Presidential Rhetoric on Terrorism under Bush, Obama and Trump

Through the analysis of eighteen years of presidential data, this book shows how Presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump have conducted and framed the war on terror since its inception in 2001. Examining all presidential speeches about terrorism from George W. Bushs two terms as President, Barack Obamas two terms as President, and Donald Trumps first year as President, this book is the first to compare the three post-9/11 presidents in how they have dealt with the terror threat. Presidential Rhetoric on Terrorism under Bush, Obama, and Trump argues that when policies need to be sold to the public and Congress, presidents make their pertinent issues seem urgent through frequent speech-making and threat inflation. It further illustrates how after policies are sold, a new Presidents reticence may signify quiet acceptance of the old regimes approach. After examining the conduct of the war on terror to date, it concludes by posing policy suggestions for the future.