FRAMING POWER AND CONFLICT: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF DONALD TRUMP'S POSTS ON THE IRAN-ISRAEL WAR

Abstract

This study critically examines Donald Trump's posts on the Iran-Israel conflict, employing Fairclough's (2003) Three-Dimensional Model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to uncover how his rhetoric constructs perceptions of power, conflict, and international relations. Through a detailed analysis of three representative posts, the research dissects the linguistic features, discursive practices, and socio-political contexts surrounding Trump's statements on the conflict. The findings reveal how Trump's discourse strategically frames the actors, events, and consequences of the conflict, shaping public opinion and reinforcing specific ideological stances. His language employs powerful framing techniques, including military metaphors, binary distinctions of "us vs. them," and the projection of American exceptionalism, which collectively contribute to the construction of a narrative that emphasizes dominance and American superiority. The present study also examines the implications of this type of framing on international diplomacy and the broader Middle East geopolitical landscape. The analysis highlights the significant influence of social media in contemporary political communication, illustrating how Trump's posts serve as a tool for shaping perceptions and affecting international relations. This study, employing CDA, sheds important light on how online platforms can be leveraged to influence the discourse of humankind, as exemplified in the case of international conflicts. Further research can extend this framework to examine other geopolitical processes and discuss the long-term consequences of digital discourse on global political processes.