ABSTRACT

Donald Trump became the president that the American system of government was designed to avoid and that America’s founders feared; an anti-democratic leader who positioned himself as an alternative to that system. This critical rhetorical analysis initially deconstructs the founders’ vision of a system configured to vet, counter and neutralise anti-constitutional demagogues with leadership aspirations. The essay suggests such leadership as Donald Trump’s is the prototype of a legitimately elected leader who rhetorically deconstructs the political system which initially elevates them to office. In so doing, it becomes difficult if not impossible for that system to hold such a leader and their political organisation accountable for their actions, at least through democratic means. The essay also examines the impact of such dysfunctional political discourse on American democracy as well its global significance. It concludes speculatively by suggesting the enactment of a rhetorical narrative of constitutional patriotism as a counterpart to demagogic populism.

摘要

唐纳德特朗普成为美国政府制度旨在避免的总统，美国的创始人担心; 一个反民主的领导人，他将自己定位为该制度的替代品。这种批判性的修辞分析最初解构了创始人对系统的愿景，该系统被配置为审查、对抗和中和具有领导愿望的反宪法煽动者。The essay suggests such leadership as Donald Trump's is the prototype of a legitimately elected leader who rhetorically deconstructs the political system which initially elevates them to office. 这样一来，即使不是不可能，该系统也很难让这样的领导人和他们的政治组织对他们的行为负责，至少通过民主方式。这篇文章还考察了这种功能失调的政治话语对美国民主的影响及其全球意义。它以推测的方式结束，建议制定一种修辞性的宪法爱国主义叙事，作为煽动民粹主义的对应物。