Twitter Presidency

<p>The Twitter Presidency explores the rhetorical style of President Donald J. Trump attending to both his general manner of speaking as well as to his preferred modality. Trump’s manner the authors argue reflects an aesthetics of white rage and it is rooted in authoritarianism narcissism and demagoguery. His preferred modality of speaking namely through Twitter effectively channels and transmits the affective dimensions of white rage by taking advantage of the platform’s defining characteristics which include simplicity impulsivity and incivility. There is then a structural homology between Trump’s general communication practices and the specific platform (Twitter) he uses to communicate with his base. This commonality between communication practices and communication platform (manner and modality) struck a powerful emotive chord with his followers who feel aggrieved at the decentering of white masculinity. In addition to charting the defining characteristics of Trump’s discourse <i>The Twitter Presidency</i> exposes how Trump’s rhetorical style threatens democratic norms principles and institutions.</p><p></p>