President Trump’s Rhetoric
Prior to departing for visits to El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 7, President Donald Trump rejected the premise that his rhetoric has divided the country, as his critics have claimed. He said “my rhetoric … brings people together.” But that is not how he is perceived by most Americans.
A CNN poll in March found that nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said the phrase “will unite the country and not divide it” doesn’t apply to Trump. In a Pew Research Center survey published in June, 55% of those surveyed say Trump has changed the tone of political debate for the worse, while only 24% say he has changed it for the better.
Trump’s rhetoric has brought some people together, as evidenced by the large and boisterous crowds that attend his political rallies, and he has high job approval ratings among Republicans. But he has a well-earned reputation for responding strongly to political attacks — real and perceived.
During the 2016 campaign, his wife, Melania, said of her husband, “As you may know by now, when you attack him he will punch back 10 times harder.”
Trump’s combative approach has continued throughout his presidency, and at times he has made divisive and disparaging remarks that in some cases have drawn
