# Is Trump confused? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 24, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589 "2024-01-24T13:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 177
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3554 "2024-12-18T16:59:43Z")
He’s ranting about making Canada [the 51st state](https://imgur.com/a/tKiwLOe) again. Link goes to a picture of his Tweet/Truth. Actual text is: > [@](#): > > No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!! ---
**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:** [December 18, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3555 "2024-12-18T19:12:03Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > > They would save massively on taxes and military protection So now he _doesn’t_ want us paying for our military? Make up your mind, Doofus of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3556 "2024-12-19T00:02:29Z")
No no. Trump wants to pay for Canadas military. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3557 "2024-12-20T21:11:42Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You assume he knows how an amendment is passed. His whole concept of amendments is pretty hazy. He declared the 14th amendment was unconstitutional and people elected him anyway. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3558 "2024-12-21T21:42:01Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > He declared the 14th amendment was unconstitutional . . . I’m not saying you are wrong, but that escapes my memory. Do you have a cite? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3559 "2024-12-21T23:46:19Z")
It was during a Bill O’Reilly interview back in 2015. [https://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/donald-trump-bill-oreilly-interview-121515](https://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/donald-trump-bill-oreilly-interview-121515) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3560 "2024-12-22T00:33:11Z")
Re last post, the Politico headline you link to supports him having some confusion in 2015, but I do not think the headline follows the article. Trump is saying that SCOTUS might interpret the 14th amendment to mean what he hopes it means, and Donald is possible correct there. Optimism yes, confusion no. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3561 "2024-12-22T00:49:03Z")
I recall a contemporary Pit thread where it was mentioned that Trump thought the Constitution was un-Constitutional. May have been about the 14th Amendment, but I don’t remember. (It may have been I who made the post, but I don’t remember.) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3562 "2024-12-22T00:59:15Z")
While I normally post here on with a strong NO to the thread title question, here something I came across that goes the other way. [How Musk Out-Maneuvered Trump: Musk got the only thing that he wanted. Does Trump realize it?](https://prospect.org/politics/how-musk-out-maneuvered-trump-government-funding-china/) > [@](#): > > Elon Musk blew up a near-complete bipartisan budget deal with an avalanche of tweets contending that it was too costly, luring Donald Trump into demanding that Republicans kill it. But Musk’s real reason—[a story that David Dayen broke in the _Prospect_](https://prospect.org/politics/2024-12-20-government-shutting-down-elon-musk-factories-china/)—was that the agreement included painstakingly negotiated limits on American tech investment in China. Had that provision passed, it would have been costly to Musk’s extensive Chinese Tesla operations and future AI plans. . . . . > > Musk succeeded in stripping out the China provision. Previously I posted that I hope Trump is confused, because then he won’t do as much as POTUS. But now it looks like a confused/inattentive Trump means oligarchy, while a clever Trump will soon throw Musk and Ramaswamy under the bus. What poison should I prefer? . . ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3563 "2024-12-22T03:41:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I recall a contemporary Pit thread where it was mentioned that Trump thought the Constitution was un-Constitutional. Could there have been references to this? [Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution](https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/03/politics/trump-constitution-truth-social/index.html) He’s been inconsistent on whether he likes our Constitution. But I wouldn’t say he’s confused. It’s more that he dislikes how the Constitution puts limits on his power, but knows that if he said what he thinks there, with complete consistency, he would risk losing the next election. P.S. Actually, the current U.S. constitution was not put in place following all the procedural amendment requirements laid out in the original constitution, the Articles of Confederation. So the Constitution is indeed unconstitutional. But no one cares about that, including Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3564 "2024-12-22T04:20:57Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > He’s been inconsistent on whether he likes our Constitution. Well, not really. It’s clear that he has no idea what the Constitution says or means. He says he wants to protect 1st Amendment rights, by controlling the press, and silencing all his opponents. He has consistently been in direct opposition to the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3565 "2024-12-22T04:26:43Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Well, not really. It’s clear that he has no idea what the Constitution says or means. Flashback to 2016 when he told House Republicans that he would defend “Article 12” of the Constitution, which, for those of you just joining us, does not exist. > **[Donald Trump Says He'll Protect Constitution's 'Article XII'](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-hell-protect-constitutions-article-xii/story?id=40422352)** > > Trump made the remarks to Republicans on Capitol Hill Thursday. > [@](#): > > Rep. [Mark Sanford](http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/us/mark-sanford.htm), R-South Carolina, said Trump promised to protect several articles of the Constitution – including “Article XII,” even though the Constitution has seven articles. > > “It was the normal stream of consciousness that’s long on hyperbole and short on facts,” Sanford told reporters after the meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3566 "2024-12-22T20:51:20Z")
