Performative Apocalypse: Rhetoric, Power, and Absurdity in Contemporary U.S. Political Communication and Kubrickian Satire

This paper examines apocalyptic political rhetoric, executive power, and the normalization of catastrophic discourse in contemporary U.S. political communication. Through a case study of 2026 U.S.–Iran crisis rhetoric attributed to Donald Trump, it develops the concept of performative apocalyptic deterrence and compares this rhetoric to the structural satire of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove. The paper applies rhetorical analysis, deterrence theory, securitization theory, and media ecology, while also considering legal and normative implications under international humanitarian law. Deposited here as a publication-ready PDF with Chicago-style notes, bibliography, DOI reference, and AI Transparency Statement.