# 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:** 867
**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:** [March 1, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17325 "2018-03-01T21:19:43Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [You won’t have Pufnstuf McMaster to kick around for much longer.](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/white-house-preparing-mcmaster-exit-early-next-month-n852371?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma) I’m sure he can be easily replaced with Trump Tower’s head of security. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17326 "2018-03-01T21:34:04Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [You won’t have Pufnstuf McMaster to kick around for much longer.](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/white-house-preparing-mcmaster-exit-early-next-month-n852371?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma) > [@running\_coach](#): > > [sarcasm] at least he’s qualified [/sarcasm] Hey, you can never go wrong hiring [a Ford Motor Co. exec to be in a cabinet position he knows little or nothing about](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McNamara), amirite? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17327 "2018-03-01T21:38:11Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I’ve given [one of these dolls](https://theofficialworldsgreatesttroll.com) to half a dozen friends & family already; reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. My mother, a Trump voter, sent me one of [these](https://www.amazon.com/Dammit-Doll-Classic-President-Stress/dp/B0727L2NKQ) (a Trump Dammit Doll) that we routinely put into awkward situations at work. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17328 "2018-03-01T21:45:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [sarcasm] at least he’s qualified [/sarcasm] If you read the article, it says he worked for Condi early in the W era. So, this can only turn out well. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17329 "2018-03-01T22:53:02Z")
Another departure. Let’s make sure everyone with any experience in their job leaves asap. **U.S. Ambassador to Mexico to Quit Amid Tense Relations Under Trump** > **[U.S. Ambassador to Mexico to Quit Amid Tense Relations Under Trump (Published...](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/world/americas/us-ambassador-mexico.html)** > > Roberta S. Jacobson is one of the most experienced Latin America experts in the State Department, having spent most of her 31-year tenure focused on the region. > [@](#): > > MEXICO CITY — The United States ambassador to Mexico plans to resign from her post in May, according to a memo circulated on Thursday to embassy staff, the latest in a string of senior diplomatic departures from the region — and more broadly from the State Department. > > The ambassador, Roberta S. Jacobson, 57, served just under two years in the post, after her arrival was delayed by a prolonged confirmation process. Analysts say her departure will be deeply felt by both American and Mexican officials — she was one of the most experienced Latin America experts in the State Department, having spent most of her 31 years there focusing on the region. > > … I guess this fits in with Rex’s plan to shrink the State Department down to four guys in a trailer somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17330 "2018-03-01T23:24:15Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What happens if he defaults? Between him and Manafort, they amassed amazing amounts of debt and had to be bailed out by some very unsavory characters. Normally you might put your kneecaps up for collateral, but in his case his SS protection may not allow that kind of thing. Apollo has $250 billion in investments under management, so even if they lost it all, that would only amount to 2% of their assets. And since it’s a collaterized mortgage loan, they’d also have the AT&T building in Chicago. Yes, it’s a lot of money but making insanely large loan is what Apollo and companies like that DO. And it pays well, the senior partners that I’ve worked for apparently have net worths of between 3 and 4 billion dollars. This is what income inequality looks like. To me, the implication of this story is that Jared’s Big Adventure has destroyed his company. Because large commercial real estate companies take out big mortgage loans. That’s a large part of the core business. And companies like Apollo make large loans. That’s what they do. But these companies, although basically legitimate, probably break all sorts of rules and regulations on a regular basis. And they don’t want public attention focused on their deals. So the Kushner companies are going to be toxic to their bankers. It’s probably going to destroy them. An as an aside, did you know that Kushner’s brother owns a health insurance start-up that was founded in response to ObamaCare, and is highly dependent on the subsidies and cost-sharing that the Trump administration trashed? Of course, I don’t know how Jared feels about his brother. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17331 "2018-03-01T23:28:52Z")
Not to be outdone, Ivanka Trump’s shady business dealings are [being investigated.](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/01/politics/ivanka-trump-fbi-investigation/index.html) ---
