(Im)politeness in diplomacy: a critical discourse analysis of the Trump–Zelenskyy Oval Office meeting

Abstract

This study investigates a heated and highly intense political interaction: the Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It focuses on the intersection of language, power, and ideology in political discourse through critical analysis. The study adopts a multidisciplinary framework that comprises Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), politeness theory, and Leech’s politeness maxims to explore how interlocutors utilize language to reflect dominance, manage face, and negotiate ideological positions. It draws attention to the strategic application of politeness, impoliteness, and face-threatening acts as tools for reinforcing or contesting power. The analysis brings forward how such linguistic strategies in political interaction shape perceptions of authority, influence the dynamics of cooperation, and frame discourse as a site of negotiated power. Findings showed that politeness is inherently power-dependent, with its success heavily relying on both the interlocutors’ strategies and the hearers’ willingness to recognize and reciprocate them. Through his use of language, Trump reinforced and maintained ideological dominance, constraining his adjacent interlocutor’s agency. The study also offers insights into how discourse operates as a means for negotiating power and shaping political meaning.