Classification and interaction of manipulative strategies in political discourse (based on the material of D. Trump’s political interview)

Muneeb Y. A. Alhamad and Albina A. Bilyalova
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Muneeb Y. A. Alhamad: Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University
Albina A. Bilyalova: Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University

Russian Social and Humanitarian Studies, 2026, vol. 18, issue 1, 120–137

Abstract: Background. The article is devoted to the linguopragmatic analysis of manipulative strategies in American political discourse, using an interview with D. Trump as a case study. The work consistently analyzes three key strategies (“lowering”, “elevation” and “theatricality”) and their specific tactics (accusation, self‑presentation, provocation, etc.) identified in D. Trump’s speech. The author claims that manipulation in American political discourse is an integral part of political communication, where manipulative strategies are implemented not in isolation but in interaction. The scientific novelty lies in compiling the most up‑to‑date linguapragmatic speech portrait of D. Trump, which reflects his individual communicative features in using communicative tactics (“lowering”, “elevation” and “theatricality”) within political discourse. Purpose. To identify, describe, and analyze the functioning of linguopragmatic tactics of manipulation in American political discourse. Materials and methods. The material used in the article is an interview with the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, conducted by the American media organization specializing in political journalism, Politico. The primary research methods are the method of continuous sampling and the method of contextual analysis. Results. The analysis of the factual material proves the complex nature of manipulative strategy application. In particular, the “lowering” strategy, functioning through tactics of accusation, insult, denunciation, threat, etc., serves as a tool for discrediting an opponent and dividing the communicative space according to the “us/them” principle. The negative background constructed in this way acts as a necessary condition for implementing the “elevation” strategy, where tactics of direct and indirect self‑presentation, positive analysis, criticism neutralization, etc., form the image of the sole legitimate political actor in the audience’s perception. The cumulative effect of these strategies functions in the “theatricality” strategy, which, using a range of dramatizing, ironic, and other tactics, evokes an emotional response from the addressees. Applying the proposed classification of manipulative tactics to D. Trump’s political discourse demonstrates his comprehensive and systematic use of the entire spectrum of the mentioned strategies — “lowering”, “elevation” and “theatricality”, confirming their significance as tools for exerting persuasive influence on recipients.

Keywords: political discourse; speech manipulation; linguopragmatics; communication strategies; influence tactics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cxm:russhs:18:1:2026:120-137

DOI: 10.12731/3033-5981-2026-18-1-531

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