PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE: THE ROLE OF DEICTIC EXPRESSIONS IN DONALD TRUMP’S 2025 UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPEECH

Abstract

This study presents a pragmatic analysis of political discourse by examining the role of deictic expressions in Donald Trump’s 2025 United Nations General Assembly speech. Drawing on John Lyons’ Theory of Deixis, the research identifies and categorizes person, spatial, temporal, discourse, and social deixis within the speech, exploring how these linguistic elements function to construct political identity, assert authority, and engage the international audience. the study Employing a qualitative methodology to analyzes the official transcript of Trump’s address, focusing on the context and purposes behind each deictic usage. The findings reveal that Trump strategically deploys deictic expressions to personalize achievements, delineate group boundaries, and reinforce national and institutional hierarchies. Person deixis is used to foster solidarity and highlight leadership, while spatial and temporal deixis situate the United States at the center of global affairs and emphasize progress. Discourse and social deixis further contribute to narrative cohesion and the establishment of social roles. This research contributes to the understanding of how deixis operates as a persuasive tool in political communication, offering insights into the dynamic interplay between language, power, and audience perception in American political discourse.