Rhetorical Analysis Of Donald Trump's State Of The Union Address

On Tuesday, January 10, President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address. A large portion of his speech was devoted to the controversial topic of immigration reform. A careful analysis of his remarks reveals that he does not want undocumented people living in America. Although he does squeeze in some ideas that will allow a limited amount of immigrants to receive citizenship most were ideas to them keep out or severely hurt their chances. Trump uses a series of rhetorical devices to label undocumented immigrants as bad beings such as logos and pathos, repetition and anaphora. Trump uses logos by stating facts that belittle or tag illegal immigrants as gang members. Using Agent Celestino Martinez as a prime example who has arrested about 400 gang members and 220 being from MS-13 a huge gang (paragraph 9). Trump also brings up in one of his “pillars” that over 1.8 million illegal immigrants will have a path to citizenship more than 3 times than the previous year (paragraph12). Trump later in his speech appeals to emotion bringing up that about 64,000 people have died from a drug overdose. He makes the audience believe the drug dealers are illegal immigrants and also brings up a story from fellow citizen Ryan Holets saw a pregnant lady using drugs and decided to adopt her baby (paragraph 20). Trump does use these devices
Trump also uses heavy anaphora in his speech to emphasize many key phrases or words. One example is in paragraph 7 when he repeatedly uses America. He stresses that America’s children, struggling workers, and forgotten communities will be uplifted. He implies that this generation will get rid of the poor and do great things. According to his ideas when all illegal immigrants are gone will this land be great again. Using America gives a sense of unifying diction which is engraved by constantly repeating it allowing whoever is reading or listening to unite. Whether it be with Trump or against him the people are