The Discourse on Terrorism of Donald Trump

Abstract

In this chapter, Valentina Bartolucci provides an examination of Donald Trump’s discourse on the subject of terrorism. Bartolucci identifies and deconstructs the series of tropes and rhetorical devices that this discourse is built upon, such as representing “radical Islamic terrorism” as an existential and civilizational threat that is animated by incomprehensible evil. Through this analysis, Bartolucci illuminates how Donald Trump’s discourse on terrorism promotes the intensification of state violence and overtly repositions the USA as a country to be feared and not admired.