# 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:** 936
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18705 "2018-04-02T15:45:49Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Dear Trumpland: > > China has a little message for you. > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/04/01/trade-war-escalates-as-china-vows-to-impose-tariffs-on-128-u-s-exports-including-pork-and-fruit/?utm\_term=.94ea2b299c4d](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/04/01/trade-war-escalates-as-china-vows-to-impose-tariffs-on-128-u-s-exports-including-pork-and-fruit/?utm_term=.94ea2b299c4d) > > They’ve seen enough of Trump. China is going to impose tariffs on pork, but the largest pork producers in the world, Smithfield Farms, has been owned by WH Group of China since 2013. I wonder how that will work. I guess Smithfield’s non-U.S. farms could provide China with pork. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18706 "2018-04-02T21:32:37Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why is he going after Amazon for a delivery deal the USPS concludes is profitable or it? Did Bezos decline to offer obeisance or a bribe or something? It’s possible, or maybe he and his cronies are manipulating the market prices and shorting the stock to line their own pockets? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18707 "2018-04-02T22:26:26Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > China is going to impose tariffs on pork, but the largest pork producers in the world, Smithfield Farms, has been owned by WH Group of China since 2013. I wonder how that will work. I guess Smithfield’s non-U.S. farms could provide China with pork. I know WH Group is mostly private but it would seem that the impact of the tariff will be about the same as when I move my change from left pocket to right pocket. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18708 "2018-04-03T02:24:55Z")
Trump had to say a few remarks today to the children at the Easter Egg Roll. We learned our Stable Genius doesn’t know the building he lives in is called the White House but he knows it’s in “tippy-top shape.” [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-2018-white-house-easter-egg-roll/](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-2018-white-house-easter-egg-roll/) > [@](#): > > Also, I want to thank the White House Historical Association and all of the people that work so hard with Melania, with everybody, to keep this incredible house or building, or whatever you want to call it — **because there really is no name for it** ; it is special — and we keep it in tip-top shape. We call it sometimes **tippy-top shape**. And it’s a great, great place. ---
**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 3, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18709 "2018-04-03T03:09:39Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Trump had to say a few remarks today to the children at the Easter Egg Roll. We learned our Stable Genius doesn’t know the building he lives in is called the White House but he knows it’s in “tippy-top shape.” > > [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-2018-white-house-easter-egg-roll/](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-2018-white-house-easter-egg-roll/) Isn’t that the same tippy top place that he called a dump when he first moved into it? David Shulkin claims he did not resign, he was fired. CNN says there is an important distinction here, because federal law allows the President to make an interim appointment to fill a position if the previous holder died or resigned, but there is no provision to fill it if the holder was fired. > **[Shulkin says he was fired. Here’s why it matters | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/02/politics/shulkin-trump-resigned-fired/index.html)** > > There are legal consequences as to whether Trump fired Shulkin or Shulkin resigned. ---
**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 3, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18710 "2018-04-03T03:41:12Z")
Puppet has been wanting to get Master into DC for a face-to-face. I can’t help but wonder if somebody has been using Cadet Bone Spurs as a tool to get Putin out of his comfort zone and into a position for an assassination attempt. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18711 "2018-04-03T08:09:17Z")
> [@The Donald](#): > > Also, I want to thank the White House Historical Association and all of the people that work so hard with Melania, with everybody, to keep this incredible house or building, or whatever you want to call it — because there really is no name for it; it is special — and we keep it in tip-top shape. We call it sometimes tippy-top shape. And it’s a great, great place… I heard that the Moroccan city of Casablanca is changing its name to Forma de Poca Madre. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18712 "2018-04-03T08:43:58Z")
Shape of Maybenotenough Mother? Sounds like a very-thin pregnant woman. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18713 "2018-04-03T09:12:40Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Shape of Maybenotenough Mother? Sounds like a very-thin pregnant woman. [Translation of _de poca madre_](http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/poca%20madre). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18714 "2018-04-03T12:08:06Z")
Your reference is missing the most important point, that under the first definitions the expression is an eufemism for _de puta madre_. Under the second one, in Spain we’d go one generation further (_no tienes abuela_). ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18715 "2018-04-03T13:04:14Z")
Google translate does tend to lack nuance. ---
**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 3, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18716 "2018-04-03T13:57:35Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Google translate does tend to lack nuance. Yeah, but they make it up in volume. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18717 "2018-04-03T14:31:49Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Your reference is missing the most important point, that under the first definitions the expression is an eufemism for _de puta madre_. Under the second one, in Spain we’d go one generation further (_no tienes abuela_). Ha! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18718 "2018-04-03T14:33:31Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Your reference is missing the most important point, that under the first definitions the expression is an eufemism for _de puta madre_. Under the second one, in Spain we’d go one generation further (_no tienes abuela_). Ha! I’m sure you’re right, but I always assumed it was an oblique way to say “padre”, which is a common Mexican adjective meaning “cool” or “awesome.” ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18719 "2018-04-03T15:06:37Z")
Trump called EPA chief Scott Pruitt last night and said keep your head up, keep fighting, we’ve got your back. Translation: Pruitt will be fired via Twitter this month. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18720 "2018-04-03T15:34:31Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Isn’t that the same tippy top place that he called a dump when he first moved into it? Well back then there was a black family living there and you know what that does to real estate value. ---
**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 3, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18721 "2018-04-03T16:35:51Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Trump called EPA chief Scott Pruitt last night and said keep your head up, keep fighting, we’ve got your back. > > Translation: Pruitt will be fired via Twitter this month. Baby, you can sure call 'em! (I agree.) There’s that expression “damned by faint praise.” In thump’s case, when he praises someone, damnation is sure to follow. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18722 "2018-04-03T17:19:53Z")
[snotty, pedantic sniff] That’s _with_ faint praise. [/s,ps] ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18723 "2018-04-03T17:28:09Z")
Remember those 60 Russians expelled from the US in response to Russia, you know, poisoning people? The Russians expelled and held up as evidence that Trump wasn’t beholden to Russia, and that he was tough on Putin? A week later, the State Department has quietly decided to undo that and allow them to [be replaced by 60 new “diplomats”](http://thehill.com/policy/international/381432-state-department-expelled-diplomats-can-be-replaced). ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18724 "2018-04-03T18:41:16Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Remember those 60 Russians expelled from the US in response to Russia, you know, poisoning people? The Russians expelled and held up as evidence that Trump wasn’t beholden to Russia, and that he was tough on Putin? A week later, the State Department has quietly decided to undo that and allow them to [be replaced by 60 new “diplomats”](http://thehill.com/policy/international/381432-state-department-expelled-diplomats-can-be-replaced). Russian TV news was reporting that last week. However did they know in advance? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=935) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=937)