At 2:30am on November 6, following the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump declared victory in a speech, after securing key swing states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, gave her concession speech later that afternoon at 4:24 p.m. This article analyzes their speeches from my own perspective and includes AI-based insights.

Note: This article does not focus on political opinions, policies, or reasons for the election results, but solely on the speech techniques used.

Trump’s Self-Centric (“I-Focused”) Speech

At Breakthrough Speaking, we refer to a self-centric speech style as an “I-Focused” or “Me, Me” speech, and Trump’s victory speech was a prime example. For more about “Me Me speeches,” see the related article: Four Essential Questions for Crafting a Persuasive Presentation (written in Japanese only).

Point #1: Portraying Himself as a Triumphant Overcomer

Trump emphasized his victory by portraying himself as a rare, unstoppable winner. Prior to Election Day, he assured supporters that he was certain of his win, stating that he would triumph if there were no fraud. In his victory speech, however, he described himself as having “overcome incredible obstacles,” framing himself as an underdog who achieved an unprecedented political comeback.

“We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we’ve achieved the most incredible political thing. Look what happened—is this crazy? But it’s a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this.”

Trump highlighted his triumph over challenges, including criminal trials and an attempted assassination, positioning his win as “the biggest political comeback in American history.” He also praised the success of his “MAGA” movement, attributing the movement’s impact to his leadership. The MAGA movement, coined from Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again,” focuses on prioritizing American interests, strengthening borders, and preserving traditional American values.

Point #2: Praising Only His Inner Circle

In his 25-minute speech, Trump avoided any mention of his opponent, Kamala Harris, or the Democratic Party. But rather, he focused solely on praising himself, his party, and those closest to him. Particularly notable was his praise for Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, whom he described as a “star.”

Musk not only donated a significant sum to Trump’s campaign through his political action committee, super PAC, but also initiated a controversial campaign to draw attention to Trump’s platform by awarding $1 million to a selected supporter every day. Trump celebrated Musk and other supporters like UFC CEO Dana White and podcasters Theo Von and Joe Rogan as members of his “inner circle.”

Point #3: Using Religious Rhetoric to Elevate Himself

A defining feature of Trump’s rhetoric has been his use of religious rhetoric, particularly since an attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania. In his victory speech, Trump referenced divine selection:

“They said that many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason. And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness.”

This use of religious rhetoric bolstered his “I-Focused” narrative, amplifying his perceived significance, even divineness, among his supporters.

AI Analysis

At Breakthrough Speaking, we sometimes use AI analysis tool Yoodli, to provide objective feedback during coaching sessions. Analyzing Trump’s speech, Yoodli identified a significant use of “weak words” and “repetition,” both of which I agree as characteristic of his style.

“Weak Words” included terms like “Great,” “Best,” and “Very,” along with expressions like “I think,” “I hope,” and “probably.” These words may sound positive but lack specific impact, which can weaken the speaker’s authority. We advocate for clarity and specificity in language, something we refer to as the KISS (Keep It Simple Specific) principle.

“Repetition” was also prominent in Trump’s speech, with many phrases needlessly repeated—55 times, according to AI analysis. This contrasts with the intentional repetition of impactful messages, something we call the “One Big Message®” technique.

Harris’s Empathetic, Listener-Focused Speech

Kamala Harris, despite delivering a concession speech, began with a smile and an uplifting “Good afternoon, good afternoon,” and her tone remained warm throughout. Her speech was crafted to resonate with the emotions of her disappointed supporters.

Point #1: Emphasizing Hope over Optimism

Psychologist Kendra Thomas explains that optimism often relies on luck, whereas hope involves facing difficulties head-on with determination and planning. Harris leaned into this definition of hope, encouraging her audience not with blind positivity but with actionable suggestions:

“The fight for freedom requires effort, but working and fighting for this country is always worthwhile.”

Harris encouraged listeners to act—vote, improve their communities, and show kindness—to shine light in challenging times, ending with a call to “fill the sky with stars,” embodying hope rather than optimism.

Point #2: Using Psychological Research as the Basis of Her Message

Harris’s call for hope aligns with research suggesting that hope, rather than optimism, better predicts success and resilience. She encouraged listeners to support each other, showing that hope grounded in reality can foster lasting strength.

Point #3: Citing Powerful Quotes to Reinforce Hope and Light

In her closing, Harris quoted famous speeches to reinforce her message of hope. She referenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with, “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” She then alluded to George H.W. Bush’s “thousand points of light,” ending her speech with:

“If it is a dark time, let us fill the sky with a billion brilliant stars—stars of optimism, faith, truth, and service.”

These references helped Harris strengthen her message, echoing respected historical figures to inspire confidence in her audience.

AI Analysis

Yoodli’s AI analysis of Harris’s speech showed fewer “weak words” and less repetition than Trump’s speech. Instead, Harris’s challenge was conciseness. While AI suggested concise phrases, like “Full of gratitude for your trust, love for our country, and resolve”, I have a different view. From a professional speaker’s point of view, Harris’s adept use of repetition in threes created a rhythm that strengthened her message’s emotional appeal.  So I would keep “Full of gratitude for your trust, Full of love for our country, and full of resolve”. 

AI can be insightful but may miss the nuances of human emotion.

Through contrasting styles, Trump and Harris each engaged their audiences in distinct ways. Trump’s I-Focused speech style resonated with his core supporters, while Harris’s empathetic, You-Focused and hope-centered speech aimed to inspire resilience. Each approach offers valuable lessons in speechmaking.