Aggressiveness Quote by Hillary Rodham Clinton
““You’ve got to give it to Trump—he’s hateful, but it’s hard to look away from him. He uses his size to project power: he looms over the podium, gets in interviewers’ faces, glowers, threatens to punch people. I watched a video of one of our debates with the sound off and discovered that, between his theatrical arm waving and face making and his sheer size and aggressiveness, I watched him a lot more than I watched me.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: 2016 Democratic National Convention, 2016
Clinton observes that Trump’s aggressive, theatrical style draws attention despite his hateful rhetoric, highlighting how spectacle can dominate media coverage.
In simple terms: Trump’s showmanship overshadows his message.
Recognize the power of spectacle in politics.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- campaign coverage
- media analysis
- public debates
- political advertising
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does theatricality affect voter perception?
- Can media focus on policy over personality?
Spectacle can distract from substantive policy critique.