The Bully in the Pulpit: Donald Trump’s Public Discourse

• In Event: Donald Trump’s Public Discourse and its Impact on His Leadership and the Polity

Abstract

Both the tone and substance of Donald Trump’s public utterances are far beyond the norms of the presidency. His willingness to demean his opponents, mislead the public about the nature of threats, prevaricate about people, issues, nations, and his policies and accomplishments, employ racially charged language, and challenge the rule of law add a unique—and disturbing—element to American political life. In this paper, I discuss the most prominent characteristics of the president’s public discourse and their consequences for both the president’s attempts at leadership and the polity as a whole.

Author

• George C. Edwards, Texas A&M University