# The current second Trump administration: a compendium of horrors **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 6, 2024, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774 "2024-11-06T09:17:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/181 "2024-11-27T03:01:01Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If I understand your BBC item correctly, getting a Canadian visa is also faster: something like about a year for an American visa, but only about 76 days for a Canadian one. That might influence their decision, if they can get to Canada faster. That one year, for an affluent citizen of the world’s most populous country, India, to get a U.S. tourist visa, is so ridiculous that I almost missed it (despite having heard before that the U.S. State Department is greatly understaffed). I think that timeframe is true, and that tourist visa delays cost the U.S. hotels, theme parks, and restaurants significant potential revenue. I wouldn’t go, as a tourist, to a country so unwelcoming. So much for the power of K Street lobbyists. If Musk gets even 10 percent of his desired federal employee staffing cuts, how long will the waits be? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/182 "2024-11-27T07:15:31Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > It’s almost impossible to overestimate the effect these blanket tariffs would have. > > You should have expected that your “really nice apartment over a meth lab” would c0me with easements? The more I think about it the more intensely it pisses me off that one orange buffoon, based on bad information, who was elected by a mob of dumbasses who believed a ludicrous pack of lies, is capable of single-handedly destroying the economy of a G7 country – and one that has long been America’s best friend and closest ally. And also probably his own country’s economy, but it will be slower and take longer just because the sheer size and inertia of the US economy makes it more time-consuming to destroy. But at the very least, his policies will be inflationary for the US economy and the cost of goods will rise along with interest rates. At which point the orange buffoon may try to take over the Federal Reserve, something he’s already threatened to do, and artificially lower interest rates. This reckless loss of control could lead to hyperinflation like that of the Wiemar Republic following WWI. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > If Musk gets even 10 percent of his desired federal employee staffing cuts, how long will the waits be? If the waits are basically forever, so that brown-skinned furriners don’t even try to get into the US legally, then … mission accomplished! Here’s the sort of thing that happened after Trump was elected the first time: > **[Canadian woman denied entry to U.S. says she feels 'targeted' | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/canadian-denied-entry-us-immigrant-visa-1.4011202)** > > A Canadian woman from Montreal who was travelling on a Canadian passport says she was turned away at the U.S. border and told she needed an immigrant visa to enter the country. She claims a border agent told her: "'I know you may feel like you've... ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/183 "2024-11-27T07:33:39Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I would challenge Trump to start small if he wants to win the war on drugs. Of course, he doesn’t actually care about _that;_ he cares about persecuting brown people. As long as some conflict with Mexico hurts and kills lots of Mexicans and brown Americans he’ll be happy. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/184 "2024-11-27T07:53:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > [@DWMarch](#): > > > > I would challenge Trump to start small if he wants to win the war on drugs. > > Of course, he doesn’t actually care about _that;_ he cares about persecuting brown people. It appears that Trump cared very much about drugs during his previous term … > **[Trump's White House Pharmacy Handed Out Drugs Like Candy: Report](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-white-house-pharmacy-prescription-drugs-1234953535/)** > > A DOD Inspector General report found a severe lack of control over prescription medications at the White House pharmacy during Trump’s administration. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/185 "2024-11-27T14:12:28Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > At which point the orange buffoon may try to take over the Federal Reserve, something he’s already threatened to do, and artificially lower interest rates. This reckless loss of control could lead to hyperinflation like that of the Wiemar Republic following WWI. This is exactly what Erdogan did. Claimed rising rates weren’t fair, and forced them lower. It did not go well. Eventually he had to cave and rates rose dramatically. He claimed inflation was caused by high rates. Just the sort of willful stupidity we’ve come to expect from Trump. > **[Why is Turkey’s President Cutting Interest Rates, Spurring Inflation and...](https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2021/12/why-is-turkeys-president-cutting-interest-rates-spurring-inflation-and-lowering-the-value-of-the-lira?lang=en)** > > A regular survey of experts on matters relating to Middle Eastern and North African politics and security. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/186 "2024-11-27T14:38:20Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Burn so badly it gets through the right-wing echo chamber brainwashing, burn so badly they remember it for the next twenty years and don’t vote for it all over again.” Except they don’t remember. The George W. Bush administration, especially the waning days of it, were pretty horrific, mired in Middle Eastern conflicts and suffering from The Great Recession of 2008. It did result in 8 years of Democratic leadership afterward, but then we went right back to a chaotic Repub administration. In fact, now we have a similar situation to the one in the W years-- a figurehead at the top and a shadowy think tank pulling the strings behind the scenes. Back then it was W. Bush and [Project for the New American Century](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_for_the_New_American_Century), now it’s trump and the Heritage Foundation. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/187 "2024-11-27T14:58:53Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Except they don’t remember. The George W. Bush administration, especially the waning days of it, were pretty horrific, mired in Middle Eastern conflicts and suffering from The Great Recession of 2008. Well, yes, obviously it will have to be worse than even that. I’m not saying we should be looking forward to it. Just that it seems necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/188 "2024-11-27T17:53:07Z")
I’m assuming Canada is just a handy target because you guys are doing so many things so much better than the US, but in the way you are doing it, your efforts can be mischaracterized as Socialism and excessive wokeness. Sucks that you just happen to be so close to the US that you are a convenient initial target for irrational and unnecessary theater. Doubt it will give much satisfaction to know you are unlikely to be alone in terms of countries Trump fucks over for absolutely no good reason. ---
