Make America Great Again Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The election and inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the forty-fifth President of the United States marked the beginning of a new era of American politics. During his campaign, Trump eschewed the status quo. He was loud. He was bold. His slogan of “Make America Great Again!” garnered a massive response from Americans across the political spectrum. This sentiment permeated President Trump’s inaugural address; there is not a single sentence in which his unabashed pro-America stance is not present. The powerful rhetoric of President Trump’s speech is more than a thank-you to those who voted for him; it is more than an introduction to his presidency. It is an address of unity, of solidarity. It is a reminder of present brokenness and a promise

He says, “This, the United States of America, is your country. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.” Though there is, of course, still much disconnect between the average American and politicians in Washington, Trump does not focus on that at the moment. By referring to the United States as our country or even your country, he hopes to assuage the fear of a large, centralized government with no respect for those who voted it into power. No matter one’s gender, race, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation, Trump assures listeners they are all Americans. “We are one nation…We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny,” he proclaims. This line is the most blatant manifestation of President Trump’s agenda for his inaugural address. His goal is to spark solidarity amongst the American people, unified by their love of the nation and desire to see it flourish. The appeal to pathos is strong, and for his supporters, at least, it

His ethos is weak: He had never held any position of political power. He had just spent the past several months spouting inflammatory ideas—whether true or not—that alienated much of the country. For his opponents, this change in tone is too little too late. Had President Trump began with this respectful, optimistic tone, his opposition would be far smaller, though the response may not have been as significant as the “MAGA Movement.” However, since Trump delivered such severe rhetoric prior to his election, this inaugural speech can come across as fraudulent. Indeed, the rapid progression from calling Rosie O’Donnell a pig to quoting the Bible when promoting unity is, to put it mildly, a dramatic shift. The logos, too, is severely lacking. “We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action—constantly complaining but never doing anything about it,” President Trump declares, yet he offers no plans for achieving the lofty goals he vows to accomplish. “I will never, ever let you down”—another impossible promise. These pledges are vague, but it does not matter. That is not the goal of this