40 research outputs found
#Nationalism: the ethno-nationalist populism of Donald Trumpâs Twitter communication
In this article, we explore the ethno-nationalist populism of Donald Trumpâs Twitter communication during the 2016 presidential campaign. We draw on insights from ethno-symbolism â a perspective within nationalism studies â to analyse all 5,515 tweets sent by Trump during the campaign. We find that ethno-nationalist and populist themes were by far the most important component of Trumpâs tweets, and that these themes built upon long-standing myths and symbols of an ethnic conception of American identity. In sum, Trumpâs tweets depicted a virtuous white majority being threatened by several groups of immoral outsiders, who were identified by their foreignness, their religion, and their self-interestedness. The struggle against these groups was framed as a mission to restore America to a mythical golden age â to âMake America Great Again.