Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

2-2019

Abstract

The rhetoric of then U.S. President‐elect Donald Trump and Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte had triggered a shift in global political discourse (Greene, 2016). This study examines their responses on three similar crises: disrespectful remarks towards women, associations with controversial political figures, and remarks threatening geopolitical relations. Data from prestige publications, Washington Post (U.S.) and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, were analyzed during the acute stage of each crisis. Findings showed that both men employed confusing strategy combinations in their crisis responses. Despite incoherent application and contradictory strategies, they survived threats to their image as evidenced by poll results. New strategies (diversion and logorrhea) and a strategy amplifier (machismo) were uncovered. These strategies tapped on ambiguity and were found to be successfully employed in a post‐truth landscape. This study builds on Benoit's (2006) argument that “any attempt by a president to repair a damaged image … clearly merits scholarly attention” (p. 138).

Keywords

Crisis communication, image repair, United States, Philippines

Discipline

Asian Studies | Business and Corporate Communications | Social Influence and Political Communication

Research Areas

Corporate Communication

Publication

Journal of Public Affairs

Volume

19

Issue

1

First Page

e1883: 1

Last Page

11

ISSN

1472-3891

Identifier

10.1002/pa.1883

Publisher

Wiley: 24 months

Copyright Owner and License

Publisher

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1883

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