TRUMPS SOCIAL MEDIA – THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF HIS PRESIDENCY: A CONTENT ANALYSIS

More than any time in history technology allows politicians to directly reach large audiences to increase interaction. Modern social media permits information to be more accessible, direct, and permanent. Politicians can address audiences more frequently and directly through mobile devices - a tactic which creates a perception of immediacy unseen in past political climates. Specifically, Twitter grants unfiltered communication with users, while bypassing established mainstream media. The use of Twitter politically was first revolutionized by Barak Obama. Donald Trump’s use of Twitter has elevated this social media platform to an unheard-of level. A content analysis was conducted on President Donald Trump’s Tweets from his first 100 days in office. The results indicate that the majority of these Tweets can be separated into the Burkeian categories of Identity and Division. A discussion of the substance of these Tweets, the political use of social media, and specifically President Trump’s embracing of Twitter ensues