Digital Demagogue: The Critical Candidacy of Donald J. Trump

by Amy E. Mendas

Tue, Jul 23, 2024 6:02AM

Over the last several months, businessperson Donald Trump has taken the lead in the Republican primary race. His flamboyant personality and unusually aggressive speech has drawn much attention and criticism. Journalists and academics have posited that Trump’s rhetoric is that of a demagogue. This essay catalogues the existing definitions.

Digital Demagogue: The Critical Candidacy of Donald J. Trump (2016)
by Amy E. Mendes

Scapegoating: Demagogues pander to audiences by identifying a root cause for all their problems in the form of a scapegoat, or possibly scapegoats. By engaging in stereotyping of out groups, the demagogue attempts to justify prejudice against them. The victims of oppression and prejudice are framed as the oppressors, presenting an easy explanation to the demagogue’s audience for their present perceived misfortunes and offering a simple solution in the form of removing or subjugating that group, all the while relieving them of guilt for their treatment of the out-group.

Rhetoric of Paranoia: Demagogues arouse and then capitalize on their audience’s resentment and paranoia. By stoking a sense of outrage, humiliation at a loss of influence, or an obsession with the perceived decline of society, the demagogue is able to compel their followers to renounce due process and rule of law in their rush to marginalize, expel or punish the scapegoated out-group. This paranoia leads to a distrust of authority, regardless of whether or not evidence exists to support their suspicion.

Rhetoric of Authority: Demagogues cast themselves as truth-tellers, as the ultimate authority on matters of importance. Audiences are discouraged from seeking other viewpoints, and questions or criticism are treated as a great betrayal. The demagogue presents himself as someone uniquely qualified to handle the present circumstances, such that disagreement constitutes treachery. The paranoia and resentment fomented by the demagogue leads to distrust of traditional institutions of authority and information. Demagogues will tend to discredit other leaders, suppress the media, and subvert educational institutions in order to control the narrative and silence opposition making it difficult to promote an alternative point of view.