# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070 "2016-12-07T00:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1610
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32185 "2019-04-29T19:35:15Z")
When the story came out that the Individual 1 Administration had paid North Korea to get Otto Warmbier, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would not comment, Individual 1 said it was not true. John Bolton says it’s true. [Trump administration is caught in a lie about North Korea](https://thinkprogress.org/the-trump-administration-keeps-contradicting-itself-on-warmbiers-north-korea-medical-bill-69e5f6cbc148/)? ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32186 "2019-04-29T19:39:51Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > When the story came out that the Individual 1 Administration had paid North Korea to get Otto Warmbier, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would not comment, Individual 1 said it was not true. John Bolton says it’s true. > [Trump administration is caught in a lie about North Korea](https://thinkprogress.org/the-trump-administration-keeps-contradicting-itself-on-warmbiers-north-korea-medical-bill-69e5f6cbc148/)? I’m confident that Trump promised $2 million and then later reneged. This is how he rolls. Get work done, then stiff the contractor. Then threaten the contractor.(with being sued) This is the only business model that Trump knows. So of course this is what he does to other countries. I have long said that any country in the world would be foolish to make ANY agreement whatsoever with the United states for the next 2 years at least, and probably longer. Trust has been broken -it will take a long time to get it back. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32187 "2019-04-29T19:46:48Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m confident that Trump promised $2 million and then later reneged. The local truck drivers who voted for him would admire him for that. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32188 "2019-04-29T19:50:37Z")
[And now it’s been confirmed by CNN:](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/politics/joseph-yun-warmbier-north-korea/index.html) > [@](#): > > Joseph Yun, the former State Department Special Representative for North Korea, confirmed Monday that he signed an agreement to pay North Korea $2 million for the release of American student Otto Warmbier in 2017. I’m sure that Trump will now throw him under the bus. Why anyone works for this sack of shit is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32189 "2019-04-29T19:52:22Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m confident that Trump promised $2 million and then later reneged. This is how he rolls. I’m not sure why some of you think this is bad. The spin is “Yeah, Trump fooled them because he’s an expert negotiator and had no plans to pay them anything. Stupid North Korea. Ha Ha!” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32190 "2019-04-29T19:58:31Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Why anyone works for this sack of shit is beyond me. Think of the guy at the zoo who cares for the hippos, and doesn’t let them out to trample and [poop on everything.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfnZMRRHrwI) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32191 "2019-04-29T20:16:31Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Why anyone works for this sack of shit is beyond me. You know how you shotgun that 8th rhum-and-vanilla shot of the Friday evening ? How it really seems like a good idea at that exact point in time ? How Dave from accounting swears he’s not that drunk and will drive you home no problem, don’t even worry about it ? Same thing. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32192 "2019-04-29T20:16:52Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m not sure why some of you think this is bad. The spin is “Yeah, Trump fooled them because he’s an expert negotiator and had no plans to pay them anything. Stupid North Korea. Ha Ha!” Ponder the following; Why on earth will anyone believe any US negotiator in future? On anything? There is no trust whatsoever that the US will fulfill any promise made during negotiations. If the US does not intend to pay any money to secure the release of a citizen from another government, that’s just fine, and probably good policy. But to promise to pay and then reneg? Trump has simply kicked the can (full of shit) down the road for someone else to clean up. There is a reason why Trump had to stop building anything, and just started selling his name for buildings; No contractor would ever deal with him again without 100% of the money up front, because Trump had a history of screwing over contractors once the work was done. In a similar fashion, Trump has ensured that no country in the world will deal with him, as they know that he is not to be trusted. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32193 "2019-04-29T20:21:58Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m not sure why some of you think this is bad. The spin is “Yeah, Trump fooled them because he’s an expert negotiator and had no plans to pay them anything. Stupid North Korea. Ha Ha!” This strategy will work exactly once, so I guess Hindmost Trump is planning no further negotiations with North Korea? How many of his stiffed contractors worked for him a second time? How many contractors refused to work for him after observing how he treated others? This $2 million invoice may well have been nothing more than a test of character, performed by North Korea, to see how much of a “good faith” negotiator Trump actually is. What conclusion would you say they reached? (Alas! Ninja’d by EP!) ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32194 "2019-04-29T20:31:40Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > In a similar fashion, Trump has ensured that no country in the world will deal with him, as they know that he is not to be trusted. I find it highly unlikely that other countries will refuse to deal with the US because we stiffed North Korea on a bill. We told Iran to go fuck themselves, AND forced other countries to stop dealing with Iran. For a more Trumpian response: “Of course other countries will deal with us. They have to, because we are the greatest nation on earth, with the best economy and the best leader” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32195 "2019-04-29T20:44:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > “Of course other countries will deal with us. They have to, because we are the greatest nation on earth, with the best economy and the best leader” Except that he’s trying to convince them to neither buy from nor sell to us. One might call him “conflicted”. As in, he might have some conflicts. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32196 "2019-04-29T20:49:24Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Except that he’s trying to convince them to neither buy from nor sell to us. "Fake news. Just the other day China agreed to the trade concessions the President wanted. #MAGA" ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32197 "2019-04-29T21:38:45Z")
Trump, the master negotiator, managed to screw this up two different ways: 1. The U.S. is now revealed to be an untrustworthy negotiating partner. 2. Bad actors now know that if they kidnap a U.S. citizen they may not get cash, but they’ll at least get an I.O.U. which may be worth the risk. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32198 "2019-04-29T21:40:41Z")
…And [Rosenstein](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/politics/rod-rosenstein/index.html) is out. Resignation effective May 11. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32199 "2019-04-29T22:03:01Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > [And now it’s been confirmed by CNN:](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/politics/joseph-yun-warmbier-north-korea/index.html) > > I’m sure that Trump will now throw him under the bus. > > Why anyone works for this sack of shit is beyond me. “Sleepy Joe Yun came to my office like a dog begging to be ambassador to North Korea. I said NO!” ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32200 "2019-04-29T22:03:33Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m confident that Trump promised $2 million and then later reneged. This is how he rolls. > > Get work done, then stiff the contractor. Then threaten the contractor.(with being sued) > > This is the only business model that Trump knows. So of course this is what he does to other countries. Trump is even more vindictive than just suing contractors he’s stiffed. My Google-Fu is failing me at the moment, but I’ve seen interviews with contractors he’s stiffed and Trump goes the extra mile and warns other contractors that if they do business with someone on his shitlist, they won’t be hired and will go on the shitlist too. Trump seems not only to stiff the contractors, but he also wants to potentially ruin them. The petty malice is amazing and now we see it on the national stage. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32201 "2019-04-29T22:18:26Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > "Fake news. Just the other day China agreed to the trade concessions the President wanted. > > #MAGA" I agree that this idiotic bullshit will work on 30% of the population who are irredeemable simpletons. So in this way, you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32202 "2019-04-29T22:28:46Z")
Rosenstein to Trump in his resignation letter: > [@](#): > > I am grateful to you for the opportunity to serve; for the courtesy and humor you often display in our personal conversations; :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32203 "2019-04-29T22:48:01Z")
Ain’t enough sandpaper in the world to get the brown off those lips. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32204 "2019-04-29T23:05:17Z")
Anyone remember whether Republicans got upset when Bill Clinton chatted with Loretta Lynch? It’s also a bit odd since Trump appeared to accuse Rosenstein of treason with a [November 2018 retweet](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/28/trump-rosenstein-treason-meme-1023315), and then accused Rosenstein of treason in a tweet from [February this year](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/18/trump-lashes-out-at-mccabe-and-rosenstein-over-russia-investigation.html): > [@Donald Trump](#): > > Wow, so many lies by now disgraced acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe. He was fired for lying, and now his story gets even more deranged. He and Rod Rosenstein, who was hired by Jeff Sessions (another beauty), look like they were planning a very illegal act, and got caught… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1609) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1611)