Linguistic Kill Shots

Trump uses specific communication techniques that create powerful frames his opponents can't escape from. This approach was identified by Scott Adams (Dilbert creator) as "linguistic kill shots."

What are linguistic kill shots?

• Memorable labels that stick to opponents (e.g., "low energy Jeb," "crooked Hillary")
• Visual words that create an image every time you see the person
• Subtext communication that plants messages effectively
• Terms that force opponents into unwinnable frames

How Trump's linguistic kill shots work

• They label something or bring attention to it in an extreme way
• Create frames that opponents must participate in
• Shift the debate to terms favorable to Trump
• Make it impossible for opponents to escape the framing
  • If Jeb Bush acted normally: "See, low energy"
  • If Jeb Bush became energetic: "Good job Jeb, you're doing it"

Examples of Trump's linguistic techniques

• Springfield Ohio migrants story

  • Made extreme claim about migrants "eating dogs and cats"
  • Fact-checkers focused on debunking this specific claim
  • This inadvertently spread his core message about immigration volume
  • Forced media to acknowledge 20,000 migrants in a town of 58,000
  • Made abstract immigration numbers concrete and visualizable

• McDonald's stunt

  • Worked at McDonald's to highlight questions about Kamala's work history
  • Created a visual moment that dominated news cycles

• Garbage truck appearance

  • Response to Biden calling Trump supporters "garbage"
  • Turned a negative into a visual moment that dominated media coverage
  • Shifted polling numbers in his favor

Effectiveness of this approach

• Creates news cycles that Trump dominates
• Shifts polling and prediction markets in real-time
• Can make him look like a "schoolyard bully" but remains highly effective
• Forces media to amplify his core messages while trying to fact-check details
• Allows him to control the narrative even when being criticized