‘People don’t like to hear this but Donald Trump is a rhetorical genius,’ says Jennifer Mercieca, an expert on political communication from Texas A&M University. Delving into Trump’s choice of rhetorical devices offers clues into how successive scandals have failed to make a dent on his popularity among his supporters. She says Trump’s mastery of rhetoric has enabled him to avoid being held accountable, make his audience feel like they are part of a secret club and have even helped him get out of a court case