# 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:** 179
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3561 "2017-04-24T14:15:08Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > [Trump says he won’t fire Spicey because ‘the guy gets great ratings.’"](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/330158-trump-wont-fire-spicer-because-the-guy-gets-great-ratings) I _am_ waiting for his standup routine. I’m sure the routine itself is awful, but the heckling is going to be legendary. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3562 "2017-04-24T15:11:16Z")
Trump says his wall will keep out MS-13. What, he plans to build a wall around [Los Angeles](http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/04/19/how-ms-13-one-america-s-most-dangerous-gangs-is-funded.html)? ---
**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:** [April 24, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3563 "2017-04-24T15:54:27Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I _am_ waiting for his standup routine. I’m sure the routine itself is awful, but the heckling is going to be legendary. > > Stranger He doesn’t even need to \*write \*a standup routine–just quote one of his press conferences verbatim. ---
**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 24, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3564 "2017-04-24T19:22:00Z")
[Trump’s upcoming proposed executive orders don’t really do anything](http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/04/trump-writing-fake-orders-doesnt-know-how-to-be-president.html?): > [@](#): > > “Executive Order Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs”: “This Executive Order will establish, in the Department of Veterans Affairs, an Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection. The Office will help the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to discipline or terminate VA managers or employees who fail to carry out their duties in helping our veterans. The Office will also identify barriers to the Secretary’s authority to put the well-being of our veterans first.” > “Executive Order for a Review of Designations under the Antiquities Act”: “The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorizes the president to declare federal lands of historic or scientific value to be ‘National Monuments’ and thereby restrict the types of uses to which those lands can be put…The Antiquities Act Executive Order directs the Department of the Interior to review prior monument designations and suggest legislative changes or modifications to the monument proclamations.” > “Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy”: “Past administrations have been overly restrictive of off-shore energy exploration. The America First Energy Executive Order directs a review of the locations available for off-shore oil and gas exploration and of certain regulations governing off-shore oil and gas exploration.” > “Executive Order Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America”: “The Agriculture and Rural Task Force Executive Order creates an interagency task force to examine the concerns of rural America and suggest legislative and regulatory changes to address them.” [https://www.axios.com/exclusive-trump-plans-pre-100th-day-reg-assault-most-executive-orders--2375581932.html](https://www.axios.com/exclusive-trump-plans-pre-100th-day-reg-assault-most-executive-orders--2375581932.html) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3565 "2017-04-24T19:30:23Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > I would just like to state that I think we should remove “in the making” from this thread title. I agree with you, but the previous argument for keeping the title as-is is that the Trump administration is a constantly-evolving clusterfuck, thus being made and unmade all the time. :smack: ---
**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 24, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3566 "2017-04-24T19:48:57Z")
Can somebody explain to me just what “excess” tax credits Mexicans are getting that Sessions says will be used to pay for the Wall? > **['This Week' Transcript 4-23-17: Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Xavier...](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-23-17-attorney-general-jeff-sessions/story?id=46955082)** ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3567 "2017-04-24T20:14:16Z")
Official State Department websites are now promoting Mar A Lago. What the fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3568 "2017-04-24T20:29:43Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Official State Department websites are now promoting Mar A Lago. What the fuck? Is this a surprise? This is why Trump got into the game to begin with. His entire career and personal history has been one of shameless self-promotion, and now he has the apparatus of the US Department of State at his disposal. Yes, our nation has been hijacked by Biff Tannen. Which I hope means that at some point Trump is going to end up buried in horse manure, or knocked silly by Michael J. Fox. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3569 "2017-04-24T20:35:38Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Is this a surprise? This is why Trump got into the game to begin with. His entire career and personal history has been one of shameless self-promotion, and now he has the apparatus of the US Department of State at his disposal. Yes, our nation has been hijacked by Biff Tannen. Which I hope means that at some point Trump is going to end up buried in horse manure, or knocked silly by Michael J. Fox. > > Stranger It’s just a step up in how blatant it is. At this rate it won’t even be the end of the year before we see people hauling duffel bags full of cash into the White House in order to buy public land on the cheap. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3570 "2017-04-24T20:42:15Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Official State Department websites are now promoting Mar A Lago. What the fuck? It’s not that I don’t believe you (because really, this is very believable. My only surprise is that it didn’t happen in January), but do you have a cite? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3571 "2017-04-24T20:45:15Z")
