# 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:** 157
**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:** [March 6, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3126 "2026-03-06T23:19:04Z")
Trump rejects your reality, and substitutes his own. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3127 "2026-03-06T23:19:57Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I am assuming (hoping) this is sarcasm. I thought it was obvious but let me confirm that it is. My point, which I made in the next line, was Trump’s public approval is dropping and he’s not in a position where he can afford to keep screwing up. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3128 "2026-03-06T23:20:17Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Trump rejects your reality, and substitutes his own That, he does. If only Norman Vincent Peale would have realized what he was helping to unleash on the world. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3129 "2026-03-06T23:20:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > And you want them reeling from the fresh surprise of the war itself. By, say, October, this war started in Feb will be old news. Just like most folks were paying little attention to Gaza a month ago. “Ho hum, just more killing elsewhere. I wonder what’s on TV?” There’s a lot to this, which is why I think the Trumpites are doing everything they can to encourage terrorist attacks on US soil. Every time Rachel Maddow features a story on how incompetent the Trumpites are for firing all the FBI ‘Iran specialists,’ etc., I want to reach into the TV and say _DON’T YOU REALIZE THAT THEY **want** TERROR ATTACKS TO HAPPEN HERE??!?!?!_ I mean, they _are_ incompetent. But they’re also fairly evil. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3130 "2026-03-06T23:22:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I thought it was obvious but let me confirm that it is. According to this Pew study (details shown on page 4 of the article), his approval rating among Republicans was down to 73% in January, compared to 84% in February of last year. > **[Confidence in Trump Dips, and Fewer Now Say They Support His Policies and Plans](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/01/29/confidence-in-trump-dips-and-fewer-now-say-they-support-his-policies-and-plans/)** > > Only 27% of Americans say they support all or most of Trump's policies – down since last year, with the change coming entirely among Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3131 "2026-03-06T23:22:59Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Trump rejects your reality, and substitutes his own. That’s fine. Trump can live in whatever delusional world he wants to - once he’s safely locked up in a prison cell. The reality we need to have is making the rest of the Republican party aware that if they don’t take down, we will take them down along with Trump. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3132 "2026-03-06T23:27:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I don’t totally disagree w your premise. But if the real goal is a fake emergency to permit upending the November elections, the shooting has started months too soon. Besides, he and the Republicans already _have_ their excuse for that, the supposed massive voting fraud perpetrated by “illegals”. A war doesn’t actually give them an excuse to _do_ anything involving domestic elections, the alleged fraud does. And as you say, the timing is off. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3133 "2026-03-07T07:11:46Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > You want your fake emergency to happen late enough that there’s no time for the normal response system of courts, public opinion, other affected parties, etc., to catch up to your new facts on the ground. Plenty of other countries to choose from later in the year. Cuba, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3134 "2026-03-07T18:06:13Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I want to reach into the TV and say _DON’T YOU REALIZE THAT THEY **want** TERROR ATTACKS TO HAPPEN HERE??!?!?!_ Reposting for emphasis. They provoked resistance in Minneapolis and Chicago to justify their presence and escalation. Same thing now. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3135 "2026-03-07T18:17:50Z")
Famously, when Bush II entered the White House, his national security folks simply pitched all the briefing materials and intel on the Al Qaeda threat that the Clinton Administration and transition team had assembled over the previous eight years. Abject stupidity, simple hubris, or planned blind eye? Hard to say. But it did work to get the USA into a major long-term war in the Middle East. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3136 "2026-03-07T18:41:26Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Reposting for emphasis. They provoked resistance in Minneapolis and Chicago to justify their presence and escalation. Same thing now.. Yes, absolutely. I’m already seeing breathless posts in social media about “OMG, Iran is attacking us now! We must destroy them!!!11” They seem to have forgotten who started this shit-show. (yes yes, Iran is not totally blameless given their past history of supporting terrorists… But we’re talking about the current shooting war going on. The current state is a war OF CHOICE by Israel and the USA) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3137 "2026-03-07T22:42:55Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Abject stupidity, simple hubris, or planned blind eye? Hard to say. But it did work to get the USA into a major long-term war in the Middle East. Yes, and several people made a LOT of money. (Which is all that really matters… to them.) > [@needscoffee](#): > > They provoked resistance