Day 31: Trump 2017 vs Trump 2024 -

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Today, let’s reflect. It’s a good time to review how 2017 Trump has morphed into 2024 Trump. I compared his inauguration speech from 2017 and his stump speech at a campaign rally in Waunakee, Wisconsin, just before the Vice Presidential Debate. But before we start, this news just broke:

Bob Woodward’s latest book details recent conversations between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. This unexpected account of Trump’s private talks with the Russian leader since leaving office paints a startling picture of a former president still deeply involved with foreign players.

According to Woodward, Trump held multiple calls with Putin and even sent COVID-19 testing machines directly to him during the pandemic. The revelation highlights Trump’s continued engagement in international affairs, even as he campaigns to return to the White House, casting a long shadow over his past claims of “America First.”

This recent story underscores a stark contrast: the vision of unity Trump painted in his 2017 inauguration speech has given way to a tone of division, blame, and grievance in his 2024 campaign rhetoric.

In 2017, his inaugural address spoke to a “forgotten” America, promising that “the forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.” But in a rally speech this year, his tone was anger and bitterness. He blamed the current administration for everything from economic instability to impending global catastrophe, claiming, “We’re not going to make predictions because the predictions always come true. They are very close to global catastrophe.”

These recent revelations are troubling because they raise questions about Trump’s loyalties and his ongoing influence in global affairs despite no longer holding office. By maintaining close, private ties with Putin—a leader widely condemned for his aggression in Ukraine—Trump risks compromising America’s stance on international conflicts.

Moreover, his decision to send Putin COVID-19 testing machines at the height of the pandemic suggests a prioritization of personal relationships over national welfare. Such actions blur the lines between public duty and personal interests and set a precedent for how leaders might use their influence post-presidency, potentially undermining the integrity and independence expected from former heads of state.

Trump’s encompasses the worst of America and thinks you’ll vote for it.

Below, I look at what Trump promised and delivered in his four years. This is just one window into his decline and bloviating. I think it shows just how the real Trump Derangement Syndrome is taking hold.

