Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
Second Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Villada, Diego
Area of Concentration
Political Science
Abstract
This study lies at the intersection between politics and performance. I argue that social media is a political communicator and contributed to the January 6th insurrection through Donald Trump’s social media usage. He used his social media platforms to manipulate with misinformation and conspiracy theories. I examine the Save America speech Donald Trump gave on the morning of January 6, 2021, hours before the insurrection at the United States Capitol, as a performance piece and then analyze the words he said to connect his speech to misinformation and conspiracy theories. Along with this, Donald Trump urged his supporters to fight which ultimately incited the January 6th insurrection. The insurrection resulted in deaths and hundreds of arrests. It has damaged the way people trust the democratic process in elections and created a lack of security and confidence in voting.
Recommended Citation
Powell, KP, "DONALD TRUMP, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND JANUARY 6TH: AN ANALYSIS OF THE "SAVE AMERICA" SPEECH AND USAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN CONNECTION WITH THE JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION" (2023). Theses & ETDs. 6416.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6416