CIPR: Trump one year on event

How the Trump Presidency Reshaped Global Brand Communications

A panel discussion exploring how Donald Trump’s presidency has reshaped brand communications across the world.

One year into Trump’s time in office, the global media and public relations landscape had already undergone a fundamental transformation. His unprecedented approach to policy, media engagement, and public discourse disrupted long-established conventions, creating a lasting impact on how brands, organisations, and individuals communicate.

The session examined how brands could navigate this new reality and what the rise of the attention economy means for modern communications strategy. The expert panel discussed the President’s distinctive media tactics and their ripple effects across the industry, offering insights to help shape brand strategies for the years ahead.

The Expert Panel

Farzana Baduel, Incoming President, CIPR, noted: “Trump’s presidency has redefined the power dynamics between politics, media, and brands. Understanding this new communications order is essential for anyone navigating today’s attention economy.”

Hasan Salim Patel, Communications and Engagement Lead & former Al Jazeera journalist, observed: “Donald Trump has not just bent the rules, he has torn up the playbook. In one year, he’s redefined how power speaks, disrupts, and dominates the narrative. His unfiltered use of media has reshaped the attention economy and, whether we like it or not, the PR world is still catching up.”

Mark Lowe, Co-Founder of Third City, reflected: “The hyper-politicisation of business (and by extension, marketing) didn’t start with Donald Trump, but he’s made it a lot worse. This is a complex reality that most business leaders would love to escape, but the truth is that while you may not be interested in the culture war, the culture war is interested in you.”

Poppy Mitchell-Rose, Partner at Freuds, also joined the discussion, bringing valuable insight into the evolving relationship between politics, public discourse, and brand storytelling.