Replies

When we talk about "America," we may be talking about the American people. But in the context of a political campaign, when we talk about "America," we are often talking about the American government. That, very clearly, is what Donald Trump was talking about.

Yes. But IMHO the confusion over the meaning of “America” mirrors the systematic Newspeak confusion over the meaning of “society.” LBJ promised a “Great Society,” but he was running to be the head of American Government. And “society” and “government” are not, as “liberals” would have it, the same thing:
SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.
Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil . . . - Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776)