THE LANGUAGE OF FEAR: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF TRUMP'S MIGRATION RHETORIC

Abstract

This research undertakes a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of Donald J. Trump's rhetoric surrounding migration, with a specific emphasis on his speeches from the 2016 campaign to his latest 2025 rally in Michigan. Utilizing the frameworks developed by Fairclough (1995) and van Dijk (2008), the study explores how Trump's language creates an “us vs. them” dichotomy, portrays immigrants as invaders, and employs methods of dehumanization and fear to attract political backing. Recent speeches indicate a persistent trend of securitization, populist nationalism, and symbolic boundary-making, wherein Trump casts himself as the defender of American identity. Drawing from recent research focused on discourse, including the 2024 studies by Atmawijaya and Stoméus & Salberg, this paper highlights essential discursive strategies such as metaphor, repetition, hyperbole, and pronoun choice as tools for ideological reproduction. The analysis demonstrates that Trump's narrative on migration transcends mere political rhetoric, functioning as a strategic communication mechanism that heightens societal division, frames immigrant communities as existential threats, and rationalizes exclusionary policies. This study addresses a gap in research by integrating CDA scholarship with Trump's 2025 campaign language, illustrating the dynamic character of political discourse in contemporary right-wing populism.