One of the most fascinating things about the way Former President Donald Trump has carried his campaign is the astounding newfound ability to tailor his speech to the people he is talking to.
November 15th 2022, the day Trump announced his re-election bid, saw the birth of Trump’s “Party rhetoric”. Used for events mostly consisting of his already guaranteed fanbase, like rallies, this is the"we'll have so much winning, you'll get bored with winning" version of Trump most Republicans are so attracted to.
However, as his political talent developed further, so did Trump’s campaign. Certain he had the support of his party, the former president created the “Moderate rhetoric”, searching for what type of candidate 2024’s Independent voter base desired in America’s future leader.
Perhaps the most obvious example of “Moderate Trump” was seen on the aforementioned debate’s stage. While a seemingly new sense of self control could be part of the reason for the sweeping victory, Trump has proven that he likely believes what he is saying, making the lack of a need for a moderate façade why the 78 year old billionaire is leading in polls among Independents across the nation.
Take abortion for example. Because Trump hasn’t swayed completely to one side or another on this issue, he is able to win over both Conservatives, longing for more pro-life leadership, and moderates, who likely simply want the issue returned back to the states.
The overturning of Roe V. Wade has earned Trump the title of the most Pro-life president in history. However, the reason why Trump remains popular despite the fact that it is a huge issue on the national stage is because in reality, he seems genuinely moderate on the issue. Proponents of Roe’s downfall were not exclusively Pro-Life. Due to its simultaneous symbol of federal overreach, one did not need to have an opinion on abortion access itself to be in favor of its overturning. This worked out for the former president because he could assume the role of the moderate’s candidate on abortion, without a threat of right-wing dissent looming over his head. “51 years ago” Trump claimed on the stage of the June debate everybody wanted to get [abortion] back to the states, everybody, without exception… The problem [Democrats] have is they’re radical, because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth,” obviously signaling to moderates that Biden is not the one to vote for if they want moderate abortion.
In questioning the image of the Trump campaign, as well as the political figure himself, “does he still resort to his old self at times?” Yes. It is the undeniable reality of the human appetite that caused Trump to become such a character leading up to the election of 2016, and it remains that same reality that causes him to revert back time and time again, coupled with the need to remind his Republican, Conservative fans “hey, it’s still the Trump you know and love!” (A prime example of this being the legendary golf handicap segment, and Trump’s jab at Biden’s sanity) But it is because of the separation of these two tones that Trump seems to remain affluent in the support of moderate American voters, which will in the end, guarantee his victory.
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