**Author:** ![TheTooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/919ad9/32.png) [@TheTooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTooth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/189 "2024-11-27T19:55:26Z")
I live in Alberta so I have no idea what you mean when you say Canada does things better. Our pro-plague premier wants to declare global warming to be nonexistent by fiat, thinks Ivermectin kills viruses, and hired Tuckums himself to come here and help spread her particularly odious gospel. She issued a statement recently saying how much she was looking forward to working with the nazi-loving rapist Trump. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/190 "2024-11-27T21:44:26Z")
> [@TheTooth](#): > > I live in Alberta … You have my sympathy. > [@TheTooth](#): > > … so I have no idea what you mean when you say Canada does things better. Our pro-plague premier wants to declare global warming to be nonexistent by fiat, thinks Ivermectin kills viruses, and hired Tuckums himself to come here and help spread her particularly odious gospel. She issued a statement recently saying how much she was looking forward to working with the nazi-loving rapist Trump. They mean the Canada that most of us know and love, the rest of Canada except for Alberta, Canada’s Texas. Truth be told, Alberta is also a pretty good place, it’s just that the current premier is a certifiable lunatic. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/191 "2024-11-27T21:46:59Z")
> [@TheTooth](#): > > I live in Alberta so I have no idea what you mean when you say Canada does things better. The Right lives in its own fantasy world; they aren’t angry at the _actual_ Canada, they are angry at the one that lives in their own heads. Which as far as they are concerned is a bunch of radical socialists, and thus literally Satanically evil. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/192 "2024-11-27T23:27:58Z")
The tariffs also appeal to Trump’s ego. He hasn’t done anything other than threaten to do it yet. But what has he already gotten in return? World leaders _begging_ him for mercy. They probably haven’t been very good friends to him over the past four years but now they _need_ him and he can be as rude and petty to them as he wants to be. That’s probably a more powerful narcotic than all the fentanyl that comes across both borders combined. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/193 "2024-11-27T23:33:05Z")
I think this is quite accurate. I really doubt that even his crazy advisors will be crazy enough to let him implement 25% tariffs across the board, as it would be devastating to American businesses, too, in the tightly integrated Canada-US economy. But it must be enormously satisfying to his insatiable ego that twuthing something on Truth Social while sitting on the toilet in the middle of the night has multiple countries in a turmoil. This is what the MAGAts have elected. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/194 "2024-11-27T23:35:44Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I really doubt that even his crazy advisors will be crazy enough to let him implement 25% tariffs across the board, as it would be devastating to American businesses, too, in the tightly integrated Canada-US economy. They don’t actually have any way to stop him, he can just fire them if they contradict him. He’s very intolerant of anything but sycophancy. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/195 "2024-11-28T02:06:28Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > he’s not the typical isolationist Could we describe his isolationism as transactional? After all, he has no guiding philosophy beyond his own selfishness. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/196 "2024-11-28T02:21:25Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > Could we describe his isolationism as transactional? After all, he has no guiding philosophy beyond his own selfishness. I wouldn’t consider isolationism in the first place. It’s just that he believes that all relationships should be one way, with the more powerful profiting off the less powerful in return for nothing. Anything else is for “losers”. It’s the national version of how he expects to receive work and services from people and then refuses to pay them. He doesn’t want trade, because with trade _both_ sides benefit which is anathema to him. He wants _tribute._ ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/197 "2024-11-28T03:03:53Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I really doubt that even his crazy advisors will be crazy enough to let him implement 25% tariffs across the board, as it would be devastating to American businesses, too, in the tightly integrated Canada-US economy. Yes, especially if his crazy advisors are seen to include stock market investors: [How the stock market could be last guardrails to corral Trump’s wildest whims](https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-stock-market-cabinet-b2649958.html) > [@](#): > > “He measured his success in his first term by how well the stock market did.” > > So a downturn in the market, might get Trump to think twice about policies if he uses its performance as a barometer for his political success. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/198 "2024-11-28T04:53:50Z")
The wildest whims of a grifting narcissist held in check by irrational exuberance!!! What could possibly go wrong? ---
**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:** [November 28, 2024, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/199 "2024-11-28T05:19:57Z")
From Trump on Truth Social. > [@](#): > > Just had a wonderful conversation with the new president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. She has agreed to stop the Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border. Does the incoming president normally start making deals just two weeks after they are elected? Wouldn’t this interfere in the President’s job? And, yes, I know Trump wouldn’t care but I don’t know if others did 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:** [November 28, 2024, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/200 "2024-11-28T05:23:17Z")
I asked the same question when Congress killed the immigration bill. I thought it was outrageous but today it’s the norm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=11)