# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 20, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175 "2025-01-20T19:23:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 128
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2541 "2026-01-16T17:17:07Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > Trump has the medal framed in a huge, ummm, frame. Obama is simply showing the award and plaque that he received. It’s clear that for Trump, bigger is better and hanging that on his wall is yet another ego boost. Earning doesn’t matter, it’s the having. I’d bet that it was somebody in Trump’s circle that dictated what the plaque would say in return for his support. There’s a reason why everything he owns has his name in gigantic gold letters all over it. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2542 "2026-01-16T18:03:08Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > Trump has the medal framed in a huge, ummm, frame. To be frank, I think Ms Machado put the prize in that frame herself, not the temper tanTrump in the White House. Of course she did it because she thought it would flatter him, which might be good for her and her legitimate ambition to become Venezuela’s next president (spoiler: it seems that was not enough prostrating in front of the naked emperor). And why do I think that? Because the **[mattes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mat_(picture_framing))** are well executed, the three of them; further the letter type used is sensible and homogeneous, and not exageratedly barroque; then there is no random caPITAlization; and finally because it mentions the temper tanTrump in the White House only three times by name, and only in slightly larger type than María Corina Machado’s name, which appears twice. No way that is his or his brown-noser’s work. ETA: And I also dream that, improbable as it is, Ms Machado has put a fake prize in that frame, a gold-plated lead cast, knowing that he will not break that nice golden frame, despite the thing being too sober and not flashy enough for His Naked Emperorness. Or perhaps the person charged with the framing work has done the swapping, hoping that nobody is going to check. That would be the funniest outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2543 "2026-01-16T19:25:46Z")
Convenient memory lapse? > **[Trump Asks 'When Did I Do That?' When Asked About His Promise to Send...](https://people.com/trump-asks-when-did-i-do-that-when-asked-about-sending-americans-2k-tariff-checks-11884184)** > > President Donald Trump appeared to briefly draw a blank when asked about one of his comments about sending a majority of Americans $2,000 tariff rebate checks. He then clarified that the checks would be issued at the end of 2026. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2544 "2026-01-16T20:19:25Z")
Two weeks after the end of 2026. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2545 "2026-01-16T20:43:23Z")
Two weeks before the midterms. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2546 "2026-01-18T14:26:28Z")
_Before?!?_ Two weeks _after_ the midterms. You clearly aren’t very good at making false promises 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2547 "2026-01-19T23:59:59Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > At the same moment Machado is giving Trump her Peace Prize medal, Levitt is saying that Trump doesn’t think her candidacy is viable. Wow. I know this turdstick has no shame, but just wow. Taking the Nobel medal as a bribe to try to get him to support her. I’m sure he’ll be making claims about how she realized he actually deserved it more, etc. How he really won the Prize. I wonder if he took the check from her as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2548 "2026-01-20T03:06:15Z")
> **[I Want It Now January 2026 Version - The Willy Wonka Classic Relyriced for...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Lf2O9IA50%2F)** > > I almost didn't need to rewrite any of these lyrics. Seriously, listen to the original. If those words don't completely capture a certain spoilt brat in powe... ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2549 "2026-01-20T04:58:59Z")
Trump’s special envoy to Greenland Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry disinvited from traditional dog sled race over tariff threats. > **[Trump envoy disinvited from Greenland dog sled race after US tariff threats](https://www.politico.eu/article/us-donald-trump-envoy-jeff-landry-uninvited-greenland-dog-sled-race-amid-tariff-threats/)** > > The Greenland Dog Sledding Association said the tourism company that invited Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has changed its mind. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2550 "2026-01-20T14:39:32Z")
I love this thread: keep up the good work. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2551 "2026-01-20T15:59:17Z")
There is serious talk about trying to invoke the 25th Amendment on Trump after his letter to Norway, where he essentially is threatening war in retaliation for not being given the Nobel Peace Prize. That seems to be the tipping point for some people, including politicians. > **[Democrats call to invoke 25th Amendment against Donald Trump](https://www.newsweek.com/democrats-donald-trump-impeachment-25th-amendment-11384974)** > > The amendment allows presidents to be removed from office against their will. > **[Trump’s weird letter to Norway’s prime minister renews 25th Amendment talk](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trumps-weird-letter-to-norways-prime-minister-renews-25th-amendment-talk)** > > The last time the president confronted chatter about the 25th Amendment, it was in the immediate aftermath Jan. 6. That probably isn’t enough to get any actual action taken soon, but if he continues to devolve I suspect it might be a possibility. [The Hill: Democratic senator calls for Trump’s removal from office under 25th Amendment](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5696508-ed-markey-trump-25th-amendment/) > Markey’s call to remove Trump from office under the 25th Amendment isn’t likely to have any traction. > > Doing so would require Vice President Vance and a majority of Trump’s Cabinet to transmit to Congress a declaration that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Impeachment has come up before, and he has survived two actual impeachment attempts that happened during his first term, but I don’t recall any serious talks about the 25th Amendment before. I know that during the whole January 6 fiasco there were rumblings, but I don’t remember there being anything behind them. Now it seems like this is a serious suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2552 "2026-01-20T16:16:35Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Now it seems like this is a serious suggestion. A “Serious suggestion” _by Democrats_. The problem is, the people with the power to use the 25th amendment are Trump’s VP and Cabinet, who are all toadies and bootlickers. You’d have a better chance by hoping that spontaneous human combustion removes him from office than hoping these Trump-worshippers take a stand against him. