A CALL TO DEFEND: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF DONALD TRUMP’S SUPPORT OF ISRAEL BY ITAMAR S. LEWIN-ARUNDALE A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS Communication May, 2021 Winston-Salem, North Carolina Approved By: Michael J. Hyde, PhD, Advisor Randall Rogan, PhD, Chair Jarrod Atchison, PhD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It’s important to start my acknowledgements by saying that this thesis is merely a contribution to a longstanding work. My ancestors and family have given their lives to help defend against individuals that persecute Jews and for the existence of a Jewish state. A state dedicated to protecting my generation and their descendants from having to make the same sacrifice. This thesis is my response to a call passed down from generation to generation. One that pieced the ears of the Jews of Alexandria in 27 AD and the same one that pierced the night of broken glass as my grandmother watched Nazi’s destroy her father’s pet store in Berlin. This thesis is dedicated to the countless individuals who have already fought this battle and laid the groundwork for the call that I hear today. I could not be in the position I am in if I did not stand on their shoulders. That being said, there are many people that helped me with my contribution to this calling and each and every one deserves acknowledgement. I will try and do my best to include everyone but know that if your name is not explicitly mentioned you are much appreciated. First and foremost, Dr. Michael Hyde’s mentorship and guidance through my undergraduate and graduate experience at Wake Forest University has provided me with a world worth of skills and understanding no student should expect from any other professor. Dr. Hyde’s commitment to each student and his ability to expand their understanding of themselves and the way they communicate is awe inspiring. It takes a uniquely special individual to offer what Dr. Hyde provides students and it takes an even more uniquely special individual to pave cracks before students can fall through them. Dr. Hyde has a way of bringing students with him on an intellectual journey that even the most unwilling or uncurious student gets tangled in. I remember at the beginning of every course I took with Dr. Hyde he would say, “if you don’t want to get dirty then get out. This class is going to go deep and that will require work. If you aren’t ready then I suggest you leave now.” If getting dirty is the analogy than even the most reluctant student was filthy by the end of his courses. My experience with Dr. Hyde as a thesis advisor was no different. He helped me when I needed guidance and encouraged me when I was restless. He provided structure when I faltered and provided perspective when I failed to follow that structure. Thank you for the time you gave to this thesis on your own. Thank you for the time and hospitality you and Bobette gave to Sarah and I in your back yard. I can genuinely say I am a very lucky advisee. You are always going on about acknowledgement and its time you received some from me! The next individuals I have to thank for this thesis are Dr. Randall Rogan and Dr. Jarrod Atchison. Dr. Rogan, I missed out on the opportunity to work with you during my tenure as an undergraduate at Wake and that was a huge mistake. The insight you provide me with in and out of class has been a major contribution to the formulation of the arguments that this thesis is built off of, and for that I owe this thesis to you. More than once, your lectures or the casual conversations we have in the halls of Carswell have translated into the arguments present in my thesis. I believe it was your course that I initially learned about Tuvia Grossman, the subject of the case study in Chapter One. That is simply one ii of many data points in this thesis that you taught me about or explained in a new way that allowed me to see something new. Israel has always been my passion and sharing that with someone in the department has been an invaluable resource. I thank you for the general dedication and care you put in teaching individuals about the Middle East and for all that you have specifically done in furthering my understanding. I should apologize to you for all the times I’ve made you late with hallway conversation. I also have to thank Dr. Atchison for being an early sounding board for my thesis ideas. You provided me with the rhetorical underpinnings necessary to engage in a thesis like this and helped me flesh out the direction I wanted my thesis to go in. In my first year of graduate studies, I spent time fleshing out what would eventually be my thesis with you. Although it evolved into something different than I initially structured, I appreciate your help getting me going. I also thoroughly enjoyed the lunches we had together and look forward to similar opportunities in the future. Many inhabitants of Carswell Hall that are not on this committee have contributed to my writing this thesis. Candice and Janice deserve a special thanks for being constant problem solvers. I don’t think I would have gotten through my first assignment let alone writing my thesis without your administrative and emotional assistance, and for that I am eternally grateful. I feel like in my second year of graduate school I was robbed of the time we spent dancing, laughing and storytelling in your office. Alessandra, although I only got to take one of your courses in graduate school, you have been a mentor and a role-model to me during my time at Wake Forest (I think my undergraduate course history makes up for it!) You were my entrance into the fruitful world of rhetoric and gave me the skillset and classical knowledge I needed to succeed. You have always found value in my thought process and pushed me to make my argumentation strategies clearer and more effective. Your passion for taking action and encouraging individuals to go manifest the change they would like to see had a lasting impact on me, my thesis, and my call. On top of that, you have always acknowledged my presence in the department and made me feel like it was my home. I would not have had the interest or courage in returning if you were not a part of the department and for that I can’t thank you enough. I hope to continue having you as a mentor and am lucky to have had the opportunity to be affected by your passion. To Dr. Louden and Glacier, graduate school would have been tough without you. Thanks for being the smiling face I could always count on when I needed it. Graduate school can be challenging, and our thought-provoking conversations (both Dr. Louden and Glacier) helped me sift through the hardest of times and have left me with insight I will carry through life. Thank you for opening your home to me and my fellow graduate students and providing us with the reassuring warm presence every stressed graduate student seeks. It takes a truly special person to devote the amount of time and effort you put into students. Despite the fact that I’ve only taken one of your classes, I feel like I got the full experience. For all the deck conversations, scholarly guidance, and good company I am truly grateful. Speaking of companionship, my friends are a large part of my mental stability. I have to thank Rayvon for pushing me to pursue further education in communication. Since iii meeting you, you have radiated positivity, pushed me to do great things, and been there to watch as I do it. I could not have gotten through year one without having you as my roommate and year two without having you as my sounding board. I also have to thank Sydney for being an amazing companion throughout my graduate experience. When I needed to vent, to laugh, or to just chill you have been there. Meeting you has been one of the greatest things over the past two years and the development of our friendship makes me excited for the future. Additionally, I appreciate the opportunity graduate school provided for meeting and spending time with people like Kristen, David, and many more. To Razi, the emotional and intellectual support you’ve provided over video chat has been some of the most time consuming, but also reward experiences during quarantine. Our talks never cease to be hours long and I enjoy every minute. I couldn’t imagine having done it without you. To Uri, River, the Matcha Boys, and the rest of my close friends, thank you for being there when I needed to relieve stress or vent. To my girlfriend, Sarah, you have been the most encouraging supportive brightness that I needed in life, but more specifically to complete graduate school. Since meeting you, you have been there for every bump on the road and are the first to think of ways around them. You provided me with intangible support like companionship when times were tough and tangible support like edits throughout the process because writing is always tough. You are truly my number one fan and I not only hear you say it, but see it in your actions.