The current second Trump administration: a compendium of horrors

Politics & Elections
2322

Thank you for your attention to this matter (why does he do that?)… Just out of curiosity, I get:

Button Up Your Overcoat (Trump Style)

Look, folks, I gotta tell you, this coat—it’s the best. Nobody makes coats like this, believe me. When it’s cold out there, and it gets cold—so cold—you better button up. Don’t even think about leaving it open, you’ll look weak. Nobody wants to look weak.

You gotta button up your overcoat. You know it’s gonna get cold—everybody’s talking about it, and you need to be prepared. It’s all about being prepared. It’s about making sure you’re smart, making sure you’re tough. The coat, it’s big, it’s strong, it’ll keep you warm. And when you’re warm, you’re successful.

If you don’t button it up, if you’re not ready—you’re gonna lose, and you don’t want to lose. Nobody wants to lose. We’re winning, folks, we’re always winning. So button up that coat, make sure you look great—because when you look great, you win, everybody wins.

Believe me. It’s going to be huge.

2323

Not bad. I could hear it in my head in that face flatulence we call his voice. Made me laugh, anyway.

2324

Couldn’t resist trying to break ChatGPT with some nonsense. Frim Fram Sauce came out almost logical, but how about

“Jabberwocky (Trump Edition)”

Believe me, folks, this is tremendous stuff. Nobody writes nonsense poetry better than I do. Nobody. Let’s go:

It was tremendously brillig, really terrific,
And all those slithy toves — great creatures, some say the best —
They gyrbled and gimbled, beautifully, in the wabe,
Like winners, not like losers, OK?

All mimsy were the borogoves — very sad, very weak,
And the mome raths? Total disaster. Outgrabe.

Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
It’s nasty, it’s fake, it’s a total mess.
Those jaws? Like CNN — always biting.
Those claws? Like the DOJ — very unfair.

Beware the Jubjub bird — annoying, folks,
And shun the frumious Bandersnatch —
Total nutjob. Could be Antifa. Nobody knows.

He took his vorpal sword in hand — strong steel, American-made,
He stood long time in front of that enemy — never backed down, not once.

And while in thoughtful Trumpian stance he stood — very stable genius —
The Jabberwock, with eyes like Hunter’s laptop (nobody talks about it!)
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood —
Bigly whiffling. Some say too much.

And burbled as it came — fake news style!

One-two! One-two!
And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack — so fast, so clean, so powerful.

He left it dead — totally destroyed.
And went galumphing back — just like a Trump rally —
Victory lap!

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Incredible! Amazing!”
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
So much winning, you’ll be tired of winning.

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
We tweeted in our joy.

It was still brillig, folks — always brillig when I’m around —
And the slithy toves? Still classy, still spinning like a Trump economy.
All mimsy were the borogoves — low energy, sad!
And the mome raths? Still outgrabe — probably rigged.

The end. Total classic. Never forget.
No one defeats the Jabberwock like Trump defeats the deep state.

2325

Absolutely hilarious. Thank you!

2326

This executive order issued two days ago may or may not fit in the thread.

Assuring the Security of the State of Qatar

So much for Trump the isolationist.

On the plus side, this may have been needed to get Qatar to push Hamas hard into accepting the Gaza truce plan, a plan which, whatever you think of it, is better than continuation of the current war.

On the minus side, it may have something to do with this April 2025 news:

AP: Trump company strikes Qatari golf resort deal

I think this would normally be part of a U.S. Senate-ratified treaty rather than yet another dictatorial presidential decree. A treaty process would have each country pledged to protect the other. This instead one-sidedly gives all the benefit to Qatar.

2327

Not to mention that stupid jet they gifted to Trump.

2328

And as was pointed out elsewhere, this is particularly problematic, as Qatar was just recently attacked by Israel.

Would Trump take action against Israel based on this agreement? I suspect not, but it’s totally on brand for him that he hasn’t thought this through on even the most superficial level.

2329

US Treasury confirms plans for Trump $1 coin to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

Roman emperors may be rolling in their graves tonight because they didn’t think of “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT” for their coins.

As seen in Section 6 here, putting a living president on the coin is illegal. However, I doubt SCOTUS would find anyone suing to have standing.

2330

Has Trump ever experienced real consequences for violating a law? I know he has lost civil suits and criminal cases, but the financial penalties don’t seem all that severe given his wealth and how much he saves by simply not paying people.

2331

Wait, we have a male Treasurer now?!

(Apparently, he’s the first man to serve in the position since 1949. Christ, even in Trump’s beloved 1950s, they at least put some women in charge…)

2332

He lost a bunch of civil suits back when his net worth may have been low.

And he was forced to, and did, give up to New York police, two guns.

As indicated in the last link, as a convicted felon, he should not have any guns now. That’s a consequence, although we have no way to know if he is currently in compliance.

If he wants to vote, as he most certainly does, he is, as a convicted felon, limited in what states he can have his primary residence.

Since when is keeping a job title limited to women a plus for feminism?

I think Kristi Noem has more real power than any of the men who held her office previously. both because of increased staffing and because she is less required to obey the law.

Trump is willing to give a job to a true loyalist regardless of race or gender (just as he is willing to mass deport regardless of race or gender).

2333

I don’t think “ you can’t vote in a state you don’t live in anyway” counts as a consequence.

It sounds like any consequential consequences were decades ago or more. But maybe that will change.

2334

Wait. Where they antiques or something? Trump could no more figure out how to shoot a modern firearm than he could tie his shoes.

What? Two guns?

Does he know how to operate a firearm? I’d keep him away from scissors.

2335

(Cross-posted from a Pit thread)

Good news! Many of us Dopers may now be security risks!

From the link:

2336

I wasn’t sure if to put this here or in the deportation thread:

New York Times: Kristi Noem Says ICE Will Be ‘All Over’ the Super Bowl

Can those who were coming to the Super Bowl as international tourists get a refund?

2337

That didn’t work out so well last time…

2338

DOH! I just got it as I was typing.

2339

No. And international terrorists are right out.

2340

Technically not the Super Bowl, but I laughed.

From 1966 through 1969, the Super Bowl featured the winners of the NFL Championship Game and the AFL Championship Game; the two leagues were in the process of merging, but still were separate leagues. The “Ice Bowl,” as featured in that link, was the NFL Championship Game, and the Packers, after winning that game, then went on to play in Super Bowl II, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, two weeks later. From 1970 on, what had been the NFL Championship Game and the AFL Championship Game became the NFC and AFC Championship Games, respectively, and the Super Bowl effectively became the NFL championship game.

2341

I’m ashamed I missed this as it is arguably the biggest horror of all.

August:

AP: Trump claims to have ended the war in Congo. People there say that’s not true

Last week:

NPR: Little sign of peace after Trump Congo deal