# 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:** 841
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16805 "2018-02-15T05:12:08Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Also, remember when Republicans used to care about stuff like this? I really don’t. Unless by “care” you mean “attack Democrats for.” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16806 "2018-02-15T15:25:23Z")
I posted this elsewhere, thought I’d also share here: I don’t think it was about the campaign. He may have illegally used campaign funds, but I don’t think the aim here was, “if this story gets out, I won’t get elected!” At the time of the payoff, winning the election wasn’t even a realistic goal. What I think happened: Trump never expected to win the election. Melania was, and is, clearly miserable in her marriage, and she wants out. I believe Donnie and Melania had an agreement: don’t divorce me until after I lose the election, and then you’ll get your divorce and a payout (they probably even signed a contract about it). That was the plan. And you know Donnie has some wicked-tight prenups, so if she divorces him otherwise, she’d be on the street. Stormy Daniels, however, may have been willing to testify under oath on Melania’s behalf about Donnie’s affair. Infidelity is often specified in prenups as a HUGE no-no. The terms may even be that infidelity on Donnie’s part invalidates the prenup, which would mean Melania takes half of Trump-everything. So I think the payout was to buy her silence, not for the election, but for the divorce Donnie anticipated in November 2016. Of course, the election screwed up the divorce, and now Melania’s stuck for a while longer. I think that’s also why Melania has been so pissed at Donnie since the story came out. She’s known about the affair for years, but now she knows Donnie paid Daniels off to clam up. I’m not familiar with the law in New York, but plausibly this could add a charge of witness tampering on top of everything else; we’ll have to see the NDA. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16807 "2018-02-15T15:45:21Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I posted this elsewhere, thought I’d also share here: I don’t think it was about the campaign. He may have illegally used campaign funds, but I don’t think the aim here was, “if this story gets out, I won’t get elected!” At the time of the payoff, winning the election wasn’t even a realistic goal. > > What I think happened: Trump never expected to win the election. Melania was, and is, clearly miserable in her marriage, and she wants out. I believe Donnie and Melania had an agreement: don’t divorce me until after I lose the election, and then you’ll get your divorce and a payout (they probably even signed a contract about it). That was the plan. And you know Donnie has some wicked-tight prenups, so if she divorces him otherwise, she’d be on the street. > > Stormy Daniels, however, may have been willing to testify under oath on Melania’s behalf about Donnie’s affair. Infidelity is often specified in prenups as a HUGE no-no. The terms may even be that infidelity on Donnie’s part invalidates the prenup, which would mean Melania takes half of Trump-everything. > > So I think the payout was to buy her silence, not for the election, but for the divorce Donnie anticipated in November 2016. Of course, the election screwed up the divorce, and now Melania’s stuck for a while longer. I think that’s also why Melania has been so pissed at Donnie since the story came out. She’s known about the affair for years, but now she knows Donnie paid Daniels off to clam up. > > I’m not familiar with the law in New York, but plausibly this could add a charge of witness tampering on top of everything else; we’ll have to see the NDA. The problem with that theory is: If you don’t care about getting elected, why bother delaying the divorce in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16808 "2018-02-15T15:55:25Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > The problem with that theory is: If you don’t care about getting elected, why bother delaying the divorce in the first place? He cared about image-making and brand-building. Better to let the divorce wait until the spotlight was off him (just like the previous ones). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16809 "2018-02-15T15:59:53Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I posted this elsewhere, thought I’d also share here: I don’t think it was about the campaign. He may have illegally used campaign funds, but I don’t think the aim here was, “if this story gets out, I won’t get elected!” At the time of the payoff, winning the election wasn’t even a realistic goal. > > What I think happened: Trump never expected to win the election. Melania was, and is, clearly miserable in her marriage, and she wants out. I believe Donnie and Melania had an agreement: don’t divorce me until after I lose the election, and then you’ll get your divorce and a payout (they probably even signed a contract about it). That was the plan. And you know Donnie has some wicked-tight prenups, so if she divorces him otherwise, she’d be on the street. > > Stormy Daniels, however, may have been willing to testify under oath on Melania’s behalf about Donnie’s affair. Infidelity is often specified in prenups as a HUGE no-no. The terms may even be that infidelity on Donnie’s part invalidates the prenup, which would mean Melania takes half of Trump-everything. > > So I think the payout was to buy her silence, not for the election, but for the divorce Donnie anticipated in November 2016. Of course, the election screwed up the divorce, and now Melania’s stuck for a while longer. I think that’s also why Melania has been so pissed at Donnie since the story came out. She’s known about the affair for years, but now she knows Donnie paid Daniels off to clam up. > > I’m not familiar with the law in New York, but plausibly this could add a charge of witness tampering on top of everything else; we’ll have to see the NDA. I agree with this, and posted this yesterday as well: > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Well, in all fairness, a month before the election, I don’t think one person in the Trump campaign, up to and including the candied yam hisself, had any desire or expectation of winning. The hush money wasn’t done to influence the election; it was likely paid out because Trump didn’t want to have any whiff of infidelity in the air when Melania began divorce proceedings. > > But let him explain \*that \*to the investigators. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16810 "2018-02-15T16:11:51Z")
What he cared about was the prospect of a horde of ravening divorce lawyers demanding to know just how much money he _really_ has, and where it is. His asshole slams shut so tight, he’d need to hammer in the nozzle for an enema. (Can’t help but feel sorry for that boy, Barron. Never played outside and got so dirty his Mom threw him straight into the shower. Never been fishin’. Scabby knees, snot crusted sleeves, dirt…how can you grow to be a man if you never get the chance to be a boy?) ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16811 "2018-02-15T17:27:44Z")
