Discourse and Power in Presidential Rhetoric: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Biden's State of the Union Address

This study applied the Critical Discourse Analysis approach to the 2023 State of the Union address by President Joe Biden, with the aim of demonstrating how language was used in the construction of power relations and ideologies in American political discourse. According to Fairclough's three-dimensional model of analysis-text, discursive practice, and social practice-the research investigated Biden's linguistic strategies and their socio-political aftermath. Through textual analysis, results showed inclusive pronouns, repetition, and parallel structures as ways Biden fostered national unity. Discursive practice analysis revealed how Biden merged formal political discourse with emotive language to appeal both to institutional authority and emotional bonds. The social practice dimension laid open Biden's efforts to position the United States in the world, particularly in terms of democracy versus autocracy. Findings suggested that through strategic language use and issue framing, Biden outlined a narrative of national unity, economic fairness, and global leadership. This research contributed to an understanding of how political discourse shapes public perception and policy agendas in contemporary democracies. It underscores the need for ongoing research into the evolution of political discourse in light of global challenges and changing media contexts.