2026 Essays

Emotional Politics in the Age Of Trumpism: Analyzing the Emotional Discourses of Trumpist and Anti-Trumpist Political Leaders

Dougherty, Kevin J.

This paper analyzes the political importance of emotions in the age of Trumpism and how political actors both on the right and the left have tried to activate and channel those emotions. Political life is often portrayed as the realm of reason and interests. However, any careful analysis of politics shows that the mobilization of emotions is an intrinsic part of politics and a force for good as much as ill. Donald Trump and JD Vance have been quick to recognize and mobilize emotions. However, anti-Trump political leaders – most notably, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Zohran Mamdani – have also strongly appealed to emotions in order to mobilize their followers. This paper analyzes how Trumpists and their left wing opponents have appealed in particular to the emotions of loss and sadness, shame, fear, distrust, anger, and hope. In this analysis, the paper draws on key concepts in the sociology, psychology, and political science of emotions and of social movements. These concepts include emotion work or management, emotional discourses, symbolic power, collective identity, and collective action frames.