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Submitted
July 17, 2025
Accepted
January 29, 2026
Published
January 30, 2026
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Abstract

This research aims to analyze and compare the use of modality in Donald Trump’s and Kamala Harris’ campaign speeches during the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. The study categorizes modality into three types: epistemic (certainty), deontic (obligation or permission), and dynamic (ability or willingness). Adopting a qualitative method with a semantic-pragmatic approach, the analysis focuses on the first 15 minutes of the core speech segments of both candidates. The findings reveal that Trump predominantly uses epistemic modality to assert certainty and authority, while Harris tends to employ deontic modality to convey moral responsibility and inclusiveness. In total, Trump used modality 117 times compared to Harris’s 52, reflecting differing rhetorical strategies and leadership styles. This study concludes that modality functions as a crucial linguistic tool in constructing political identity, establishing credibility, and influencing public perception.The abstract should concisely describe the content and scope of

Keywords

Modality Campaign Speeches Donald Trump Kamala Harris Political Discourse Analysis

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Copyright (c) 2026 Tyara Bunga Desilia, Kasmaini, Ira Maisarah

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite
Desilia, T. B., Kasmaini, & Ira Maisarah. (2026). Modality Analysis in Donald Trump’s and Kamala Harris’ Campaign Speeches in 2024 U.S Presidential Election: A Comparative Study. Journal of English for Specific Purposes in Indonesia, 5(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.33369/espindonesia.v5i1.43529
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