> **[Mar-a-Lago: The winter White House](https://share.america.gov/mar-a-lago-winter-white-house/)** > > The intention of the article was to inform the public about where the President has been hosting world leaders. We regret any misperception and have removed the post. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3572 "2017-04-24T20:59:10Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Is this a surprise? This is why Trump got into the game to begin with. His entire career and personal history has been one of shameless self-promotion, and now he has the apparatus of the US Department of State at his disposal. Yes, our nation has been hijacked by Biff Tannen. Which I hope means that at some point Trump is going to end up buried in horse manure, or knocked silly by Michael J. Fox. > > Stranger Wow. I thought it was Clinton that turned the State Dept. into a cash machine. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3573 "2017-04-24T21:05:39Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Can somebody explain to me just what “excess” tax credits Mexicans are getting that Sessions says will be used to pay for the Wall? > ['This Week' Transcript 4-23-17: Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Xavier Becerra - ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-23-17-attorney-general-jeff-sessions/story?id=46955082) One site says, > [@"\[justfacts](#): > > ([Taxes – Just Facts](http://www.justfacts.com/taxes.asp#compliance-refundable))"]Federal law generally prohibits illegal immigrants from earning income in the U.S., but the law also requires them to file tax returns if they do earn income. Federal law also prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving most federal benefits, but the IRS has concluded that this restriction does not apply to refundable child tax credits. In 2010, the IRS paid out $4.2 billion in refundable child tax credits to 2.3 million tax filers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States. The next line, however, > [@](#): > > In 2010, 72% of the tax returns filed by illegal immigrants and foreign investors received cash payments from the IRS for child tax credits. Could make one a tad skeptical of the figures. If foreign investors, who are slightly different from illegal immigrants, are included in that statistic, one has to ask, _by how much?_ It is pretty easy to squish some percentages together and mumble part of the title so that the figures look bad in the way that you want them to. _There are liars, there are damn liars and there are statisticians._ I do like Sessions’ skillful extemporaneous articulateness, though. I am certain that I would screw up even more in front of the cameras, which is why I strive to hide from the fronts of cameras. But it is still amusing > [@](#): > > I can’t imagine the Democrats would shut down the government over an objection to building a down payment on a wall that can end the lawlessness. to make fun of his misstatements > [@](#): > > We’re going to out – get people out of the country to these countries that aren’t taking them back after they’re due to be deported. It’s going to save us hundreds of millions, billions of dollars. I mean, how do you deport people to a country that will not take them? Sounds _more_ expensive than just interning them here. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3574 "2017-04-24T22:12:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Wow. > I thought it was Clinton that turned the State Dept. into a cash machine. Not in the bigly way Trump will. Make America Base Again! Stranger ---
**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:** [April 24, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3575 "2017-04-24T23:03:47Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Official State Department websites are now promoting Mar A Lago. What the fuck? > [@amarinth](#): > > It’s not that I don’t believe you (because really, this is very believable. My only surprise is that it didn’t happen in January), but do you have a cite? > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > [https://share.america.gov/mar-a-lago-winter-white-house/](https://share.america.gov/mar-a-lago-winter-white-house/) I can confirm that this was a full-on advertisement for Trump’s place, complete with brochure photos of the lobby, etc. It is no longer: > [@](#): > > The intention of the article was to inform the public about where the President has been hosting world leaders. We regret any misperception and have removed the post. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3576 "2017-04-24T23:15:57Z")
[Trump boasts best TV ratings since 9/11.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/04/24/trump-boasts-of-highest-tv-ratings-since-the-world-trade-center-came-down/?utm_term=.b9a0035450a4) Idiot. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3577 "2017-04-24T23:18:05Z")
I looked around and didn’t see it mentioned here, so I’ll post [this transcript of an AP interview with Trump by Julie Pace.](https://apnews.com/c810d7de280a47e88848b0ac74690c83) It’s bananas. Not sure whether to focus on the lies, narcissism, wild claims, abundance of (unintelligible), or odd language use (“unsupport”). > [@](#): > > TRUMP: They had a quote from me that NATO’s obsolete. But they didn’t say why it was obsolete. I was on Wolf Blitzer, very fair interview, the first time I was ever asked about NATO, because I wasn’t in government. People don’t go around asking about NATO if I’m building a building in Manhattan, right? So they asked me, Wolf … asked me about NATO, and I said two things. NATO’s obsolete — not knowing much about NATO, now I know a lot about NATO — NATO is obsolete, and I said, “And the reason it’s obsolete is because of the fact they don’t focus on terrorism.” You know, back when they did NATO there was no such thing as terrorism. If he doesn’t know NATO responded to 9/11 I kinda doubt he “knows a lot” about NATO now. There’s a question about Dreamers and he starts talking about MS-13. He claims the electoral college favors Democrats, not Republicans. He claims he saved hundreds of millions of dollars on the F-35 program. His expectations of the press: > [@](#): > > TRUMP: You have to love people. And if you love people, such a big responsibility. (unintelligible) You can take any single thing, including even taxes. I mean we’re going to be doing major tax reform. Here’s part of your story, it’s going to be a big (unintelligible). Everybody’s saying, “Oh, he’s delaying.” I’m not delaying anything. I’ll tell you the other thing is (unintelligible). I used to get great press. I get the worst press. I get such dishonest reporting with the media. That’s another thing that really has — I’ve never had anything like it before. It happened during the primaries, and I said, you know, when I won, I said, “Well the one thing good is now I’ll get good press.” And it got worse. (unintelligible) So that was one thing that a little bit of a surprise to me. I thought the press would become better, and it actually, in my opinion, got more nasty. Trump is such a (unintelligible) president. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3578 "2017-04-24T23:35:20Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I can confirm that this was a full-on advertisement for Trump’s place, complete with brochure photos of the lobby, etc. > > It is no longer: Did anyone get a screen grab of it? I was too slow. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3579 "2017-04-24T23:43:29Z")
Not I, but I’m sure it can be easily Googled. Backing down on Trump’s wall, WH signaling that it’s now OK if the funding for it waits until the fall. People hoping to see a GOP-lead government shut itself down because of internal party battles (like me) are sorely disappointed. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3580 "2017-04-25T00:00:24Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Trump is such a (unintelligible) president. But not nearly (unintelligible) enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=178) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=180)