# 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:** 189
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3766 "2026-10-12T13:51:18Z")
> administration officials argued that the Boland Amendment, or any act of Congress, could not interfere with the president’s conduct of foreign policy by restricting funds, as the president could seek funds from private entities or foreign governments. Wouldn’t that mean that Trump would have to somehow crowdfund the operation? I don’t think there’s enough “third party” money to do that. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3767 "2026-10-12T13:54:55Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I don’t think there’s enough “third party” money to do that. I think there might be a country or three with both the money and the desire to not want Iran to become the nuclear weapon backed hegemon of the Middle East. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3768 "2026-10-12T13:56:03Z")
US Representative’s home searched by federal agents. > Homeland Security Investigations, part of the Department of Homeland Security that conducts criminal investigations, “executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice,” a DOJ spokesperson said in a statement. “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.” > **[Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home searched by federal agents in ongoing criminal probe](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/rep-ilhan-omar-home-searched-federal-agents-criminal-probe-dhs-rcna602950)** > > The Justice Department did not provide details about the nature of the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3769 "2026-10-12T13:59:09Z")
May be but: a) Trump’s war is not having much success with that. b) Do they have enough money to support an U.S. military operation, things that are a bit more costly than your usual run to the supermarket? In any case a Democratic congress should go ahead and make Trump try and fund his war that way, see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3770 "2026-10-12T14:07:56Z")
Wow. Welcome to North Korea. Wait, no, that’s an insult to North Korea. We are MUCH more racist. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3771 "2026-10-12T16:06:27Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > But couldn’t congress use its power of the purse to stop the war? something like passing a bill “Starting on such and such date no money can be used to fund military operations against Iran” or something better worded? Yes, but it would take an impossible 2/3 vote in each house to override Trump’s inevitable veto. If they just refuse to pass any funding, we are back into the shutdown scenario where the military is exempt. The War Powers Resolution route avoids need for a super-majority. It will not work here, for reasons already given, unless and until the majority of Trump’s own party turns firmly against him. In a functioning democracy, the executive cannot spend money unless the legislature authorizes it. If a king tries that, he is liable to lose his throne. A lot of Democrats, having a low opinion of Mr. Trump’s morals (correct) and of his abilities (mistake), fail to recognize that we up here are under a dictator who can only be stopped with almost certainly unachievable congressional supermajorities. While Trump isn’t an absolute dictator when it comes to domestic policy, he is close to one on military policy. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3772 "2026-10-12T16:58:50Z")
There goes my plan then, unless some kind of shutdown strategy could be made to work but I’m not seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3773 "2026-10-12T17:16:54Z")
Another day, another horror. From Reuters: [Judge blasts Trump’s DOJ over ‘inexcusable’ tree removal at DC golf course](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/judge-blasts-trumps-doj-over-inexcusable-tree-removal-dc-golf-course-2026-10-12/) > [@](#): > > [Judge] Reyes said the abrupt removal of about 500 trees at East ​Potomac Golf Links, which began on Friday afternoon, was unacceptable because in May she had demanded ⁠that the government provide advance notice of any substantive construction work at the golf course. . . . > > The DC Preservation League said in a February 2026 lawsuit that Trump was flouting environmental laws to “irreparably destroy a priceless piece of American history” so he could “convert a public recreation space into an exclusive, high-end ​golf course.” . . . > > Reyes told Trump administration ​lawyers at a May hearing ⁠that there would be “serious consequences” if major construction work began without prior court notification. Serious consequences? Sounds unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3774 "2026-10-12T17:18:56Z")
How serious is a furrowed brow? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3775 "2026-10-12T18:21:57Z")
[Air Force Major Who Called for Trump’s Impeachment is in Solitary Confinement 24 Hours a Day](https://www.military.com/air-force-major-jason-watson-called-trumps-impeachment-solitary-confinement-24-hours-a-day-attorney) I believe if you break the law in commission of non-violent civil disobedience, mild punishment is appropriate. Not this pure vengence. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3776 "2026-10-12T22:11:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > US Representative’s home searched by federal agents. The stated reason for the “criminal investigation” of Rep. Omar is that it’s suspected that her FATHER made a false entry on the application for her to come to the USA. On the other hand, both Melania Trump and Elon Musk are known to have made false claims on their own entry applications, themselves. It wasn’t one of their parents who committed that “crime.” ---
**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:** [October 13, 2026, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3777 "2026-10-13T11:40:18Z")
And the statute of limitations for the alleged crime is 10 years, which would have been over 16 years ago. The Trump administration is attempting to circumvent that by claiming that there’s an ongoing conspiracy surrounding it all. That’s what Brian Tyler Cohen and Glenn Kirschner said on Cohen’s YouTube channel, anyway. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2026, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3778 "2026-10-13T11:54:45Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > And the statute of limitations for the alleged crime is 10 years, which would have been over 16 years ago. I don’t think they want to prosecute. I think they are going to try to declare her citizenship invalid and expel her. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3779 "2026-10-13T13:36:04Z")
Oh, no doubt. Of course, there’s also that [“ The Justice Manual states that federal prosecutors and agents “may never select the timing” of investigative steps, charges or public statements for the purpose of affecting an election or giving an advantage or disadvantage to a candidate or political party. Any action likely to raise even the perception of such interference requires consultation with DOJ’s Public Integrity Section.”](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/federal-agents-raid-democratic-congressmembers-home-weeks-before-election-day/) Note: Omar is running for reelection. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3780 "2026-10-13T13:46:03Z")
Public Integrity section. Right. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3781 "2026-10-13T14:03:14Z")
I seem to recall “You can’t investigate me because I’m running for office” being an excuse regularly trotted out a few years back by someone… ---
**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:** [October 13, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3782 "2026-10-13T20:38:03Z")
Once again Republicans have elevated the art of talking out of both sides of their ass into a superpower. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3783 "2026-10-13T23:48:41Z")
This, after the plaintiffs asked for a written order regarding notification before removal because DOJ couldn’t be trusted. The judge said, "I trust the DOJ attorneys at their word’ (paraphrasing). Now, everyone is pointing fingers as to who ordered the cutting. We all know where the buck WON’T stop. I feel safe in predicting that there will be no real consequences for anyone. So much for deterrence. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2026, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3784 "2026-10-14T03:11:53Z")
To further the hypocrisy, shortly after Mar-A-Lago was searched in 2022, Trump released a statement that said > [@](#): > > These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before. After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate. It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, **especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections.** Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries. Sadly, America has now become one of those Countries, corrupt at a level not seen before. They even broke into my safe! What is the difference between this and Watergate, where operatives broke into the Democrat National Committee? Here, in reverse, Democrats broke into the home of the 45th President of the United States. where he raged about his residence being raided close to an election. The bolding in the quote is mine. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/3785 "2026-10-19T19:44:15Z")
This could maybe also go on the Russia thread, and consider the source, but- [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/10/america-now-ally-russia/689066/](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/10/america-now-ally-russia/689066/) > In the past week, the president of the United States has conclusively turned America into an ally of the Russian Federation. > > Donald Trump has now abandoned pretense and is openly aiding the Kremlin in its war against a friend and partner of the U.S. The American commander in chief has abandoned the Western order, the most successful—and powerful—security arrangement in human history. To judge from the available evidence, he has not done so out of a cold calculation of the national interest. Instead, he has based his decisions on his own interests; his open admiration for Russia’s dictator; his resentment of Ukraine’s democratically elected president; and quite possibly other factors that so far have remained obscured from the American public. Due to the paywall, i was not able to read the full article. Please let me know if there are any other good quotes in it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=188) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=190)