He uses it because “exonerated” is a rhetorically powerful concept, used frequently without any real adjudication having occurred: a kind of self‑absolution.
So, it might be interesting to mention the requirements for valid use of the word.
At minimum, the word "exonerated" signals:
That a prior accusation or suspicion exists.
Somebody or something with recognized AUTHORITY has examined the matter.
That AUTHORITY has concluded the person accused is not responsible.
And someone other than the accused has rendered the judgment.
*****************
It should be pointed out that when trump uses the word, that AUTHORITY is usually implied, not documented, and is always ephemerally variable, which is one of the implicit utilities of the very concept, let alone the word, and why it is constantly used by donnie: he uses it all the time, there being so many things for which he needs exoneration.
For example, just about seven years ago Bill Barr published a letter that gave a summary of the Mueller Report. That letter made the charts for best fiction published in 2019. Based on that fictitious account donnie claimed "complete exoneration" for colluding with the Russians.
That one had an assertion of a documented adjudicator, no matter how flawed.
Here's another; this one is in the ephemeral category.
On Air Force One recently, donnie was in his little closet with his head sticking out - you know, his favorite spot from which to hurl insults at female reporters - and he said the following:
“I have nothing to hide. I’ve been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday evening. “They went in hoping that they’d find it and found just the opposite. I’ve been totally exonerated.”
Who is THE AUTHORITY, donnie?
(And what are "it" and "the opposite"?)
OR ARE YOU SPEAKING EX CATHEDRA?
(The concept of being infallible when speaking from "The Chair" is a nice addition to ephemeral AUTHORITY; it all ties into a nice little bundle).
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