Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
A joint study from Montclair State University faculty in the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication in the School of Communication and Media and the Department of Justice Studies shows a dramatic increase in content containing the slur “retard” on X after Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving Day Truth Social post used the word. Findings showed a 225.7% increase in posts containing the r-word on X with 1,129,438 posts in the studied period. The most viewed, liked, and shared content analyzed enthusiastically endorsed use of the r-word. Results appear consistent with the period after other prominent accounts used the word, but with greater overall volume reflecting the reach of a U.S. President.
Publisher
Benton, B. & Peterka-Benton, D. (2025). “R-word” slurs tripled on X after Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving post used the word. The Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Benton, Bond and Peterka-Benton, Daniela, "“R-word” slurs triple on X after Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving post used the word" (2025). College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works. 64.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/scom-facpubs/64
Published Citation
Benton, B. & Peterka-Benton, D. (2025). “R-word” slurs tripled on X after Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving post used the word. The Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication.
Included in
Disability Studies Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, Social Media Commons