Profanity From Trump Draws Attention to Shifting Norms on Presidential Language

President Trump's use of profanity in public settings in recent months has drawn attention to what some observers describe as a shift in norms around acceptable language from the US presidency.

Cheryl Johnson, a retired social worker in the Pittsburgh area who described a lifetime of political memories dating back to the 1960s, said she had not previously heard this level of swearing from American politicians. "All this cursing in politics, we never heard that before," she said, adding that in her view, none of the country's previous presidents had used comparable language.

Public reaction to the president's language has varied, with some viewing it as an authentic or blunt communication style and others expressing concern about the tone it sets for public discourse.

Presidential communication styles have evolved considerably over recent decades, with the rise of social media and less formal public appearances contributing to changes in how presidents address the public compared to earlier eras.