Abstract
This study extends a multi-year investigation into Russian state, near-state, and pro-state media portrayals of U.S. political events, focusing on coverage of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election—a pivotal moment in U.S. history—and its implications for U.S.–Russia relations. Building on prior analyses of Trump’s media image during his 2016 campaign, the coverage of the Mueller investigation, as well as the 2021 Capitol riots, we examine how state-controlled and non-state, pro-state media outlets framed the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The media sample includes Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Komsomolskaya Pravda, and Kommersant, Izvestiya, which were analyzed across two phases: two months pre-election (September 1–November 5, 2024) and the election-to-inauguration period (November 6, 2024–January 20, 2025). Through both quantitative and qualitative content analysis of texts sourced from Russian media databases, we identify recurring narratives and metaphors, including narratives such as “Peacemaker” and “Disruptor” and metaphors such as “Fighter” and “Savior.” The analysis reveals how these outlets sought to shape domestic perceptions of geopolitical dynamics—portraying Trump as a favorable U.S. leader to validate Russia’s global influence and enhance perceptions of the modern Russian regime as strong and effective—while also exposing unintended reflections of internal hopes, such as a realigned global order or destabilized Western unity, and fears, notably Western resurgence. Viewing Russian state, near-state and pro-state media as a government instrument, this study provides insights into deliberate communication strategies and latent undercurrents, deepening our understanding of Russia’s narrative response to the 2024 election
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