Unmasking the Symbolic Impact:
3 Ways Donald Trump Altered Presidential Culture
Oct. 18, 2023 ⏐Bronwyn Metz
What is Presidential Culture
Today, the symbol of the executive, shaped by precedent, expectations, and perceptions, bestows a substantial portion of presidential power. Buchanan refers to this as “Presidential Culture”: “[the] widely held meaning of the presidency derived from selected episodes in the history of the institution, transmitted from one generation to the next by political socialization.” When the American public elected Donald Trump in 2016, many anticipated a refreshing change from the seasoned Washington politicians. Americans got more than we bargained for. Donald Trump's presidency dramatically shifted the office's culture, fundamentally changing its prestigious symbolism. How did he do it?
1) Erosion of Norms and Decorum
During his 2016 campaign, Trump positioned himself as an outsider without traditional political experience. This attracted voters who were constantly disheartened by the shortcomings of incumbents. In practice, his lack of political experience failed to uphold the norms and decorum central to governance and diplomacy.
Notably, Trump embraced social media, making frequent and informal tweets the primary mode of White House communication. Using his private Twitter account (now X), Trump posted insults, praise, threats, initiatives, and commentary for all to consume. 280 characters at a time, Trump dismantled customary protocol. Trump even fired cabinet secretaries via tweet. In 2018, Trump tweeted his plan to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. It was later released that Tillerson did not speak to the president and was unaware of the reason; nevertheless, he resigned. A single tweet swiftly gained substantial political sway.
Social media gave insider access to the executive like never before. This level of transparency was not entirely beneficial. Generally, social media platforms did not check Trump, enabling him to propagate falsehoods and promote conspiracy theories. Even with a win in 2016, he insisted that voter fraud occurred. Trump claimed he would have won the popular vote if not for “millions of people who voted illegally,” but provided no supporting evidence. None of the 50 states had reason to believe that widespread voter fraud had or would occur in their states. Despite the facts, a tweet directly from the president carries significant weight and fueled conspiracy theories that culminated in 2020.
His campaign for reelection promises the same unconventional norm-busting. The recent release of Trump’s mugshot underscores the erosion of norms and decorum. A president is considered the face of the nation. When Trump's mugshot was made public, it damaged the reputation of the US government and our country overall. The image generates an unparalleled perception of instability, corruption, or wrongdoing at the highest levels of leadership; this raises doubts about government stability and ethical standards.
2) Polarization
In the past, a politician's image was ruined by speculation of moral wrongdoing. Trump's mugshot, however, arguably fuels his campaign trail built on polarization. The image captures the former president as the “divider-in-chief,” the poster child for partisanship.
Throughout his term, Trump dismissed criminal accusations as a political witch-hunt orchestrated by Democrats. He used striking insults and personal attacks to garner news media attention. This coverage exacerbated division between the political parties as Trump consistently criticized it as "fake news" and the "enemy of the people." The vilification of certain news sources led Republicans to express widespread distrust in the press.
According to a 2019 Pew Research Study, Republicans overwhelmingly turned to one outlet (Fox News), whereas Democrats used and expressed trust in a wider range of sources. The study concluded that the two sides placed their trust in “two nearly inverse media environments”. Republicans unified behind Trump, granting him a spot as party chief rather than a general unifying symbol.
When voters are confined to the statements of one man and a single, biased media outlet, manipulating public opinion and intensifying divisions becomes relatively easy. Trump exploited this on January 6th.
3) Undermining Trust in Political Institutions and Processes
After the 2022 election loss, the former president abused the bully pulpit to sow doubt in the electoral process. Instead of serving as a consoler-in-chief for his troubled supporters and fostering unity, he refused to accept the election results. At a rally, Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell,” telling them, “You’ll never take back our country with weakness, you have to show strength.” He convinced many that the system was rigged, despite no evidence. This statement alone has the potential to undermine faith in the future electoral processes.
Trump's persuasive rhetoric and refusal to adhere to democratic norms incited a violent mob against Capitol lawmakers. This altered presidential culture in many ways: It showcased the influence of a powerful executive, reduced confidence in the electoral college, and undermined the customary practice of peaceful power transitions.
In a bipartisan impeachment vote, Trump was impeached for a second time for “incitement of insurrection.” Post-impeachment, he was charged with four separate indictments. Naturally, Trump denied culpability, thereby perpetuating the “witch-hunt” narrative and diminishing trust in the institutions our founders established to safeguard against tyranny.
While challenging the constraints of Article II, Trump embraced its ambiguity and its enumerated powers, including the pardon power. Article II places almost no limits on pardons for federal crimes, but experts agree that Trump took this phenomenon to new extremes. For instance, he openly mused about pardoning himself, claiming multiple times that he could if he wanted. No president has ever pardoned himself, and the legality is a matter of debate. It is unlikely that Trump will use the power on himself, however, he has previously ventured into uncharted executive territories and exercised powers as he saw fit. His campaign trail shows no change of heart. At a CNN town hall, Trump said he is “inclined to pardon many” of the people convicted of federal offenses for attacking the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. This display of power seemingly disregards judicial courts and supports criminals loyal to his cause. In both cases, he demonstrates confidence in presidential culture established during his administration.
Wrap Up
Trump-era presidential culture has reshaped the office’s symbolism. Firstly, the executive is held to vastly different expectations and norms. For example, we now expect the president to be active on social media and provide extraordinary transparency. We also hold them to different moral standards, as criminal charges and offensive language are typical. Secondly, the executive office is defined by partisanship. The president is less of a unifying symbol and more political party figurehead. This shift is largely thanks to the controversy over the press and what the executive frames as the “facts”. Thirdly, the president can shape public opinion/trust at their discretion. Trump persuasively used inherent powers, like the bully pulpit, and enumerated powers, such as the pardon, to concurrently build loyalty and sow division, manipulating public sentiment.
President Biden has aimed to depict a return to “normalcy,” yet when presidents inherit new powers and face heightened expectations, it is challenging to let go. It will be interesting to see how Trump's symbolic influence impacts our future leaders and the image of the executive office.
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