What Trump Is Doing to the English Language

Ms. Kaufman is the author of the forthcoming “Verb Your Enthusiasm: How to Master the Art of the Verb and Transform Your Writing.”

“We’ve won,” President Trump announced at a rally on March 11, as the widening war in Iran started to rock oil markets and supply chains, and Iran escalated attacks on tankers and refineries across the Middle East.

“Let me tell you,” Mr. Trump insisted, “we’ve won.”

What did he mean? Mr. Trump’s use of the past participle of “win” expresses a completed........

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