On December 2, 2015, two self-radicalized terrorists carried out the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil since the September 11th attacks, which remained the deadliest until the attack in Orlando. President Barack Obama made several statements in the days following the attack, and the way he addresses the nation in a time of crisis is of great significance due to the fragile emotional state of the public. Much can be learned from these statements about the President’s priorities in the wake of an attack. His views about the people who commit these acts of terror, the religion they claim to follow, and securing the country are all very apparent in these public addresses. Among Obama’s top priorities following a terrorist attack are reassuring the public and gaining their trust and support, characterizing the attackers and explaining their motivations, presenting a plan for recovery and prevention, and insisting that the US is not at war with Islam. Evaluating the effectiveness of these statements for gaining support for proposed policies and general approval provides useful insight into the President’s rhetorical strategies. President Obama successfully conveys his thoughts about Islam, terrorism, and mass shootings, but does not effectively gain support for his proposed policy changes. // A final research paper for the course COMM 3676W - Communicating Terrorism at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, finalized on December 19, 2016 and presented at the University of St. Thomas Undergraduate Communication Research Conference on a panel titles "Looming War and Terror: Uniting People Through Rhetoric" on March 31, 2017.
In the wake of a terrorist attack, do Americans’ attitudes toward Muslims decline?
