PWSA's WrestlePosium Keynote Inspires Bloomberg Feature on Trump Rhetoric and Pro Wrestling
Last year’s WrestlePosium featured a standout moment with author Shannon O’Brien delivering the academic keynote, offering an incredible talk on the synergies between Donald Trump’s rhetoric and professional wrestling. The lecture was so popular that it caught the attention of Bloomberg US Treasury Reporter Daniel Flatley, who referenced PWSA in his insightful article, “What Trump Learned From Pro Wrestling Doesn’t Apply to Tariffs.” You can read the full article here and by clicking below.
President Donald Trump has a long history of showing up at and participating in pro-wrestling events. And he’s been known to use a few of its tropes in his political career. Daniel Flatley writes today about how that might affect tariff negotiations (really!). Plus: 100 Trump moments you might have missed, and the viral Labubu dolls will have to contend with tariffs.
Shannon O’Brien is the author of two notable books: Why Presidential Speech Locations Matter: Analyzing Speechmaking from Truman to Obama and Donald Trump and the Kayfabe Presidency: Professional Wrestling Rhetoric in the White House. Her groundbreaking keynote presentation can be viewed on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAXOdvfIvns
PWSA WrestlePosium VI (April, 2025) Academic Keynote Speaker Shannon O’Brien.
Shannon B. O'Brien specializes in American Politics, focusing on the American Presidency and Political Development.
As an organization dedicated to the academic study and cultural analysis of professional wrestling, PWSA is proud to contribute expert insights into how wrestling’s storytelling, pageantry, and fan engagement strategies influence broader societal and political dynamics. The Bloomberg article highlights the enduring impact of wrestling beyond the ring, demonstrating how its narratives shape media, identity, and even political theater.
Stay tuned for more updates as the PWSA continues to foster critical and scholarly conversations about the cultural significance of professional wrestling!
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