The Apology: A close reading on political apologiesMain MenuTHE APOLOGYA close reading on todays political apologiesThe art of the political apologyAnalyzing the objective of the political apologyImage repair theoryThe real objective of Trump's apologyWhat's the medium?History of the political apologyReview of where we have seen the public apology from american politicians beforeIt's not a craft, it's sincerityWhat an apology should beResponses to Trump's apologyTrump triumphsSomehow, people still voted Trump for presidentAvoiding this outcome in the future—How to become a critical thinkerThink twice about the messageWorks CitedDelaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Delaney Steel
On October 7, 2016, Donald Trump shared a public apology on his Facebook's presidential campaign page, which was meant to address his inappropriate comments about sexually assaulting women from a decade ago. The “apology” was announced after a video was released early October 2016, where Trump was caught bragging to Billy Bush about grabbing women by the pussy (00:01:24-00:01:28). I've placed quotes around the word apology because for the majority of Trump's statement, he gloats about what a wonderful person he has become, and rather than saying "sorry," he deflects the attention to his opponent, Hillary Clinton, saying that she is “[running] our country into the ground." Furthermore, Trump exclaims that Hillary Clinton is the real bully for shaming her husband’s victims that he sexually abused.
While reviewing his public apology, I will draw from academic sources to help analyze the real objective of Trump’s apology, the style, the channel he’s used to convey his message, and the effect of his apology. I will also demonstrate how Trump strategically diverts blame as a part of image repair theory. The overall purpose is to review politicians’ tendencies to strategically manipulate their messages in public apologies to attain a positive image. I will then conclude with why this is an issue, and what an ideal apology should be.
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12017-04-11T14:24:50-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312The Apology: A close reading on todays political apologiesDelaney Steel3book_splash2017-04-12T22:21:23-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T16:49:32-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312History of the Political ApologyDelaney Steel12Review of where we have seen the public apology from american politicians beforeplain2017-04-17T19:56:04-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-11T14:59:42-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312What's the Medium?Delaney Steel4plain2017-04-17T19:51:16-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T16:23:11-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312The Art of the Political ApologyDelaney Steel16Analyzing the objective of the political apologyplain2017-04-17T20:40:01-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T16:35:40-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Image Repair TheoryDelaney Steel18The real objective of Trump's apologyplain2017-04-13T09:31:54-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T21:51:27-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Responses to Trump's ApologyDelaney Steel14plain2017-04-12T19:35:04-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
1media/170112_POL_trump.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg2017-04-04T17:45:14-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Trump's Public ApologyDelaney Steel26Introductionplain2017-04-17T19:33:07-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
1media/170112_POL_trump.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg2017-04-04T17:45:14-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Trump's Public ApologyDelaney Steel26Introductionplain2017-04-17T19:33:07-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
1media/170112_POL_trump.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg2017-04-04T17:45:14-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Trump's Public ApologyDelaney Steel26Introductionplain2017-04-17T19:33:07-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
1media/170112_POL_trump.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg2017-04-04T17:45:14-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Trump's Public ApologyDelaney Steel26Introductionplain2017-04-17T19:33:07-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
1media/170112_POL_trump.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg2017-04-04T17:45:14-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Trump's Public ApologyDelaney Steel26Introductionplain2017-04-17T19:33:07-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
Contents of this path:
12017-04-10T16:23:11-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312The Art of the Political Apology16Analyzing the objective of the political apologyplain2017-04-17T20:40:01-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T16:35:40-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Image Repair Theory18The real objective of Trump's apologyplain2017-04-13T09:31:54-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-11T14:59:42-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312What's the Medium?4plain2017-04-17T19:51:16-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T16:49:32-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312History of the Political Apology12Review of where we have seen the public apology from american politicians beforeplain2017-04-17T19:56:04-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T17:03:08-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312It's not a craft, it's sincerity17What an apology should beplain2017-04-17T20:33:08-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T21:51:27-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Responses to Trump's Apology14plain2017-04-12T19:35:04-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-10T22:13:31-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Trump Triumphs9Somehow, people still voted Trump for presidentplain2017-04-12T21:55:57-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
1media/170112_POL_trump.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg2017-04-04T17:45:14-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312Trump's Public Apology26Introductionplain2017-04-17T19:33:07-07:00Delaney Steeldc902622a29da2820197bfff1ad87b69a6164312
12017-04-04T17:14:41-07:00Trump's "locker room banter"1Video of Trump bragging to Billy Bush about "grabbing women by the pussy." (video retrieved from The Hill)plain2017-04-04T17:14:41-07:00