Abstract

This study aims to investigate some of the main linguistic discourse strategies of ridicule employed by former and current President Donald Trump in his speeches during his 2024 election campaign. By analyzing specific examples from Trump’s speeches, the aim is to illuminate a range of linguistic tools, including rhetorical devices and linguistic techniques that are used to ridicule opponents shaping the narrative during the campaign and guiding the ideology of his base. Trump utilizes language strategically, purposefully, and, at many times, spontaneously to target opponents and create an atmosphere of mockery and derision. Findings reveal that Trump frequently utilizes techniques such as framing, hyperbole, and name-calling among many other strategies to create a sense of absurdity and inferiority around his targets to achieve his own goals. These tactics serve to reinforce Trump’s populist image and create an us-versus-them dichotomy among his supporters. This analysis highlights the significant role of ridicule in Donald Trump’s political discourse and its potential impact on public perception as well as the mechanisms through which linguistic ridicule was constructed and disseminated during this pivotal political event in the United States that eventually led to his re-election.