“What the hell was that? You get the little yips up here every once in a while. wonder why it was a strange sound. I’ve heard some very strange sounds.” > **['What the hell was that?' Trump pauses speech to investigate 'strange sound'...](https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-strange-sound/)** > > President-elect Donald Trump paused a speech to MAGA followers after claiming to hear a "strange sound" on stage.At Sunday's AmFest in Arizona, Trump was complaining about undocumented migrants when he was interrupted by an apparent noise."We had an... ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3567 "2025-01-03T21:38:53Z")
> **[Fact check: Donald Trump blames "open borders" for New Orleans attack](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-new-orleans-shamsud-din-bahar-immigrant-2008845)** > > The president-elect said the deadly attack on Bourbon Street was a result of President Joe Biden's immigration policies. _Trump still [doubled down](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113759153879157409) on the comments, posting later on Thursday that he had warned that Biden’s “Open Border’s Policy” would lead to more “Radical Islamic Terrorism, and other forms of violent crime” which would become “so bad.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3568 "2025-01-07T20:07:08Z")
“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America” > **[Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/acyn.bsky.social/post/3lf6727cfre2r)** > > Trump: We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America Hezbollah was responsible for 1/6 > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf6gj7a7bs27)** > > missed this when it happened live but here's Trump suggesting today that Hezbollah was involved in \[checks notes\] January 6 Q: Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of areas like Greenland or Panama you are not gonna use military or economic coercion? TRUMP: No. It might be that you’ll have to do something. > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf64weaqmc23)** > > Q: Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of areas like Greenland or Panama you are not gonna use military or economic coercion? > > TRUMP: No. I can't assure you. I'm not going to commit to that. It might be that you'll have to do... “It’s called rain. It comes down from heaven. And they want to do no water comes out of the shower. It goes drip drip drip … you can have all the water you want. It makes no difference” > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf63zxgjqs23)** > > Trump: "It's called rain. It comes down from heaven. And they want to do no water comes out of the shower. It goes drip drip drip ... you can have all the water you want. It makes no difference." “Well, we need Greenland for national security purposes. People don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up.” > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf65xnm4gs2t)** > > Q: You didn't rule out using military coercion -- > > TRUMP: Well, we need Greenland for national security purposes. People don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up. “The windmills are driving the whales crazy. Obviously.” > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf64o43rik23)** > > Trump: "The windmills are driving the whales crazy. Obviously." “The heat is much better. It’s a much better heat. As the expression goes, you don’t itch.” > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf647eydgk23)** > > Trump on gas heaters compared to electric: "The heat is much better. It's a much better heat. As the expression goes, you don't itch." “[Jack Smith] executes people. He shouldn’t be allowed to execute people.” > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf63saj7xc23)** > > Trump on Jack Smith: "He executes people. He shouldn't be allowed to execute people." “625 million acres. That’s like the whole ocean.” > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lf63nv62ls23)** > > Trump on Biden's offshore drilling ban: "625 million acres. That's like the whole ocean." " Mexico is really in trouble, a lot of trouble. Very dangerous place, and we’re going to be announcing at a future date pretty soon. We’re going to change because we do most of the work there and it’s ours. We’re going to be changing, sort of the opposite of Biden, where he’s closing everything up, essentially getting rid of $50 to $60 trillion worth of assets." > **[Trump vows to rename Gulf of Mexico 'Gulf of America': 'Has a beautiful ring'](https://www.rawstory.com/gulf-of-america/)** > > Donald Trump continued menacing the United States' North American neighbors during a rambling news conference at his home at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday.The president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as other trading... “We won the popular vote by millions and millions of people. Nobody even knows how many people.” > **['What a horrible place!' Trump attacks America in rambling speech](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-america-2670761088/)** > > President-elect Donald Trump was set to announce foreign investments in the United States Tuesday, but his speech quickly descended into a ramble that touched on a huge variety of topics including gas heaters, windmills, the Panama Canal — and the... ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3569 "2025-01-08T09:36:18Z")
God, you are a nation of fucking idiots\*. How did this ridiculous caricature of an impotent dictator make it this far? I mean, I am Zimbabwean, and we had a fairly atrocious guy (Mugabe) in charge, and his succesor (Mnangagwa) is looking to be worse, but Zimbabwe is a backwards third world country where elections have been obviously rigged for all of the country’s history. But really, USA. Really. You should be ashamed. \* Straight Dope membership excluded. ---
**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 8, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3570 "2025-01-08T14:22:52Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > But really, USA. Really. You should be ashamed. Half of us are. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3571 "2025-01-08T16:26:58Z")
And a disturbing percentage of the rest seem incapable of feeling shame. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3572 "2025-01-08T16:56:22Z")
To paraphrase Tom Stoppard: half the country is at peace with itself, and so is the other half. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3573 "2025-01-08T19:42:43Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > He’s been inconsistent on whether he likes our Constitution. What Trump likes or dislikes largely depends on which audience he’s playing to at the time, forever changing in accordance with what he believes they want. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=176) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=178)