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2553 "2026-01-20T16:19:10Z")
Would the spontaneous human combustion start in his trousers? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2554 "2026-01-20T16:20:24Z")
If you held a match to them, then surely… ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2555 "2026-01-20T16:21:05Z")
I thought we were talking about _human_ combustion. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2556 "2026-01-20T16:24:38Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > A “Serious suggestion” _by Democrats_. Absolutely, which is why I said this: > [@Atamasama](#): > > That probably isn’t enough to get any actual action taken soon, but if he continues to devolve I suspect it might be a possibility. And I also quoted how it would actually require the VP and a majority of the cabinet to actually get anything really started. So don’t expect anything to happen now or in the near future. But the fact that even Democrats in power are calling for it is new to me. As I said, the idea has come up before, but I don’t remember anyone in Congress actually calling for it before. That’s why I thought it was worth mentioning. I do remember Pelosi bringing it up before in 2020 in regards to Trump, but I don’t remember her or anyone actually pushing it, but rather just discussing the potential of invoking it. So to me it seems like an escalation necessitated by behavior that is even more alarming than what he has done in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2557 "2026-01-20T18:07:43Z")
As purely anecdotal data, I have 0 people in my social network group defending Trump right now. Usually there is somebody posting something supporting whatever nonsense he spouts, but this time, crickets. I’m sure that will change once Fox News, News Max, Breitbart, etc are able to unify their message justifying Trumps actions giving the MAGA crowd the talking points we’ll soon see posted. But for now, I’m enjoying the silence. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2558 "2026-01-20T18:16:49Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Impeachment has come up before, and he has survived two actual impeachment attempts that happened during his first term, but I don’t recall any serious talks about the 25th Amendment before. [https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/congress-electoral-college-vote-count-2021#h\_262771c1d1953f893d18ce60df16d178](https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/congress-electoral-college-vote-count-2021#h_262771c1d1953f893d18ce60df16d178) > **[Pence tells Pelosi he won't invoke the 25th Amendment](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/pence-tells-pelosi-he-wont-invoke-the-25th-amendment)** > > Pelosi has said if Pence rejects use of the 25th Amendment, the House will move to impeach him. Already, at least three Republicans have said they would vote for that. It has been considered before, very seriously, and within the Executive Branch in relation to Donald J Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2559 "2026-01-20T19:08:00Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > It has been considered before, very seriously, and within the Executive Branch in relation to Donald J Trump. Thanks, I didn’t realize it had gone that far before. One thing that’s different is that it seemed to be suggested as an alternative to impeachment, but it wasn’t because Trump was (at the time) showing signs of actual impairment of anything but morals. Pelosi’s letter to Pence didn’t suggest that he was mentally or physically unfit, just dangerous to the country. And Pence’s rejection was along those lines; that Trump was not incapacitated. But now it truly is an issue of his mental competence. He is showing clear signs of cognitive impairment. It has gone beyond just being greedy, or reckless, or authoritarian. A person fully in control of their faculties just doesn’t make these kinds of demands. He’s literally acting like a child. I also think it’s significant that this has come up in this way for the current term for the first time, and it has been over 5 years now since the topic has been pushed forward as a serious proposal from anyone in the federal legislature. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2560 "2026-01-20T19:24:54Z")
Personally, I’ve always said that the correct understanding of global politics is schoolyard rules. Cultural dynamics are local and something that comes with age. The basic evolutionary default of humanity - I’m bigger than you, so it’s mine - is something globally inherited that we all experience in our childhood and then age out of, under the guidance of our elders. When working across borders and across cultures, however, that earlier more primal state is what we all have in common and thus it ends up rising as the common working ground because we just don’t know or understand those foreign cultures. That said, the US has been pushing to move the world to a more adult, shared culture with some basic agreed-upon rules (e.g. the sanctity of borders). Trump is devolving that and encouraging (intentionally or otherwise) a new world war scramble for territory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175.md?page=127) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175.md?page=129)