From Obama to Trump 2.0: How Do Presidents and Their Administrations Talk about Nuclear Energy and Why Does It Matter?
Location
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #115
Event Website
https://2026undergraduateresearchsy.sched.com/event/2JusR/from-obama-to-trump-20-how-do-presidents-and-their-administrations-talk-about-nuclear-energy-and-why-does-it-matter
Start Date
15-4-2026 3:00 PM
End Date
15-4-2026 3:30 PM
Description
Since the 1970s, nuclear energy has been contested in U.S. politics, criticized by environmental organizations and viewed as a threat by fossil fuel interests. These competing narratives shape public understanding of nuclear power's safety, environmental impact, and economic viability. This study examines how political framing influences nuclear energy policy by analyzing how Donald Trump's second administration presents nuclear energy to the American public compared to his first term. The objective is to assess how the administration's rhetoric and policy framing of nuclear energy have evolved between presidential terms, with particular attention to potential consequences for the nuclear energy sector and broader environmental and climate discourse. This research is motivated by a concern that recent shifts in framing will further undermine public trust in nuclear energy as a climate mitigation strategy and politicize environmental policy debates. Drawing on political science scholarship on framing, this study conducts a comparative qualitative analysis of official speeches, policy statements, and public communications from both Trump administrations. These materials are examined to identify how nuclear power is discussed in relation to energy independence, economic growth, and environmental responsibility. The project's significance lies in clarifying how presidential rhetoric shapes long-term attitudes toward both nuclear power and environmentalism. By analyzing framing across Trump's two terms, this research contributes to understanding how political communication influences the perceived compatibility of nuclear energy with climate policy and environmental protection. The findings will illuminate whether evolving discourse strengthens or weakens nuclear energy's position in America's climate strategy.
Publication Date
2026
From Obama to Trump 2.0: How Do Presidents and Their Administrations Talk about Nuclear Energy and Why Does It Matter?
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #115
Since the 1970s, nuclear energy has been contested in U.S. politics, criticized by environmental organizations and viewed as a threat by fossil fuel interests. These competing narratives shape public understanding of nuclear power's safety, environmental impact, and economic viability. This study examines how political framing influences nuclear energy policy by analyzing how Donald Trump's second administration presents nuclear energy to the American public compared to his first term. The objective is to assess how the administration's rhetoric and policy framing of nuclear energy have evolved between presidential terms, with particular attention to potential consequences for the nuclear energy sector and broader environmental and climate discourse. This research is motivated by a concern that recent shifts in framing will further undermine public trust in nuclear energy as a climate mitigation strategy and politicize environmental policy debates. Drawing on political science scholarship on framing, this study conducts a comparative qualitative analysis of official speeches, policy statements, and public communications from both Trump administrations. These materials are examined to identify how nuclear power is discussed in relation to energy independence, economic growth, and environmental responsibility. The project's significance lies in clarifying how presidential rhetoric shapes long-term attitudes toward both nuclear power and environmentalism. By analyzing framing across Trump's two terms, this research contributes to understanding how political communication influences the perceived compatibility of nuclear energy with climate policy and environmental protection. The findings will illuminate whether evolving discourse strengthens or weakens nuclear energy's position in America's climate strategy.
https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/urs_event/2026/oralpresentations/1