Trading presidential rhetoric: the relationship between shifting rhetoric and policy in trade from Obama to Trump

Cirzan, Aaron Mark (2022) Trading presidential rhetoric: the relationship between shifting rhetoric and policy in trade from Obama to Trump. Doctoral thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

The rhetoric of President Donald J. Trump was aggressive, racist and often inaccurate and represented a significant shift in how the President of the United States communicates with the American public and the broader world. He spoke to the historic levels of polarization and discontent in the nation, fundamentally ignoring the historical role of communication from the office of the President. His predecessor, President Barack H. Obama, in contrast, spoke with clarity, knowledge and eloquence and used communication to unify a nation through economic and global struggles. This rhetorical difference between the two presidents was no clearer than in communication with the global trading community. Despite the differences in rhetoric, many of the trade policies between the Obama and Trump administrations remained consistent with decades of trade precedent. This dissertation evaluates the shift in rhetoric, through the lens of the Rhetorical Presidency established by Jeffery Tulis, from Obama to Trump, while also identifying whether policy shifts accompanied the changing rhetoric. Despite the changes in content between the two presidents, they both, together, used new practices within the rhetorical presidency, including an increased social media presence, which signaled a change in how modern presidents communicate with the American Public moving forward. Regardless, the adjustments in communication within the Trump administration with trade partners and prospective trade partners, globally, also elicited a significant response from international leaders, United States leadership and the larger bureaucratic corps. The reaction from United States officials and global leaders highlights the reality that the change in rhetoric under the Trump administration mattered and created concrete shifts in diplomatic and global trade partnerships. Not only did Trump change the communication practices of the United States presidency as an institution during his administration, he threatened the power and economic standing of the United States. The effects of the Trump presidency on trade rhetoric and policy have continued after his administration and President Joseph R. Biden has had to navigate a new global landscape when negotiating trade and foreign relations.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Barack Obama; Donald Trump; Presidential Rhetoric; Presidential Studies; Trade Policy; Social Media
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Social and Behavioral Science > Politics and International Affairs
Date Deposited:	08 Jun 2023 17:01
Last Modified:	08 Jun 2023 17:01
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/5991

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