Tone and Message
Inauguration 2017 The tone of the speech is one of somber determination and populist resolve. Trump focuses on restoring power to the people, saying, “The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.” He casts himself as an outsider bringing change to a “broken” political system, using language that paints America as a victim of poor leadership. He promises to put “America First” and return power to ordinary citizens. “The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now.” Trump uses a hopeful, empowering tone, speaking directly to the American people, especially those who feel left behind by the political system.	Rally Speech 2024 This speech is much more aggressive and politically charged, focusing heavily on attacking his opponents and the current administration. Trump paints a grim picture of the country, claiming that the “whole world is laughing at us” and referencing inflation, foreign policy issues, and border security. He repeatedly targets Biden and Harris, claiming they have caused global instability and enriched Iran. There’s a more personalized anger in his tone, focusing on specific grievances and perceived betrayals. “We have a non-existent president and a non-existent vice president who should be in charge, but nobody knows what’s going on.” Here, Trump’s tone is much more critical and aggressive. He directly attacks President Biden and Vice President Harris, framing them as incompetent and absent from their duties.
Themes
Inauguration 2017 The overarching theme is unity and power to the people. Trump emphasizes a shift from Washington elites to ordinary citizens, calling it “a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before.” His speech is centered around nationalism, promising to protect American interests first by rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and military, stopping crime, and ending “American carnage.” “We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.” The focus is on a return to greatness, using patriotic themes of rebuilding and restoring America’s strength.	Rally Speech 2024 The 2024 rally speech focuses heavily on divisive politics. Trump criticizes the Biden administration for “flooding Iran with American cash” and highlights issues such as open borders and corruption within the current government. He shifts between discussing foreign policy, inflation, and domestic incompetence. The speech is laced with hyperbole, framing current events as a near-apocalyptic failure of leadership, warning of World War III and total loss of respect on the world stage. “We’re not going to make predictions because the predictions always come true. They are very close to global catastrophe.” The theme here is alarmist, with Trump warning of impending disaster under the current leadership, especially regarding foreign policy and war.
Style and Rhetoric
Inauguration 2017 The inauguration speech is formal and presidential in tone. While it contains some of Trump’s trademark populist rhetoric, it is framed within a vision of hope and renewal for the American people. The language is relatively restrained and aimed at appealing to a broad national audience. “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.” While assertive, this phrase is carefully crafted to signal a shift in governance and promises an end to what he sees as years of decline. The rhetoric is designed to unite the country around a common goal.	Rally Speech 2024 The rally speech is informal, more personal, and filled with ad-libs, humor, and aggressive attacks. Trump directly engages with the audience, playing to their reactions and even veering into personal anecdotes about business and Elon Musk. There’s a notable shift toward playing to his base with emotional rhetoric rather than formal presidential language. “She was caught yesterday on an airplane staging a fake photo op. Did you see that with the telephone? The phone wasn’t even plugged in.” The style in 2024 is more informal, with Trump focusing on anecdotes and personal attacks on his opponents. This rhetorical style is more conversational and aims to energize the crowd rather than unite the country.
Nationalism vs. Partisanship
Inauguration 2017 Trump’s nationalism is prominent, with repeated calls to “Buy American and hire American.” He invokes the collective pride of American identity, intending to unite people under the idea of national renewal, promising to “bring back our jobs” and rebuild the country from within. The partisanship is less explicit as he focuses more on the nation as a whole rather than specific opponents. “We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American.” Trump’s nationalism is clear, with a focus on policies that prioritize American workers and industries without specifically attacking political opponents.	Rally Speech 2024 The nationalism here shifts toward more explicit partisanship. Trump goes after Democrats directly, especially Vice President Harris, accusing her of staging photo-ops and incompetence. His critique of San Francisco and Kamala Harris’ handling of the city devolves into personal attacks, contrasting the “common sense” of his Republican base against the incompetence of Democrats. The speech also hints at a broader political strategy, framing the upcoming elections as a referendum on failed Democratic leadership. “We are the party of common sense… We want borders. We want fair elections. We want honest elections.” The tone shifts toward partisanship, presenting Republicans as the party of reason and Democrats as the root cause of national failures. This rhetoric is designed to rally his political base.
Foreign Policy
Inauguration 2017 The foreign policy theme is rooted in isolationism and military strength. Trump asserts that America will “reinforce old alliances” but emphasizes that the country will no longer be exploited. The “America First” policy is introduced, signaling that foreign policy will focus on American interests rather than international ones. “We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example. We will shine for everyone to follow.” Trump’s foreign policy at the time was grounded in non-interventionism and leading by example rather than direct involvement in foreign affairs.	Rally Speech 2024 Foreign policy dominates much of the speech, especially in Iran and the Middle East. Trump claims that the Biden administration has made Iran rich and destroyed stability in the region. He suggests that under his administration, such foreign threats were in check, and there’s a clear distinction between his claimed successes and Biden’s failures. He also uses the platform to critique Biden’s handling of Ukraine and Israel, suggesting his leadership would have prevented these crises. “Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel… We are very close to World War III.” Due to Trump’s perception of the current administration’s failures, foreign policy is presented as a looming disaster. His message is focused on fear of global conflict, contrasting with the more reserved stance of 2017.
Economic Focus
Inauguration 2017 Economic renewal is a core theme of the 2017 inauguration. Trump promises to bring back jobs, rebuild infrastructure, and promote American industries. His message is optimistic about economic growth through protectionism and isolationist policies. “We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs.” The focus in 2017 is on protectionism, promising to protect American industries and workers from external threats through strong economic policies.	Rally Speech 2024 While the rally speech mentions the economy, the focus is more on blaming the Biden administration for inflation and economic woes. Trump asserts that none of these economic struggles, like inflation and the Afghanistan withdrawal, would have occurred under his watch. His speech addresses economic hardship in a combative manner, focusing on failures rather than solutions. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made Iran rich. In a very short period of three and a half years, they have $300 billion now.” Trump uses economic references here to blame the current administration for enriching foreign adversaries, framing the Biden administration as responsible for domestic economic and foreign policy failures.

The 2017 inauguration speech and the 2024 rally speech represent two starkly different political moments for Donald Trump.

In 2017, he positioned himself as a unifying force, promising to bring back economic prosperity and return power to the people. By 2024, his rhetoric has become far more divisive, focusing on blaming political opponents for a host of domestic and international crises.

The tone and approach have shifted from hopeful promises of reform to an aggressive defense against foreign and domestic perceived enemies.

Yet in both speeches, Trump emphasizes his role as a fighter for the American people, despite steady evidence, including the news about Putin today, that shows hell is willing to sell out America to advance Trump’s interests.