The present study explores the challenges Omani translation students at Sultan Qaboos University encounter in identifying schemes in American political discourse and rendering them accurately into Arabic. The research used data that was collected over two semesters between 2014-2016 and qualitatively analyses it. The study categorizes problem areas of incorrect or inaccurate student translations of rhetorical constructions and lists important findings which may encourage instructors of translation courses to reconsider their teaching methodologies.