“Then, in 2016, the earth shifted beneath our feet. The rebellion started as a quiet protest, spoken by families of all colors and creeds — families who just wanted a fair shot for their children, and a fair hearing for their concerns. But then the quiet voices became a loud chorus — as thousands of citizens now spoke out together, from cities small and large, all across our country. Finally, the chorus  became an earthquake — and the people turned out by the tens of millions, and they were all united by one very simple, but crucial demand, that America must put its own citizens first … because only then, can we truly MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”

If, at the beginning, you mistook that quote as an exerpt from an obscure Bolshevik revival rally in Central America, you are not alone. It’s hard to shake the grandiose and mythical lyricism of a Trump speech. Lush with metaphor and ham-fisted metaphor (“…rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation”), Bible quotes and ironic Bible-like language in the key of acceptance (“When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us, ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.’”), and such a staggering usage of “we,” as to make our copy editor grimace (“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 difference in performance between Trump’s unscripted rally speeches and the more refined speeches presented in his Inaugural Address and the recent Address to Congress. Indeed, when he reads off the teleprompter, his voice, usually wheeling and dealing in a high-pitched frenzy, comes out in a deep and halting vibrato. What does this prove? Nothing. But it will be interesting to see the two personalities clash. One, an esteemed (or at least, reckless) businessman, eager to settle a deal. The other, a posturing dignitary revelling in newfound power and influence. But no matter the subject nor the visceral nature of the man’s statements, we must keep in mind that a speech is just a speech. Time and decisions will reveal the President’s position much better than a team of speechwriters with delusions of grandeur ever could.

By Alex Serrano