“President Donald Trump’s travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries violates the U.S. Constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday in another legal setback for the policy.” > **[U.S. court says Trump travel ban unlawfully discriminates against Muslims](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/u-s-court-says-trump-travel-ban-unlawfully-discriminates-against-muslims-idUSKCN1FZ23U)** > > President Donald Trump's travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries violates the U.S. Constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday in another legal setback for the policy. Trump loses again. Hopefully, after the Supreme Court hears this, He’ll still be a LOSER. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16812 "2018-02-15T17:39:59Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > “President Donald Trump’s travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries violates the U.S. Constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday in another legal setback for the policy.” > > [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/u-s-court-says-trump-travel-ban-unlawfully-discriminates-against-muslims-idUSKCN1FZ23U](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/u-s-court-says-trump-travel-ban-unlawfully-discriminates-against-muslims-idUSKCN1FZ23U) > > Trump loses again. Hopefully, after the Supreme Court hears this, He’ll still be a LOSER. [QUOTE=Blowhard-in-chief] We’re gonna win so much you may even get tired of winning and you’ll say please, please Mr. president, It’s too much winning… [/QUOTE] I wonder if he’ll finally get tired of losing on this subject. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16813 "2018-02-15T17:42:34Z")
[Fox News star Judge Jeanine Pirro has found that Obama is to blame for the Porter scandal.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zoeyo6moy4) In other news, Pirro and fellow idiot Gorka have determined that failure of Kushner et al to get security clearnace is due to sabotage by the deep Kenyanist state. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16814 "2018-02-15T17:47:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > …how can you grow to be a man if you never get the chance to be a boy? Easy. Mommy will sew a [flak jacket](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/04/16/06/3F4A90EE00000578-4415632-image-a-22_1492319206843.jpg) to put over his navy blue blazer when he visits war torn countries that his wannabe robber baron daddy has interests in. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16815 "2018-02-15T17:50:24Z")
Uh-oh: [Stormy Daniels kept a Monica Lewinsky dress from alleged hotel tryst with Trump, she claims – and plans to test it for DNA](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5395975/amp/Stormy-kept-Lewinsky-dress-alleged-Trump-affair.html?__twitter_impression=true) The woman has monetized this tryst to a cool $135k (depending upon how much DJT paid for the original hook-up), she’s now going for 7-figures. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16816 "2018-02-15T17:52:01Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Fox News star Judge Jeanine Pirro has found that Obama is to blame for the Porter scandal.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zoeyo6moy4) **C’hump** with a sex change, race lift, and much wider coverage. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16817 "2018-02-15T18:01:12Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Uh-oh: > > [Stormy Daniels kept a Monica Lewinsky dress from alleged hotel tryst with Trump, she claims – and plans to test it for DNA](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5395975/amp/Stormy-kept-Lewinsky-dress-alleged-Trump-affair.html?__twitter_impression=true) > > The woman has monetized this tryst to a cool $135k (depending upon how much DJT paid for the original hook-up), she’s now going for 7-figures. While I don’t doubt that she had an affair with Trump, and while I’m enjoying the sordid spectacle of this, I’m curious how she plans to get a DNA sample from Trump to compare to the DNA from the dress. Also, even assuming she kept the dress hermetically sealed all these years, if hair and skin are all that’s found, that doesn’t really go very far in proving that they had sex. So, I’m not sure this is a real smart ploy for her. Anyway, if only there were a special counsel who could ask Trump under oath about the affair. Then we might have something to really get Trump with. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16818 "2018-02-15T18:02:40Z")
[The Inaugural Committee gave Melania’s pal $26 million](http://www.politicususa.com/2018/02/15/trumps-inagural-committee-gave-26-million-melanias-friend-instead-donating-charity.html) instead of donating it to charity. Is there no end to the greed and corruption of these grifters? ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16819 "2018-02-15T18:08:11Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > While I don’t doubt that she had an affair with Trump, and while I’m enjoying the sordid spectacle of this, I’m curious how she plans to get a DNA sample from Trump to compare to the DNA from the dress. Also, even assuming she kept the dress hermetically sealed all these years, if hair and skin are all that’s found, that doesn’t really go very far in proving that they had sex. So, I’m not sure this is a real smart ploy for her. Anyway, if only there were a special counsel who could ask Trump under oath about the affair. Then we might have something to really get Trump with. She’s not interested in “smart” or even in bringing down Trump. She wants money and is working to monetize this tryst as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16820 "2018-02-15T18:19:11Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Also, even assuming she kept the dress hermetically sealed all these years, if hair and skin are all that’s found, that doesn’t really go very far in proving that they had sex. No, but the existence of the payoff does. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16821 "2018-02-15T18:27:21Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > No, but the existence of the payoff does. Yeah, he has a history of not paying for work that was actually done. The idea that he paid someone who didn’t do the work in question is ludicrous. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16822 "2018-02-15T18:34:59Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > No, but the existence of the payoff does. Oh, yeah, I agree. And like I said, I’m quite sure she and Trump had an affair. I just don’t see the “dress” angle amounting to much. I accept that she may just be trying to get money, but I’m not sure I see how the dress helps her there either. Unless it has semen on it, and she can prove it’s Trump’s, what does she have? I don’t know, maybe that gets her booked on some talk shows or something. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16823 "2018-02-15T18:35:48Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > No, but the existence of the payoff does. Didn’t you read what [del]Nathan Thurm[/del]Michael Cohen said? It was a Private Transaction between him and Strormy Daniels. Not a payoff. Boom! BadlyLawyered! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16824 "2018-02-15T18:40:21Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I just don’t see the “dress” angle amounting to much… maybe that gets her booked on some talk shows or something. That’s enough reason, isn’t it? The money in it for her may be bigger than we suspect, if this thing keeps blowing up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=840) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=842)