# 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:** 1673
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33445 "2019-06-09T00:54:05Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > With the North Korea document, I would agree. With the Mexican, vague or not, **it’s still a pretty clear statement of “We’re going to do what you say.”** It reads to me more like something that was signed in a hurry, to stop the click from ticking, than something that was a simple show piece. I agree with the bolded part and I’m embarrassed for the Mexican people that their current administration is, apparently, both weak and easily fooled. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Trump withdrew from NAFTA, negotiated its replacement, and before the ink is dry on the new agreement he’s threatening tariffs against Mexico. If I were Mexico I’d tell Trump whatever he wanted, and then not follow through. Trump clearly doesn’t keep his promises; I’d have no hesitation about making a promise to him and then breaking it. In my head, that’s somehow a better scenario than “oh noes; we’ll do what you say”. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33446 "2019-06-09T01:10:46Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > “No wall needed” was unofficially conceded when Trump said he’d be busing (and flying) refugees to so-called sanctuary cities all over the USA. > > If Trump is willing to transport people right into the heart of the nation, then he can’t really say they’re so dangerous they must be stopped (by a wall) from entering, can he?.. Well, these kids aren’t going anywhere any time soon. **[HHS to house thousands of unaccompanied minor migrants on military bases and at Texas facility](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/hhs-to-house-thousands-of-unaccompanied-minor-migrants-on-military-bases-at-texas-facility/2019/06/07/a6c2c95c-8938-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html?utm_term=.75936db5851d)** > [@](#): > > …The Department of Health and Human Services plans to shelter 2,000 children at the military facilities and 1,600 at a temporary emergency influx shelter in Carrizo Springs, Tex., a compound that formerly housed oil-field workers about two hours southwest of San Antonio. Federal officials said a private contractor will run the Texas facility, and HHS is expected to run the military shelters. > > … > > All children will be housed in dormitory-style buildings until case workers can place them with a parent or sponsor in the United States, but they will not have the educational programming or recreational activities that are normally required in child shelters. > > HHS officials alerted shelters last week that the department expects to run out of money and will no longer fund English classes, art supplies, soccer coaches and other nonessential services for children in custody. > > U.S. Border Patrol agents have apprehended 56,278 unaccompanied minors this fiscal year, a 74 percent increase over the same time last year, and new government data obtained by The Washington Post showed that many of the 2,000 unaccompanied migrant children in overcrowded Border Patrol facilities had been there beyond legally allowed time limits, **including some who are 12 or younger.** Government agencies have blamed breakdowns in the bureaucratic systems for the delays. > … My bold. “Including some who are 12 or younger.” Try to wrap your brain around that. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33447 "2019-06-09T01:11:41Z")
Why are you mocking the Almighty Wall of All? The mystical magical wall that is only needed when PO[del]TU[/del]S Trump does not need to threaten closing borders or ordering tariffs is almighty and already invisibly under construction, and somehow Mexico’s paying for it. My guess is they’re paying with invisible money. Oh, and Mexico promised nothing in actuality. They can not punish people for not violating Mexican law because PO[del]TU[/del]S Trump wants to punish them for not violating American law. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33448 "2019-06-09T03:13:23Z")
I’ve been reading David Copperfield again. I didn’t know that Dickens was a Nostradamus who wrote about Trump and Melania - “Gentlemen," returned Mr. Micawber, “do with me as you will! I am a straw upon the surface of the deep, and am tossed in all directions by the elephants- I beg your pardon; I should have said the elements.” “I have no scruple in saying, in the presence of our friends here, that I am a man who has for some years contended against the pressure of pecuniary difficulties.” ”I shall never desert Mr. Micawber." - Mrs. Micawber ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33449 "2019-06-09T03:26:08Z")
OTOH, China built a wall, and they don’t have any Mexicans. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33450 "2019-06-09T03:34:08Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Does it matter that the specific actions were [agreed to months ago](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/08/us/politics/trump-mexico-deal-tariffs.html), and had nothing to do with Trump’s latest temper tantrum induced demand followed by ignominious retreat? Hm… That does make it less clear. Possibly that would be an indication that Trump did fold. Hard to tell. The language did still sound like they were obeying - which isn’t a great look. But, they could have said that they’d agree to make it sound like that, just to spare Trump the humiliation, in return for something down the road. Or my read just isn’t the correct one. 😃 Maybe we’ll get a better view in 90 days. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33451 "2019-06-09T03:36:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > OTOH, China built a wall, and they don’t have any Mexicans. To be fair, the Great Wall of China was built a long time ago. The Mexican population could easily have been cross-bred into the Chinese population long ago, so that there’s no longer any differentiation between the two groups in mainland China. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33452 "2019-06-09T03:45:00Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > To be fair, the Great Wall of China was built a long time ago. The Mexican population could easily have been cross-bred into the Chinese population long ago, so that there’s no longer any differentiation between the two groups in mainland China. When China built the Great Wall, the Mongols invaded them and founded the Yuan dynasty. With Chump building his wall, will the Mexicans invade the US and found the Juan dynasty? Meanwhile, I saw a new poll out showing if an election were held today, Chump would lose. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33453 "2019-06-09T04:00:50Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > When China built the Great Wall, the Mongols invaded them and founded the Yuan dynasty. With Chump building his wall, will the Mexicans invade the US and found the Juan dynasty? > > Meanwhile, I saw a new poll out showing if an election were held today, Chump would lose. can I quote you to my Facebook friends. that is clever ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33454 "2019-06-09T04:04:43Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > can I quote you to my Facebook friends. that is clever Might as well. I stole it myself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33455 "2019-06-09T15:16:11Z")
