Trump's Unconventional Conduct

A document summarizing the controversies and assessments surrounding Donald Trump's unconventional remarks and actions, policies, and communication style.

Trump's Unconventional Conduct

Overview

'Trump's Unconventional Conduct' (트럼프의 기행) is a term collectively referring to the unconventional remarks and actions, impromptu policy decisions, and communication style that disregards established conventions displayed by U.S. President Donald Trump (in office 2017–2021, 2025– ) during his public service and political activities. Supporters interpret this as a direct challenge to establishment politics and an expression of 'candor,' while critics assess it as norm destruction and erosion of trust in institutions. As assessments are extremely polarized, this phenomenon has become a key keyword for understanding American politics and the international order.

Main Content

Concept and Background

Trump's political style was evident from the 2016 presidential election campaign stage. Instead of a traditional campaign centered on policy pledges, he combined large rallies, impromptu remarks, and direct communication via social media. In particular, he is evaluated as having established a 'disintermediated' communication model that bypasses the established media and connects directly with his support base through Twitter (now X). This method simultaneously gave rise to criticism that it created a structure in which claims that had not gone through fact-checking spread quickly, and to defense that it represented the sense of alienation of his supporters.

Notable Examples

Nickname politics: He habitually used rhetoric that branded opposing politicians and foreign leaders with nicknames such as 'Crooked Hillary,' 'Sleepy Joe,' and 'Rocket Man,' imprinting them on voters' perceptions.
Inauguration crowd size controversy: In 2017, he repeatedly made claims contrary to fact about the number of attendees at his inauguration, engaging in disputes with the media.
Diplomatic impulsiveness: It was pointed out that unpredictable diplomatic moves, such as the 2018 Singapore North Korea–United States summit and the Hanoi summit, caused confusion among allies and international organizations.
Refusal to accept election results: His claims denying the results of the 2020 presidential election and his remarks surrounding the January 6, 2021 Capitol intrusion are evaluated as a test of American democracy.
Tariffs and territorial remarks: The 2025 reciprocal tariffs and remarks concerning Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal directly affected the diplomatic and economic order.

Characteristics of His Communication Style

His messages tend to be short and declarative, and he maximizes emphasis through capitalization and repetition. In press conferences, he sometimes shifts topics impromptu, departing from the prearranged agenda. This style created an 'agenda-setting' effect that continuously draws news media attention, producing a paradoxical structure in which even critical coverage reinforces his presence.

Political Impact and Controversy

First, a realignment took place in which the Republican Party's policy line and support base became combined with Trump's personal brand. Second, in the international community, diplomatic uncertainty expanded due to reduced predictability. Third, institutional tension increased as conflicts over judicial procedures and administrative norms were repeated. On the other hand, his supporters see him as pushing practical agendas without being bound by political correctness.

Latest Developments (2024–2025)

After the shooting incident during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, he offered some messages emphasizing unity, but the basic rhetoric of his election campaign did not change significantly. After winning the November 2024 presidential election, he continued a blitz after taking office in January 2025, including excessive issuing of executive orders, restructuring of the federal government, and imposition of tariffs, strengthening his image as a 'norm-breaker.' The scene of a public clash during the Ukraine summit at the White House in February 2025 was assessed as having shocked allies, and remarks concerning Greenland and Canada drew official pushback from various governments. At the same time, tariff policy caused immediate volatility in global stock markets and supply chains, emerging as the biggest variable in economic news. In academia, research analyzing these moves under the frameworks of 'weakening of the rules-based order' and 'personalized exercise of power' is increasing, while an interpretation that they reflect voters' distrust of the existing political elite is also being raised.