A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF EUPHEMISTIC LANGUAGE IN DONALD TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS 2026
Keywords:
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Euphemism Theory, Euphemistic Language, Fairclough’s 3D Model, Political Discourse, State of the Union Address 2026Abstract
This study is situated within contemporary political discourse, focusing on the use of language in high-profile speeches, such as Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address. Political speeches serve as powerful tools for shaping public perception, where linguistic choices are often strategically employed to construct meaning, project authority, and influence audiences. Despite extensive research on political discourse, the systematic use of euphemistic language to mask sensitive issues, soften controversial policies, and maintain power relations remains underexplored. This study addresses by examining how euphemisms function in speech and the communicative purposes they serve. Adopting a qualitative and interpretive research design, the study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), specifically Fairclough’s three-dimensional model, in conjunction with Allan and Burridge’s theory of euphemisms. The analysis focuses on identifying euphemistic expressions and interpreting their roles within the textual, discursive, and social dimensions of the speech. The findings reveal that euphemisms are systematically used as strategic linguistic devices, primarily realised through lexical and phrasal choices. Several types of euphemisms are identified, including positive, mitigating, indirect (vague), strategic, and ideological forms, with positive euphemisms emerging as the most dominant. These linguistic strategies have been shown to obscure negative realities, frame policies favourably, and reinforce existing power structures. The study concludes that euphemistic language extends beyond stylistic ornamentation and operates as a powerful discursive tool in political communication. Using the CDA framework with euphemism theory, this research offers insight into how language constructs political meaning and sustains power relations, underscoring the importance of critical awareness in interpreting contemporary political discourse.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Owais, Saiqa Iqbal, Shakiaz Ahmed (Author)
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