“Modern Day Presidential:" Donald Trump and American Politics in the Age of Twitter
Keywords:
Twitter, President Trump, social media, American politics, journalismAbstract
The increasing power of social media over American news and politics is difficult to ignore thanks to the visibility of President Trump’s tweets both on online and traditional media. This paper seeks to better understand the strategy behind Donald Trump’s use of Twitter both as a candidate and during his first year as president. Through a careful study of his tweets and their ability to take advantage of the specific user makeup on Twitter and the choice of mainstream media to often echo his tweets in their coverage, a consistent strategy emerges based on a combination of traditional advertising practice and radicalist discourse that continues to reshape the American political landscape today.References
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Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2015a, June 19). Druggies, drug dealers, rapists and killers are coming across the southern border. When will the U.S. get smart and stop this travesty. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/612083064945180672
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2015b, August 10). We must stop the crime and killing machine that is illegal immigration. Rampant problems will only get worse. Take back our country! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/630906211790102528
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016f, March 19). Wow, @CNN ratings are up 75% because it's "all Trump, all the time." The networks are making a fortune off of me! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/711218418775498752
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016b, July 12). This election is a choice between law, order & safety - or chaos, crime & violence. I will make America safe again for everyone. #ImWithYou. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/752849315094298624
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016c, July 17). President Obama just had a news conference, but he doesn't have a clue. Our country is a divided crime scene, and it will only get worse! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/754789482621243392
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016k, July 31). I was viciously attacked by Mr. Khan at the Democratic Convention. Am I not allowed to respond? Hillary voted for the Iraq war, not me! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/759743648573435905
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016l, August 1). Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same - Nice! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/760070280932982784
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016e, September 4). ”@lblackvelvet: @realDonaldTrump We need to show Americans that Hillary will KILL our Country !! Vote for Trump !!" [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/772607185851408387
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016g, October 8). The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/784840992734064641
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016h, October 8). RT @atensnut: How many times must it be said? Actions speak louder than words. DT said bad things!HRC threatened me after BC raped me. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/atensnut/status/784726633588592640
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016i, October 8). RT @atensnut: Hillary calls Trump's remarks "horrific" while she lives with and protects a "Rapist". Her actions are horrific. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/atensnut/status/784734493471019008
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016j, October 9). There’s never been anyone more abusive to women in politics than Bill Clinton.My words were unfortunate-the Clintons’ actions were far worse. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/785289587157504000
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016d, October 16). Election is being rigged by the media, in a coordinated effort with the Clinton campaign, by putting stories that never happened into news! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/787632098794467328
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2016a, October 19). Drugs are pouring into this country. If we have no border, we have no country. That’s why ICE endorsed me. #Debate #BigLeagueTruth. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/788913202474000384
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017c, January 30). If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad "dudes" out there! [Tweet\. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/826060143825666051
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017d, February 1). Everybody is arguing whether or not it is a BAN. Call it what you want, it is about keeping bad people (with bad intentions) out of country! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/826774668245946368
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017j, February 4). The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/827867311054974976
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017k, February 4). What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into U.S.? [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/827981079042805761
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017l, February 5). Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/828342202174668800
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017e, June 5). People, the lawyers and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/871674214356484096
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017f, June 5). The Justice Dept. should ask for an expedited hearing of the watered down Travel Ban before the Supreme Court - & seek much tougher version! [Tweet]. https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/871677472202477568
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017f, June 13). Well, as predicted, the 9th Circuit did it again - Ruled against the TRAVEL BAN at such a dangerous time in the history of our country. S.C. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/874578159676665857
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017h, June 13). Made additional remarks on Charlottesville and realize once again that the #Fake News Media will never be satisfied...truly bad people! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/897223558073602049
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017m, July 1). My use of social media is not Presidential - it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/881281755017355264
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017h, July 22). While all agree the U. S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us.FAKE NEWS [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/888724194820857857
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017b, November 22). RT @IngrahamAngle: “Far right”? You mean “right so far,” as in @realDonaldTrump has been right so far abt how to kick the economy into high gear. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/IngrahamAngle/status/933147495085039616
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017i, December 2). So General Flynn lies to the FBI and his life is destroyed, while Crooked Hillary Clinton, on that now famous FBI holiday “interrogation” with no swearing in and no recording, lies many times...and nothing happens to her? Rigged system, or just a double standard? [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/937141061343956992
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2017a, December 30). I use Social Media not because I like to, but because it is the only way to fight a VERY dishonest and unfair “press,” now often referred to as Fake News Media. Phony and non-existent “sources” are being used more often than ever. Many stories & reports a pure fiction! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947235015343202304
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2018a, January 16). We must have Security at our VERY DANGEROUS SOUTHERN BORDER, and we must have a great WALL to help protect us, and to help stop the massive inflow of drugs pouring into our country! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/953264081871495168
Trump, D. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2018b, January 19). Government Funding Bill past last night in the House of Representatives. Now Democrats are needed if it is to pass in the Senate - but they want illegal immigration and weak borders. Shutdown coming? We need more Republican victories in 2018! [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/954323750949982208
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