans, including Hispanic communities.
Despite Trump’s focus on violent crimes by undocumented immigrants, several analyses demonstrate that immigrants do not commit crimes at higher rates than native-born citizens.
Graphic depictions of violence
Trump has been increasingly graphic in describing violent crimes, blaming the Harris administration for importing dangerous criminals. During a Manhattan rally, he detailed the gruesome 2016 murders by MS-13 on Long Island, emphasizing the brutality involved.
Research by UCLA’s Nikita Savin and Daniel Treisman analyzed 99 of Trump’s speeches, noting a rise in violent language since 2015. Their study highlights this upward trend.
‘They’
Savin and Treisman examined Trump’s use of violent vocabulary and economic populism, noting his frequent use of the pronoun “they” in his rhetoric. Compared to other democratic leaders, Trump’s violent language is notably high, nearly reaching the levels of Fidel Castro’s speeches.
While the study does not delve into the reasons or consequences of Trump’s speech changes, it suggests further research is needed. The authors acknowledge that dictionary-based analysis might miss nuances in non-explicit language.
States Newsroom analyzed Trump’s social media posts, finding that “Kamala,” “Harris,” “great,” “now,” and “Trump” were the most repeated words, with “comrade,” “fake,” “war,” “radical,” and “lyin’” also appearing frequently.
‘The enemy from within’
Trump often refers to opponents as the “enemy from within,” a phrase he used in a Fox News interview to describe the radical left as a greater threat than migrants. He suggested using the National Guard or military if necessary to handle these threats.
On Truth Social, Trump juxtaposed military imagery with cultural critiques, reinforcing his campaign’s anti-“woke” stance, while simultaneously claiming his campaign is focused on positive solutions compared to Harris’s “campaign of hate.”
‘Don’t let them eat us’
Following a debate with Harris, Trump posted AI-generated images of cats on Truth Social, falsely alleging that Haitian immigrants were harming pets in Ohio. This claim led to bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, prompting a response from the state governor.
Rowland, a rhetoric expert, questions the impact of Trump’s campaign themes on his electoral prospects, noting the lack of policy discussion and the focus on insults.
This story was originally published by News From The States
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