Donald Trump, the Reality Show: Populism as Performance and Spectacle

Abstract

The rhetoric of U.S. President Trump is deeply ingrained into a populist discourse that caters to the emotional – rather than the rational – elements of human perception and interaction. Most notably, Trump’s populist rhetoric is marked by links to the genre of reality television. Rather than aspiring to educate viewers, reality television emphasizes personal conflict and dramatic tension. Trump’s performances (his rally speeches, but also his bestselling publications) are permeated by a reality-TV aesthetics, designed to effectively entertain audiences and create an impression of authenticity. Trump’s ›authentic populism,‹ however, is also deeply embedded into the conventional structures of nationalist thought, nativism, anti-elitism, and religious fundamentalism. An investigation of Trump’s populist rhetoric reveals four key components that are in tune with the key criteria that, according to Michael J. Lee, define the populist rhetoric: (1) a portrayal of ›ordinary people‹ as heroic figures; (2) a focus on presumptive enemies as threats to traditional values; (3) attacks against an ›establishment‹ threatening the people; and (4) an evocation of apocalyptic scenery. As a media persona, Trump combines these characteristics into a spectacle that resembles the type of entertainment program American viewers are familiar with from reality television.