Rhetorical Analysis Of Donald Trump By Maureen Dowd

Maureen Dowd is a well renowned political columnist for The New York Times who generally focuses on President Donald Trump. She describes herself as a progressive liberal who tends to align with a more socialistic view of the world. With the unexpected election of Donald Trump last November, Dowd now finds herself having a difficult time transitioning to an administration she is opposed to. Throughout Dowd’s articles, the main purpose is to convince the public that President Trump should only be a one term president. Dowd uses a sarcastic tone to emphasize and make what she is trying to say about Trump very clear. Her frequent use of sarcasm is used to not only point out President Trump’s flaws, but also to present them in negative light. In her February 11th column on political activism (“Trump’s Gold Lining”), Dowd states, “Trump has made facts great again. By distorting reality so relentlessly, he has put everyone on
alert for alternative facts” (“Trump’s Gold Lining”). Dowd is saying here that Trump is consistently providing the public with inaccurate statements. In a later column published on March 18th about Trump stuck in his own ways (“Trump, Working-Class Zero”), Dowd uses sarcasm to talk about Trump’s credibility, “He said that if you took Trump’s remarks ‘literally’ - as we expect to do with our commander in chief’s words – ‘clearly the president was wrong’” (“Trump, Working-Class Zero”). Dowd uses this quote to highlight how odd it is that we cannot trust the man who runs our country. Dowd frequently uses a variety of analogies throughout her columns to improve her audiences understanding of the issue she is providing.
Her strong use of analogies helps the reader visualize what she is trying to say and make connections. In Dowd’s March 18th column on a power-hungry Trump (“Trump, Working-Class Zero”), she compares Donald Trump to King Lear, “As he rages in the storm, Lear-like, howling about poisonous fake news, he is spewing poisonous fake news” (“Trump, Working-Class Zero). This quote provides the reader with a new perspective on Trump and allows them to see him in a different light. In an earlier column published on February 25th about Trump’s untraditional relationship with the media (“Trump vs. Press: Crazy, Stupid Love”), Dowd states, “It’s going to end like all those plays and movies – From ‘Othello’ to ‘Endless Love’ – where the mutual attraction is so powerful, it’s toxic” (“Trump vs. Press: Crazy, Stupid Love”). Dowd is saying that the relationship between the media and Trump is unhealthy, and is bound to end
poorly. Dowd commonly uses allusions to help the reader connect Trump to things from the past that will enrich their understanding of what she is trying to say. In her February 11th column on the increased interest in politics (“Trump’s Gold Lining”), Dowd states, “The Public Theater announced it would open Shakespeare in the Park in May with ‘Julius Caesar,’ about a populist seeking absolute power” (“Trump’s Gold Lining”) Dowd is comparing Trump to Julius Caesar in this quote, hoping the reader will catch on. She is saying that Trump is power-hungry, just as Julius Caesar was during his time period. Dowd’s use of sarcasm, analogies and allusions were very effective in conveying her views regarding President Trump. These rhetorical devices made for an interesting and informative read, enhancing her audience’s comprehension of the points she was trying to make. However, her profuse use of sarcasm over numerous columns tended to be over bearing making it difficult to keep reading and her arguments less convincing.