Trump Made The Ultimate Freudian Slip

Much of the fun of watching presidential debates emerges when a candidate is forced to come up with response on the fly that reveals, perhaps, a Freudian slip. During the final showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Wednesday, voters were provided the opportunity to find out the varied ways the Republican presidential nominee views the presidency of the United States. In discussing the need for improved economic growth in the country, Trump used the word "regime" to describe the office he's running for, which is all kinds of interesting.

In the middle of the October 19 debate, moderator Chris Wallace pushed the candidates to explain their plans to support the national economy. Trump chose to go after Clinton in his answer to Wallace, accusing Clinton and President Obama of allowing NATO allies to receive protection from the U.S. without providing payment in return, and thereby increasing the national debt.

We have during his regime, during President Obama's regime, we've doubled our national debt. We're up to $20 trillion.

There are a few possible explanations for Trump's decision to refer to President Obama's administration as a "regime," instead of, well, an administration. It may be that Trump wanted to call out the Obama presidency as such to present a downright negative view of the nation's current leader. Trump, who has often made Clinton out to be a sidekick of sorts to President Obama, may find references to an "Obama regime" beneficial to his campaign. Trump has marketed himself to the American people as the "change" candidate, and if what citizens experienced under Obama was a regime, Trump is hinting to viewers that his administration would be not that.

There also exists the alternative of Trump viewing the words "regime" and "presidency" as one in the same. Of note, however, is that a somewhat significant gap sits between the two terms in how they are defined. "Regime" is primarily described as a government, but a critical distinction lies in it being especially an authoritarian one. Akin to some of Trump's past debate statements, which go against the standard rhetoric about the nation's democratic foundation, the candidate's use of "regime" in the final debate offers a real lack of distinction between democratic and not-so-democratic forms of government.

And then there's always the chance that Trump just had an "oops" moment. The slip-up, though, would never be one admitted to by Trump himself. The Republican nominee for president leaves the act of completely owning one's uh-ohs to Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.