Against the status quo : how Trump’s second inauguration speech pre-configures the privileged future

Presidential inauguration speeches are powerful discursive tools that frame political visions, establish legitimacy, and outline future policy trajectories. This study critically examines the discursive strategies employed in Donald Trump’s second inauguration speech, focusing on how he preconfigures the future through ideological and epistemological narratives. Using Critical Discourse Studies (CDS) and the framework of alternative futures in political discourse, this analysis explores Trump’s rhetorical construction of the status quo as a crisis-ridden site that requires a radical departure. The study identifies two key discursive schemas – Local Conflict Schema (LCS) and Global Conflict Schema (GCS) – which shape his critique of past administrations and justify his envisioned policies. Trump’s discourse portrays his leadership as a salvific force, employing populist, nationalistic, and religious rhetoric to legitimise his future-oriented agenda. By examining these discursive constructions, this research contributes to understanding how political figures employ language to shape public perceptions and legitimise future policy directions.