**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:** [March 1, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17332 "2018-03-01T23:32:37Z")
[The nasty, nasty FBI are snooping around in Ivanka’s bidness](http://wtvr.com/2018/03/01/fbi-counterintel-investigating-ivanka-trump-business-deal/amp/). ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17333 "2018-03-01T23:34:51Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Og help me, I can’t tell if that’s serious or a joke. It’s like Colbert: Left thinks he is trolling the right, right thinks the opposite. And as well all know, the left was correct. BTW, that ad actually played on the golf channel (I think that was where my friend saw it). ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17334 "2018-03-01T23:42:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [sarcasm] at least he’s qualified [/sarcasm] > [@](#): > > Mr. Biegun,[…] is a member of the boards of the US- **Russia** Foundation for Economic Development and the Rule of Law, the **Moscow** School of Politics, Freedom House, the US-\*\*Russia \*\*Business Council, the US-ASEAN Business Council and FordSollers, Ford Motor Company’s joint venture operating in the **Russia** Federation. Wery qualified. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17335 "2018-03-02T01:27:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Another departure. Let’s make sure everyone with any experience in their job leaves asap. > > **U.S. Ambassador to Mexico to Quit Amid Tense Relations Under Trump** > [https://nyti.ms/2t9kb6u](https://nyti.ms/2t9kb6u) > I guess this fits in with Rex’s plan to shrink the State Department down to four guys in a trailer somewhere. And here’s very like another - and it’s a big one: McMaster. > **[Report: H.R. McMaster to Be Fired — at Kelly and Mattis’s Behest](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/03/report-mcmaster-to-be-fired-at-kelly-and-mattiss-behest.html)** > > The White House is preparing to oust its national security adviser and replace him with an executive from Ford Motor Company, according to NBC News. …although if this report’s correct, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be missed by the other two generals. But then there’s the bigger question of how long Kelly’s in for the ride, and the speculation isn’t that unreasonable considering he just demoted Javanka’s standing in the WH. My hunch is Kelly’s daring the Trumps to fire him. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17336 "2018-03-02T12:05:56Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [You won’t have Pufnstuf McMaster to kick around for much longer.](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/white-house-preparing-mcmaster-exit-early-next-month-n852371?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma) Regarding his replacement: I can’t imagine Trump will be comfortable having someone basically called “Bigg’un” around. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17337 "2018-03-02T15:01:07Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Og help me, I can’t tell if that’s serious or a joke. I was uncertain, too, until I noticed: _Sorry, we cannot accept returns of intentionally damaged bears_. The bears are real, but the sellers are not _for_ real, I gather. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17338 "2018-03-02T15:29:27Z")
[Trump says Trade Wars are easy to win](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-says-trade-wars-are-easy-to-win-as-tariff-anger-spreads/ar-BBJKOUx?li=BBnb7Kz) > [@](#): > > U.S. allies, seeing their industries threatened, responded with bafflement and dismay. Some also panned the idea that metals imports pose a threat to national security. > > “Steel and aluminum imports from Japan, which is an ally, do not affect U.S. national security at all,” Japan’s Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters in Tokyo Friday. “I would like to convey that to the U.S. when I have an opportunity.” > > Canada – the biggest foreign supplier of steel to the U.S. – said the measures were unacceptable while the European Union vowed to “react firmly” with World Trade Organization-compliant countermeasures in the next few days. Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo called the move “disappointing” and said his country is seeking an exemption Reminds me a bit of [this](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/5d721404-4866-4e06-9ab3-a139ef20bcde). ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17339 "2018-03-02T15:41:56Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > [Trump says Trade Wars are easy to win](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-says-trade-wars-are-easy-to-win-as-tariff-anger-spreads/ar-BBJKOUx?li=BBnb7Kz) Cue next week, trump: “Nobody knew Trade Wars were so hard to win.” ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17340 "2018-03-02T15:50:33Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > Cue next week, trump: “Nobody knew Trade Wars were so hard to win.” “Nobody knew Trade Wars were so hard to win. I think I’ll go for something easier—a land war in Asia.” ---
**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:** [March 2, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17341 "2018-03-02T16:19:49Z")
Cute sign posted on DU: “When I find myself in tweets of trouble, Mother Russia comes to me- speaking words of wisdom, COVFEFE” Seriously, Putin boasts of his new missile technology, complete with animation of warheads heading toward Florida, and the Orange Puppet is upset about- Alec Baldwin. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17342 "2018-03-02T17:04:52Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > [Trump says Trade Wars are easy to win](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-says-trade-wars-are-easy-to-win-as-tariff-anger-spreads/ar-BBJKOUx?li=BBnb7Kz) > > Reminds me a bit of [this](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/5d721404-4866-4e06-9ab3-a139ef20bcde). Well, apparently the biggest US importer by far of both steel and aluminum is Canada. And they’re wimps, right? Did he get bored with picking on Mexico? ---
**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:** [March 2, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17343 "2018-03-02T17:10:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > … Putin boasts of his new missile technology, complete with animation of warheads heading toward Florida … Right, but, _Florida_? ---
**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:** [March 2, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17344 "2018-03-02T17:13:48Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Right, but, _Florida_? That’s how the animation looked to me- sure looked like Lake Okeechobee in view. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=866) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=868)