Close Reading: Trump, s June 1, 2020 Address

For a printable version of this lesson, see: Trump Address 06.01.20 – Close Reading as Action & Resistance

Context / Framing: This lesson is designed to support critical analysis of Trump’s June 1st, 6:45pm address to the American people. In offering this lesson, I do not assume an objective stance toward the address. Rather, I view the address as a terrifying manipulation of language, concept, and reality in order to justify a despotic state. The risks to our nation, democracy, and people are real. It is imperative that we critically and specifically analyze how Trump is actively deploying language to accomplish this end.

Task: This lesson comprises four tasks. Though I recommend students (and teachers!) complete them in sequence, each task works as a stand-alone exercise as well. They are:

Part I: First Read and Noticing: Students read the transcribed text of the June 1 speech and capture their initial noticings about Trump’s message and his language.
Part II: Focusing Questions: These questions refer to specific strategies and ideas in Trump’s speech. Students respond to the questions in order to deepen and focus their analysis, following the initial read.
Part III: Synthesis: Students write a brief analytical essay, discussing Trump’s goal in this speech, as well as how at least three literary/rhetorical strategies serve that goal.
Part IV: Comparison: Students compare Trump’s address to an address of The Hunger Games’ President Snow

There’s also a Teacher Resource with more specific guiding questions paired with the speech text.

Part I: Reading and Noticing: Read the text of Trump’s speech, delivered 06.01.20 at 6:45pm. Take note of what stands out to you – both content and form. Consider Trump’s goal/intention with this speech, and how the language works toward that goal/intention.

Text of Speech

Thank you very much. My fellow Americans, my first and highest duty as president is to defend our great country and the American people. I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation and that is exactly what I will do. All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the brutal death of George Floyd. My administration is fully committed that for George and his family, justice will be served. He will not have died in vain, but we cannot allow the righteous cries and peaceful protestors to be drown out by an angry mob. The biggest victims of the rioting are peace loving citizens in our poorest communities and as their president, I will fight to keep them safe. I will fight to protect you. I am your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters. But in recent days, our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa and others. A number of state and local governments have failed to take necessary action to safeguard their residents. Innocent people have been savagely beaten like the young man in Dallas, Texas, who was left dying on the street or the woman in upstate New York, viciously attacked by dangerous thugs. Small business owners have seen the dreams utterly destroyed. New York’s finest have been hit in the face with bricks, brave nurses who have battled the virus are afraid to leave their homes. A police precinct has been overrun here in the nation’s Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial have been vandalized. One of our most historic churches was set a blaze. A federal officer in California, an African American enforcement hero was shot and killed. These are not acts of peaceful protest, these are acts of domestic terror. The destruction of innocent life and the spilling of innocent blood is an offense to humanity and a crime against God. America needs creation not destruction, cooperation not contempt, security not anarchy, healing not hatred, justice not chaos. This is our and we will succeed 100% we will succeed. Our country always wins. That is why I am taking immediate presidential action to stop the violence and restore security and safety in America. I am mobilizing all available, federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law abiding Americans, including your second amendment rights. Therefore, the following measures are going into effect immediately. First, we are ending the riots and lawlessness that has spread throughout our country. We will end it now. Today I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the national guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets, mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled. If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them. I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our great Capitol Washington DC. What happened in this city last night was a total disgrace. As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement offices to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism assaults and the wanton destruction of property. We are putting everybody on warning our seven o’clock curfew will be strictly enforced. Those who threatened innocent life and property will be arrested, detained and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I want the organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail. This includes Antifa and others who are leading instigators of this violence. One law and order and that is what it is. One law, we have one beautiful law and once that is restored and fully restored, we will help you, we will help your business and we will help your family. America is founded upon the rule of law. It is the [root?] of our prosperity, our freedom and our very way of life, but where there is no law, there is no opportunity, where there is no justice there is no Liberty, where there is no safety there is no future. We must never give in to anger or hatred if malice or violence reins, then none of us is free. I take these actions today with firm resolve and with a true and passionate love for our country by far our greatest days lie ahead. Thank you very much and now I’m going to pay my respects to a very, very special place. Thank you very much.

Part II: Focusing Questions Consider these focusing questions regarding the language use in Trump’s address. These questions are designed to deepen and specify your initial noticings.

Focusing Questions

Authority: How does Trump characterize his authority in this speech? What specific strategies and devices does he use to justify that authority?

Passive Voice: Take note of Trump’s passive constructions. Where does he use passive voice? Why does he use passive constructions at these moments in the speech?

Vaguary: Where is Trump’s language vague? What does vague diction accomplish at these moments in the speech?

Imagery: Trace Trump’s use of imagery throughout the speech. What images does he include / emphasize? Why? What is their effect?

Victimization: Who does Trump identify as victims? How? Why?

Blame: Where and to whom does Trump ascribe blame? Why?

Contrast / Dichotomy: Where does Trump create contrasts? Why?

Repetition: Find some examples of repetition. What is their effect?

Historical references: What references does Trump make to historical events or documents? How do they function in the speech?

Tone: Find moments of the speech where you find the tone to be striking. How would you characterize the tone? What words or constructions create that tone? How does the tone function in the broader context of the speech?

Structure / sequencing: Consider the overall structure of the speech – how the ideas progress. What is the logical sequence? How does it support Trumps intention?

Omission: You’ve analyzed what’s in the speech. What is NOT in the speech – that could be, should be? What is the intention and the effect of these omissions?

Part III: Synthesis Write a paragraph in which you (a) identify the intention of Trump’s address and (b) discuss at least three literary / rhetorical strategies in service of that intention. Provide specific examples from the text of the speech.

Part IV: ComparisonWatch the excerpt of President Snow’s address to Panem from The Hunger Games, Part 3 (Mockingjay). The text is also provided.What similarities do you notice about the content, tone, and literary/rhetorical strategies of Trump and Snow’s speeches? What are the implications of these similarities?