# 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:** 166
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3306 "2026-03-27T15:16:08Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > So, how many T-men does he have, and how are they going to trace random “defaced” bills back to the one who defaced it? Except for immigrants, they are not at the mass arrest level. They’d find some fool who did it publicly for the show trial. As to why they would have a show trial – because a lot of swing voters are against defacing currency. ---
**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 27, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3307 "2026-03-27T15:18:36Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > “It was like that when I got it” is a perfectly reasonable defense and no way to disprove. You’re seriously appealing to reason and proof? ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3308 "2026-03-27T15:21:55Z")
Not of Trump and Co’s reason, no. But charging decisions are made farther down the food chain and some of those people may have a more realistic view of their chances of success. If they did decide to charge someone (I still don’t think they will, but if they did) I expect they’ll have the same level of success they did with that string of high-profile grand jury indictments; i.e none. They cannot prove the charge at all, much less beyond a reasonable doubt, and a competent defense attorney would eat their lunch. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3309 "2026-03-27T15:45:51Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > a lot of swing voters are against defacing currency. Do you have actual, direct, evidence that supports this claim? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3310 "2026-03-27T15:46:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > You’re seriously appealing to reason and proof? Thank you. I’m more concerned about the court of public opinion than whether someone gets 30 days for a misdemeanor. But Aileen Cannon cannot be the only Trumpy judge out there who would convict. It is disappointing that posters assume the guilty party would contest the charges. Defacing Trump’s name on currency is an act of civil disobedience. If you want people who aren’t already progressive true believers to respect your act of civil disobedience, be willing to do the time (especially when, as here, the time would not be extremely long). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3311 "2026-03-27T16:13:15Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > It’s a misdemeanor. Oh, like overstaying a visa? (A quick internet search says it might not even be that. Point is, the rule of law isn’t something applied impartially or reasonably.) ---
**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:** [March 27, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3312 "2026-03-27T16:35:13Z")
You reminded me of this meme: [![](https://external-preview.redd.it/the-struggle-is-real-v0-UDuarvCsW92v8XogNwnASPtLsRuYkUHky-Ea95Xhyh4.png?auto=webp&s=3a6e830440651c06db28e19696b0891a83afda16) ](https://external-preview.redd.it/the-struggle-is-real-v0-UDuarvCsW92v8XogNwnASPtLsRuYkUHky-Ea95Xhyh4.png?auto=webp&s=3a6e830440651c06db28e19696b0891a83afda16) ---
**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 27, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3313 "2026-03-27T18:01:24Z")
Here’s someplace to spend those trump-signed greenbacks. The pictures alone in the header of this article will make you gag. > **[Inside the Sprawling World of MAGA Merchandise](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/27/business/trump-maga-merchandise.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WVA.YAWk.KfL5GNvu7-Rm&smid=url-share)** > > The massive industry has helped President Trump collect millions. This is supposed to be a gift link. I don’t know if it really is. 🤞🏽 Is there any way in which Donald Trump isn’t a contemptible, opportunistic, greedy con-man? I didn’t think so. > President Trump has built a merchandise behemoth unmatched by any other American politician. The vast economy of tchotchkes and trinkets has become a visceral proxy for the energy behind his political movement, with the products acting as billboards for membership in the club. > > Mr. Trump and his family have made millions from the products — more than $1 million from guitars and at least another $2.8 million from the watches alone, according to annual disclosures from the president. And he misses few opportunities to market the wares. He shows off hats and T-shirts at his political rallies, his coins and colognes in advertisements and his cufflinks and candies to visiting dignitaries in a room next to the Oval Office. > … ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3314 "2026-03-27T19:14:04Z")
On the bright side, you’ll be able to identify assholes by their ownership of this shit, long after the orange one is gone. ---
**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 27, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3315 "2026-03-27T22:44:20Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > [President Trump announced Thursday that he would sign an order to circumvent Congress and restore pay for TSA workers.](https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/tsa-worker-pay-white-house-senate-republicans-sidestep-congress%60) > > Horror? > > Yes, because it is rule by decree. That _ **is** _ a horror. It’s also, apparently, politically stupid. There are already interviews on the news channels of people saying ‘if he can do this now, why didn’t he do it FORTY DAYS ago???’ ---
**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:** [March 28, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3316 "2026-03-28T00:47:45Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > On the bright side, you’ll be able to identify assholes by their ownership of this shit, long after the orange one is gone. After Nixon resigned I asked a number of random people whether they’d voted for him in the 1972 election. Despite his receiving 60% of the popular vote I had only one person say they’d voted for him. I don’t think that will be the case with Trump voters after he’s gone, one way or another. ---
**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 28, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3317 "2026-03-28T01:52:51Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I don’t think that will be the case with Trump voters after he’s gone, one way or another. So how are you predicting people will answer the question? That they voted for trump or that they didn’t? Sorry, explain like I’m 5. 👶🏽 ---
**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:** [March 28, 2026, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3318 "2026-03-28T04:40:15Z")
That they voted for Trump and are still proud of it. ---
**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 28, 2026, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3319 "2026-03-28T07:26:32Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Here’s someplace to spend those trump-signed greenbacks. The pictures alone in the header of this article will make you gag. > > [Inside the Sprawling World of MAGA Merchandise - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/27/business/trump-maga-merchandise.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WVA.YAWk.KfL5GNvu7-Rm&smid=url-share) > > This is supposed to be a gift link. I don’t know if it really is. Shouldn’t that be **grift** link? 😉 ---
**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 28, 2026, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3320 "2026-03-28T09:46:01Z")
[Defense Secretary Hegseth intervened to stop promotions of Black and female officers](https://www.npr.org/2026/03/27/nx-s1-5763863/hegseth-soldiers-promotions?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us) > Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth intervened to stop the promotions of several high-ranking service members including four Army officers, two Black men and two female soldiers, on track to become one-star generals, NPR has confirmed. > > According to a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly, Hegseth made the highly unusual move of interfering in the regular promotion process, as first reported [in the New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/us/hegseth-promotion-list.html). A second U.S. official also not authorized to speak publicly confirmed that Hegseth has been weeding out senior officers who are deemed ideologically incompatible. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3321 "2026-03-28T15:15:07Z")
While the “name on bill” thing is annoying, its just a distraction. How many people use $100 bills, anyway? The next D president can order an end to the practice and removal of the baffoon’s name from everything he put it on. It would probably be within their authority to have those notes removed from circulation and destroyed as banks get them. It shouldn’t be a part of any platform. He or she should just do it. No fanfare or press conference. But it absolutely needs to be done. ---
**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 28, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3322 "2026-03-28T15:42:33Z")
It’s just one more of those creeping, encroaching “camel’s nose under the tent” things. ---
**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 28, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3323 "2026-03-28T18:41:23Z")
Also, it’s another “the president is a malignant narcissist who wants the nation to be nothing but an extension of his ego” thing". ---
**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:** [March 28, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3324 "2026-03-28T22:33:25Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > How many people use $100 bills, anyway? In my new job, I am taking in and giving out hundreds of hundreds. ---
**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 29, 2026, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3325 "2026-03-29T00:50:33Z")
Not a gift link. I’m all out for the month. Sorry. > # Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran > > _If President Donald Trump approves the plans, such an effort would mark a new phase of the war that could be significantly more dangerous to U.S. troops than the first four weeks._ > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/28/trump-iran-ground-troops-marines/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/28/trump-iran-ground-troops-marines/) > The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines arrive in the Middle East for what could become a dangerous new phase of the war **should President Donald Trump choose to escalate.** > > … > > The Trump administration in recent days has vacillated between declaring that the war is winding down and threatening to amplify it. While the president has signaled a desire to negotiate an end to the conflict, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned Tuesday that if the regime in Tehran does not end its nuclear ambitions and cease its threats against the United States and its allies, Trump is “prepared to unleash hell” against them. > > In a statement responding to questions for this report, Leavitt said: “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. **It does not mean the President has made a decision.”** My bold. Who the fuck are we kidding? He’s going to tap dance around this for as long as he can 1) keep his indecision in the headlines and 2) distract from Epstein files. Then who knows? P.S. Is **optionality** a real word? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=165) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=167)