Shaping National Discourse
If Ronald Reagan was known as the “Great Communicator,” President Trump has taken on the role of the “Big Editor,” influencing how Americans discuss key issues by altering the language used in government communications.
Shortly after taking office, the Department of Homeland Security instructed its staff to abandon terms favored by the previous administration, such as “undocumented” and “noncitizen,” reverting to the more traditional term “illegal alien” for individuals residing in the country without legal permission.
Similarly, at the Department of Health and Human Services, officials reinstated the term “Unaccompanied Alien Child” to describe minors who cross borders without parental accompaniment.
The Defense Department has informally been referred to as the War Department within certain circles of the administration, reflecting a broader shift in terminology. Additionally, Trump directed that the body of water between Florida and Texas be renamed as the Gulf of America.
Across various government agencies, there is a noticeable trend away from using “gender” towards more traditional terms like “sex” on official documents such as passports and immigration forms.
Trump’s unique speech patterns have drawn significant attention. Researchers from UCLA analyzed his vocabulary from 2015 to 2024 and found an increase in what they termed “violent vocabulary.” His speeches often include personal branding efforts, such as renaming institutions or creating new visa categories like the Trump Gold Card for wealthy investors.
Janet McIntosh, an anthropology professor at Brandeis University and author of Language in the Trump Era, notes that word choices can significantly frame public perception. For instance, describing crime as a “beast ravaging a city” may lead people to support harsher policing measures, while framing it as a disease could encourage social programs aimed at treatment.
McIntosh argues that Trump’s administration aims to shape public sentiment against those he labels outsiders. She believes that these linguistic preferences contribute to a climate where some individuals may become less empathetic towards marginalized groups.
Some terminology shifts have been mandated by agency leaders. For example, at the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), a memo was issued revoking previous directives that prohibited terms like “illegal” and “alien.” Acting Director Sirce Owen criticized earlier policies as misguided given their legal context.
The Trump administration’s changes also extend into regulatory language across various agencies. As regulations are updated, there is an effort to replace Biden-era gender terminology with sex-based designations deemed more accurate by current officials.
Rachel N. Morrison, director at the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s Administrative State Accountability Project, supports this initiative for clarity and accuracy in governmental communication.