in Minneapolis and Chicago to justify their presence and escalation. And the Trumpites were dismayed to find the Americans whose cities they were invading to be utterly un-cooperative. No burning cars or broken windows! No firing on Government agents! This is why I think Miller et al need the war in Iran----and domestic effects----and NOT just “allegations of election fraud.” They’ve been pushing the latter for years and Americans are singularly unimpressed. Using “fraud” to justify declaration of An Emergency simply won’t work. But terror incidents in the US combined with overseas slaughter of Americans\*? That has the potential to actually WORK as a rationale for Emergency. . . \*Aided by helpful Vlad Putin, who is handing intel to the Iranians to help them target Americans for said slaughter. Which Hegseth has said he finds to be no biggie. > **[Pentagon Dismisses Russian Intel Leaks As “Epic Fury” Triggers Global Energy...](https://www.aol.com/news/pentagon-dismisses-russian-intel-leaks-204619171.html)** > > Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has flatly rejected concerns that Russian intelligence sharing with Iran poses a significant threat to American forces, asserting that the U. S. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3138 "2026-03-09T02:16:31Z")
Stock market futures plunge as oil price skyrockets: > **[Dow futures tumble 800 points as U.S. oil tops $100 a barrel to begin the...](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html?__source=androidappshare)** > > The Dow recorded its worst week since President Trump unveiled his tariff policy in April. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3139 "2026-03-09T02:49:14Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Dow futures tumble 800 points as U.S. oil tops $100 a barrel to begin the week's trading: Live updates](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html?__source=androidappshare) Does this mean we can talk about the Epstein files now, since the Dow has dropped? I’m trying to keep track of the bullshit excuses from this (Mal)administration. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3140 "2026-03-09T22:06:47Z")
I usually try to think of some intelligent reason for whatever Trump does, but I’m having trouble here: [Trump says he won’t sign other laws until election bill reaches his desk](https://rollcall.com/2026/03/09/trump-says-he-wont-sign-other-laws-until-election-bill-reaches-his-desk/) > [@](#): > > The social media post was itself not exactly a veto threat, as in most circumstances bills can become law notwithstanding the president’s declining to sign them. P.S. The intelligent reason could be that ultra MAGA types, prone to worrying about whether DJT is going soft, will see this as a strong move. P.P.S. I think this is somehow related: > **[Paxton’s Clever Ploy to Stay in Texas Senate Race](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/paxtons-clever-ploy-to-stay-in-texas-senate-race.html)** > > The Texas AG is going to the mats for Trump’s beloved SAVE Act, making it much harder for the president to push him out. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3141 "2026-03-09T23:00:30Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I usually try to think of some intelligent reason for whatever Trump does, but I’m having trouble here: I’m curious–why do you do this? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3142 "2026-03-10T00:46:52Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m curious–why do you do this? 1. I think: Don’t underestimate your adversary. 2. If I were to just think he is an idiot venting random cruel statements, I could not even imagine that I understand what is happening to my country. 3. Something about my personality properly outside of the scope of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3143 "2026-03-10T01:01:01Z")
This is in danger of turning into a hijack, but I get trying to understand where he’s coming from, it’s the “looking for an intelligent reason” part that I don’t quite get. But maybe those two things are really the same thing. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3144 "2026-03-10T02:45:10Z")
Yeah, he’s been president for 5+ years. Has he ever had an “intelligent reason” for doing anything that he’s done? He’s better at doing and not doing things for unintelligent reasons. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3145 "2026-03-10T15:49:21Z")
As always, when “trump” _does_ something, it may well be some of the evil organization behind him who is doing the thinking behind it. So it’s them doing it; he’s just lending his office’s power to them. Many of those folks are very competent at being evil and are actively working hard ushering in a Fascism that will outlive trump himself by decades, if not centuries. Now when trump _says_ something, often that’s just thoughtless off-the-cuff toddler babble. But other times it’s him spewing an idea one of the professional evils planted. In no way am I trying to exonerate trump of personal responsibility for all the evil acts of his criminal regime and himself. The greed and lust for power are all his and all genuine. And all despicable. I only argue that his regime’s policies and actions consist of two almost unrelated parts. One part is well-thought out in the service of destroying democracy, creating fascism, and also embedding the trump family as hereditary klepto-oligarchs, perhaps even hereditary rulers in the North Korean mold. And there’s one part of mindless ego-stroking and BS pronouncing. Increasingly senile BS pronouncing. But it plays well to the increasingly propaganda besotted know-nothings who are his natural constituents. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=156) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=158)