Discursive Strategies of Power in Trump’s Inaugural Speeches

Inaugural speeches provide critical insights into a president’s vision, ideological strategies, and evolving rhetoric. The article employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine Donald Trump’s 2017 and 2025 inaugural speeches, exploring their ideological underpinnings and sociopolitical contexts. The 2017 speech highlighted themes of populism, nationalism, and economic reclamation, portraying America as a nation in crisis and positioning Trump as an outsider poised to challenge entrenched elites. In contrast, the 2025 speech reflects a transformed political narrative, emphasizing restoration, resilience, and a “golden age” under Trump’s centralized leadership. This evolution parallels shifts in public sentiment, global geopolitics, and national crises, such as economic instability and cultural polarization. The article analyzes the ideological shifts, changing representations of power relations, and discursive strategies employed to maintain public support amid a fragmented sociopolitical landscape. It also explores the intersection of race, gender, and class in Trump’s rhetoric, revealing how his speeches reflect broader societal transformations and challenges. The study demonstrates how Trump shifted his rhetoric from collective empowerment in 2017 to a more authoritative, personalized narrative in 2025, underpinned by symbolic language and hyperbolic appeals. This comparative analysis underscores the dynamic interplay among language, ideology, and sociopolitical dynamics in contemporary American politics. These findings contribute to understanding how political leaders leverage discourse to navigate challenges, reshape public perception, and consolidate power in a polarized democracy.