The language of the American presidency doesn’t apply to Trump

‘To begin with, they shouldn’t be called an “administration” at all. They should be referred to as a regime.’ Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/EPA

Words matter. When describing a government, they inevitably carry moral weight.

Over the past 16 months, Trump and his appointees have so profoundly undermined the United States government that different words should be used to describe them than have been used to describe all previous administrations.