How does patriotic discourse become a populist policy tool? A discourse analysis of Trump’s rhetoric

Abstract This study explores how Donald J. Trump’s rhetoric intertwines populist appeals with patriotic language to construct a unifying vision of “true” American identity. Drawing on a corpus of 613 speeches and statements, the study combines quantitative content analysis with critical discourse analysis (CDA) and finds that terms like “the people,” “work,” and “great” frequently co-occur with “American” and “country.” This fusion links economic revival, cultural renewal, and national sovereignty, portraying ordinary citizens as virtuous and opponents, whether elites or foreigners, as threats to national greatness. The analysis shows that patriotic discourse amplifies populist claims by adding moral and emotional force, helping explain Trump’s resonance among supporters who see themselves as an aggrieved majority defending traditional values. The article advances debates on populist communication by showing that patriotic symbols and narratives intensify the “us versus them” divide.