Hegemonic masculinity in political discourse: a comparative analysis of Trump and El-Sisi’s speeches

Abstract

Political leadership is often deeply intertwined with notions of masculinity, shaping public perceptions and reinforcing cultural expectations of authority and dominance. This study explores the construction of hegemonic masculinity in political discourse by analysing recent speeches of the current US president, Donald Trump, and the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. It intends to draw attention to R.W. Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity, as well as its presence in performing a traditional and thus political masculinity, to present the stance of each president. Above that, using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study examines how both leaders, grasping firm political positions regarding their stands, deploy discursive strategies to mirror authority, dominance, and control, comparing Western and Middle Eastern perspectives. Findings suggest that while Trump’s discourse often emphasises personal success, competition, and confrontation to make “America great again”, and, most importantly, confrontation, El-Sisi’s speeches frame leadership within paternalistic and protective narratives, mirroring Middle-Eastern values of authority and national unity.