# 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:** 183
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3674 "2025-02-03T23:33:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > We’re not that lucky. You’re telling me you think this shambling orange skeleton of a man has another four years in the tank? ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3675 "2025-02-03T23:55:13Z")
His father lived to be 93. As long as he is alive and in office (until Musk and Vance oust him), he is a useful puppet. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3676 "2025-02-04T00:17:36Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > As long as he is alive and in office (until Musk and Vance oust him), he is a useful puppet. There’s only so many times he can come within a hair’s breadth of blowing up international commerce because of whatever insane idea he got from Fox News playing in the background at 2 AM before he stops being useful to Musk. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > His father lived to be 93. His dad wasn’t addicted to stimulants and didn’t eat McDonald’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3677 "2025-02-04T01:17:16Z")
So I haven’t been watching, but I just looked at photos. Not only is Trump not dyeing/ painting his hair anymore, he’s letting his bald spot start to show. His hair is no longer heavily styled, and it’s obviously thinning. Side note, I see indications of the plastic surgery methods that that doctor talked about. That more than anything suggests he’s in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3678 "2025-02-04T01:23:52Z")
Yeah, he’s visibly aging. He looked much healthier last summer at his rallies and events. Now, he looks old and tired. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3679 "2025-02-04T01:28:52Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > That more than anything suggests he’s in trouble. I’m missing that. Since the inauguration, he’s held one rally and at least two news conferences. He’s been flying around the country. He’s taking new dictatorial actions almost every day. I don’t know what more he could do to convince you guys that he knows what his goals are and is pursuing them. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3680 "2025-02-04T01:35:46Z")
It’s easy to know what your goals are when you think everything you do is not only correct but also the best idea anyone ever thought of. For now, I’m interpreting the delay on tariffs as cooler heads prevailing behind the scenes. Some handler or combination thereof has gently explained to Trump (in a non-ego threatening way) that his big beautiful tariffs are going to destroy things that they cannot afford to have destroyed right now. They have convinced him to wait until the time is right and they are counting on his ADHD (and/or his eventual demise) to make him forget about the terrible idea when the time comes back around. Trump cannot be handled (as I am sure Russia figured out a while back). But he can be influenced and steered in particular directions, so long as one lets him think it was his idea in the first place. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3681 "2025-02-04T01:42:10Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I don’t know what more he could do to convince you guys that he knows what his goals are and is pursuing them. He just threatened a trade war for absolutely no reason and then backed off despite not getting any meaningful concessions. He talks about wanting to grant statehood to a country that would control over 10% of Congress and whose electoral votes would ensure no Republican ever becomes president again. He nearly caused a cataclysmic flood in our nation’s breadbasket because he doesn’t understand how water management works. He’s a mad king tilting at windmills while an unelected foreigner tries to take over the reins of government. He isn’t America’s Hitler - he’s America’s Hindenburg. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3682 "2025-02-04T02:12:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > he’s America’s Hindenburg. Oh, the HUGE Manatee! It does fit. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3683 "2025-02-04T02:15:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He isn’t America’s Hitler - he’s America’s Hindenburg. I like this. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3684 "2025-02-04T02:27:57Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Oh, the HUGE Manatee! Good one! It does fit. Both are big and doughy and release noxious gases everywhere they go. Manatees are gentle and well loved, though, so no similarities there. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3685 "2025-02-04T02:28:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He nearly caused a cataclysmic flood in our nation’s breadbasket because he doesn’t understand how water management works. I’m not doubting this, but I’ve obviously forgotten this. Could you provide a cite? ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3686 "2025-02-04T02:58:42Z")
> **[Trump says he opened California’s water. Local officials say he nearly...](https://www.eenews.net/articles/trump-says-he-opened-californias-water-local-officials-say-he-nearly-flooded-them/)** > > The Army Corps of Engineers moved to release massive quantities of water in central California, panicking local officials. > **[Farmers Plead ‘Stop Our Fields Flooding’ as Trump Opens Dams](https://www.thedailybeast.com/farmers-plead-stop-our-fields-flooding-as-trump-opens-dams-in-california/)** > > Trump gloated Friday about sending billions of gallons of water to southern California. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3687 "2025-02-04T03:24:51Z")
OK. Generally, the ‘nation’s breadbasket’ doesn’t refer to the San Joaquin Valley. > The Midwest is often referred to as the nation’s bread basket. Known as “America’s Breadbasket,” the Midwest is a region in the center of the United States that is known for its significant agricultural production. [Link](https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-faq/who-is-the-nations-bread-basket/) ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3688 "2025-02-04T03:26:33Z")
A water gate scandal! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3689 "2025-02-04T03:49:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He just threatened a trade war for absolutely no reason and then backed off despite not getting any meaningful concessions. The China 10 percent is still on for later tonight. The 25 percent tariffs were too high (in the sense that the economic harm would come quickly) and he probably knew it all along. The China 10 will be considered a welcome compromise among voters who would have soured on Trump if the whole focus had been on China. > [@Smapti](#): > > He talks about wanting to grant statehood to a country that would control over 10% of Congress and whose electoral votes would ensure no Republican ever becomes president again. That offer is a threat. He’d never allow them statehood. Did his most admired president, McKinley, give lands he acquired statehood? Of course not. > [@Smapti](#): > > He nearly caused a cataclysmic flood in our nation’s breadbasket because he doesn’t understand how water management works. Hardly anyone knows how water management works. Trump showed he has the power to cause a catastrophe without going that far. It was like something Kim Jong Un, who constantly claims expertise in all areas (read NK media), would do. Is that guy confused? When good historians, one sunnier day, write their chapters on the Trump 47 first year, is their theme going to be — the old confused man? No way. It is going to be about his concerted attempt to consolidate power. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3690 "2025-02-04T04:11:46Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > When good historians, one sunnier day, write their chapters on the Trump 47 first year, is their theme going to be — the old confused man? No way. It is going to be about his concerted attempt to consolidate power. When historians write about Trump’s second term it’s not going to be Trump they’re writing about, any more than historians covering Europe in the '30s write about Paul von Hindenburg or Victor Immanuel III. Trump isn’t the real threat at this point. Elon is. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3691 "2025-02-04T05:31:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He just threatened a trade war for absolutely no reason and then backed off despite not getting any meaningful concessions. That’s how he operates. He knew it was all empty threats and bluster or he wouldn’t have done it. It didn’t hurt him at all and his fans now think once again that he is an amazing negotiator. It’s all about perception. He brought Canada and Mexico to heel in one day! WE know better but we don’t count. All his fans know is what he tells them and he told them that their bigly strongman won. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3692 "2025-02-04T05:46:55Z")
Trump reminds me of that professor from ST-TOS who started a “Nazi” government and ended up being “handled” himself. The difference would be that the professor had good if misguided intentions, whereas Trump was always bad but has lost control. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/3693 "2025-02-04T11:52:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He just threatened a trade war for absolutely no reason and then backed off despite not getting any meaningful concessions. You know that over in Trump Support Land they’re screaming that he got everything he wanted and then some, right? You forget this is a post-truth world. > **[Trudeau Caves to Trump, Announces 30-Day Pause on Tariffs and More Border...](https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2025/02/03/trudeau-caves-to-trump-announces-30-day-pause-on-tariffs-and-more-border-security/)** > > Justin Trudeau has caved to Donald Trump's demands to reinforce the Canada-U.S. border after threatening retaliatory tariffs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=182) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=184)