Profanity in political discourse has escalated significantly, with an analysis revealing that 87% of swear words attributed to U.S. presidents since 1919 have been uttered within the last 10 years. The study highlights a marked increase in vulgarity, particularly in presidential remarks.
Former President Donald Trump and his successor, Joe Biden, are responsible for the lion's share of this documented profanity. Together, they accounted for 538 profane words, representing 78% of the 692 swear words recorded from presidential speeches dating back to Woodrow Wilson's tenure. Dr. Joseph Phillips, a lecturer at Cardiff University, conducted the research, noting that profanity was once a rarity in official presidential remarks.
"It used to be rare for presidents, even as candidates, to swear in official remarks," Phillips wrote. "Woodrow Wilson broke the profanity seal in 1919, recounting a time where he made a ‘conspicuous *ss of himself.'" Phillips suggests that in an era of diminished political trust, profanity might be perceived by some as a signal of authenticity.
Trump has been notably less reserved with his language, especially when discussing high-stakes situations or expressing strong emotions. He has used a broader range of expletives, including terms like "bastard" and "bitch," according to Phillips' findings. For instance, during a discussion about Iran, Trump stated that the U.S. would "beat the f--king s--t out of" the country. He also issued an ultimatum to Tehran, saying they should "open the f--in' strait, you crazy bas--s, or you'll be living in hell."
President Biden, while also using expletives, generally employed milder language. As president, he occasionally used words like "damn." A notable instance from his vice presidency involved him telling then-President Barack Obama, "this is a big f--king deal," upon signing the Affordable Care Act. In a hot mic moment in 2022, Biden remarked to a mayor, "No one f--s with a Biden."
The public appears to be growing more accustomed to hearing politicians use expletives, with younger demographics reportedly finding it more acceptable than older generations, according to a YouGov poll.
This trend extends beyond the presidency. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) recently used an expletive during a Senate hearing while questioning Dr. Anthony Fauci about COVID-19 policies, asking, "Who the f--k do you think you were for doing that?"
Democrats have also been observed increasing their use of profanity. Representative Susie Lee (D-Nev.) gained attention earlier this year for an X post that included significant profanity in response to news about former President Trump attending a Supreme Court hearing. She later commented, "Sorry I just say f--k a lot these days."