[Michael Wolff talks about his new book about Trump.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnhOeqva9N8) Some of the revelations are startling. Trump has no affection for son Barron because Barron might grow up to be taller than his father? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33456 "2019-06-09T16:03:57Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > The language did still sound like they were obeying - which isn’t a great look. But, they could have said that they’d agree to make it sound like that, just to spare Trump the humiliation, in return for something down the road. > > Maybe we’ll get a better view in 90 days. I think that is the right read, but I don’t think that Mexico gets anything from Trump besides defusing the current [del]tariff[/del] \*\*\*import tax on Americans \*\*\* threat. If the hostage taker will release the hostages if you give him a diet coke you go ahead and give in. I suspect that in 90 days Trump sees an opportunity to get more headlines and restarts to whole thing again. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33457 "2019-06-09T16:07:03Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Michael Wolff talks about his new book about Trump.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnhOeqva9N8) Some of the revelations are startling. Trump has no affection for son Barron because Barron might grow up to be taller than his father? :smack: Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there! “shows… the President as committed as ever to his fundamental strategy, according to the book, of lying his way out of everything.” I’ve been watching clips of Mr. Wolff for a few days now. He’s so far gone beyond incredulity into gobsmacked acceptance that this is, in fact, our reality, that it’s kind of funny to watch him. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33458 "2019-06-09T18:01:46Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Hm… That does make it less clear. Possibly that would be an indication that Trump did fold. Hard to tell. The language did still sound like they were obeying - which isn’t a great look. But, they could have said that they’d agree to make it sound like that, just to spare Trump the humiliation, in return for something down the road. > > Or my read just isn’t the correct one. 😃 > > Maybe we’ll get a better view in 90 days. What language? The language from the White House? Why on Earth would I put any stock in that? There was no deal. There was simply a capitulation followed by a pathetic attempt to spin it as a win. And his supporters will believe it despite how unbelievable it is because they are terrible people. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33459 "2019-06-09T18:31:58Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Michael Wolff talks about his new book about Trump.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnhOeqva9N8) I’ve only watched the first 1:43 but…lol. They’re pretty clearly just trying to fuck with Trump’s head, knowing that he’ll watch the segment. Not to say that what they’re saying is false (who knows on that one), but it’s certainly not just a book review and the subdued glee on O’Donnell’s face is pretty outstanding. 😃 ETA: 2:58 now. The lol continues. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33460 "2019-06-09T19:46:40Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Michael Wolff talks about his new book about Trump.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnhOeqva9N8) Some of the revelations are startling. Trump has no affection for son Barron because Barron might grow up to be taller than his father? :smack: Fail to neglect [Part Two, in which Jared dances like a spider on a hotplate](https://youtu.be/-FKizYqvXXI). ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33461 "2019-06-09T19:47:54Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’ve only watched the first 1:43 but…lol. > > They’re pretty clearly just trying to fuck with Trump’s head, knowing that he’ll watch the segment. Not to say that what they’re saying is false (who knows on that one), but it’s certainly not just a book review and the subdued glee on O’Donnell’s face is pretty outstanding. 😃 > > ETA: 2:58 now. The lol continues. 😃 So Don Jr. jokes that daddy went to two Yankees games in a row where they lost both games and joked daddy was “bad luck”. He goes apeshit, freaking out on Don Jr. making him cry. Priceless family. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33462 "2019-06-09T22:36:38Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > So Don Jr. jokes that daddy went to two Yankees games in a row where they lost both games and joked daddy was “bad luck”. He goes apeshit, freaking out on Don Jr. making him cry. And that was this season… ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33463 "2019-06-10T00:47:30Z")
I’m no fan of Trump obviously, but fuck Michael Wolffe. He’s the Michael Avenatti of biographers (i.e. capitalistic attention whore) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33464 "2019-06-10T04:17:08Z")
> **[GOP lawmakers, business groups slam Trump's Mexico tariff threat](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-lawmakers-business-groups-slam-trump-s-mexico-tariff-threat-n1012441)** > > The president's tariff threat was "hurried out the door" by White House aides to appease him, an administration official said, with no guidance on how to explain the move to the business community. **GOP lawmakers, business groups slam Trump’s Mexico tariff threat** The business community is growing restless with Il Douche’s improvisational approach to international trade. Cautiously, even gingerly, like porcupines making love, but perhaps matters of tariff and trade is best left to legislation? Are they turning on him? Turning back to their Republican old style religion, back to the Gospel of security, stability, and profit? After all, what has he done for them lately? What does he have left to offer them? They already have their tax cuts. What do they need him for? Gratitude is not good for business, its space in the capitalist heart being just a bit less than social justice or compassion. True, their numbers are fewer than that the _lumpenyokel_ that comprise the hot core of Il Douche’s support. But when the high clergy of the Dollar Almighty turn against him? How will he bring them to heel, insinuate that they are all a bunch of Jews? Put on a pair of Calvin Klein overalls and do his Tom Joad impression? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1672) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1674)