# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 11, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068 "2024-11-11T06:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 218
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4401 "2025-04-29T16:29:14Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > when similar conversation and banter wasn’t offered to him. To me, that’s funny. When I was younger I toyed with the idea of being a truck driver, and the thing I liked the best is, I wouldn’t have to talk to people! I never even liked CBs. > [@Dr.Drake](#): > > to bluff his way through as much of this as he can, but taking every last second of rest he’s entitled to. In reality, it’s often the other way. Since they get paid (or used to, can’t for sure say about everyone today) by the mile, truck drivers would fudge their log books so they could run long hours and the log showed the requisite number of off (sleep) hours. Speed, both meanings, was a factor in miles run. Now a lot of companies run electronic logs, which means cheating is harder. Of course the MAGATruckers hate “big brother” watching them. They also hate emission regulations, the decline of high fat greasy foods, and having to stop for pee breaks. (if you don’t know how they manage, you don’t want to!) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4402 "2025-04-29T17:12:09Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > IOW, a gentle nudge to self-deport. > > The public safety issues represented by low-wage hires in the trucking industry are, IMHO, attributable to greedy or disreputable company owners who fail to adequately maintain their fleet. And it’s not just immigrant drivers. About 600K Mexican trucks cross the US border every month, and it’s a good bet a lot of those drivers would be affected by this. > **[Mexican Semi Truck Fleet: Value, Top Providers and Unit Numbers](https://desteia.com/2024/08/26/mexican-trucks/)** > > This week, we looked at the role of trucks play in Mexico's recent rise as a global manufacturing powerhouse. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4403 "2025-04-29T17:48:57Z")
> **[Amazon is not planning to show added tariff costs next to its online product...](https://apnews.com/article/amazon-tariff-prices-trump-white-house-8598569632263872a6c04f7ef330c0fd)** > > Amazon is not planning to list added tariff costs next to product prices on its site — despite speculation as well as fiery comments from Trump’s White House. Crisis of truth averted. Wouldn’t want to upset King Trump. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4404 "2025-04-29T17:54:23Z")
And another American oligarch _narrowly_ avoids having his yacht(s) and jet aircraft seized. Phew. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4405 "2025-04-29T18:15:29Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > I note that nobody is complaining that Amazon (and every other retailer - it’s a legal requirement) breaks out sales tax as a separate line item For example this administration (represented by Baghdad Barbie) honesty and transparency are “political” and “hostile”. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4406 "2025-04-29T18:15:57Z")
Jesus F-ing Christ, I don’t know what to do. More deliveries today. We’re in pharmaceuticals, and some of our materials are supposed to be exempt from the tariffs. Multiple lots in the same delivery of the same thing are being assigned different HS codes by customs. Which is resulting in One- them being given incorrect HS codes, and two- some lots getting tariffs and some not. It’s utter incompetence. And I don’t even know whom to call. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4407 "2025-04-29T18:22:19Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > And I don’t even know whom to call. Maybe … > **[Centers of Excellence and Expertise Directory](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/centers-excellence-and-expertise-information/cee-directory)** > > Securing America's Borders Click on the heading that reads: > Pharmaceuticals, Health & Chemicals Center Directory That may not be the end of the journey, but it might be a reasonable place to start. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4408 "2025-04-29T18:35:53Z")
Oh. This is cute: > **[Trump dismisses contributors to key US report on climate crisis preparedness](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/29/trump-fires-climate-report-contributors)** > > The assessment, mandated by Congress, is used by federal and local governments to prep for climate disasters > [@](#): > > Donald Trump’s administration has dismissed all contributors to the US government’s flagship study on how to prepare for climate change impacts, prompting strong criticism from experts over a “senseless” move. > > The climate assessment is used by federal and local governments to understand how to prepare for climate crisis impacts including from extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding and drought. > > The dismissal of nearly 400 contributors, who are scientists and other experts, to the sixth National Climate Assessment (NAC), which is mandated by Congress, leaves the future of the report in doubt since the multi-year, peer-reviewed analysis is due for publication in 2028. This goes well with: > Dismissing the experts working on the assessment is the latest in a barrage of moves by the Trump administration to end or reduce research into climate as it pursues a “drill, baby, drill” agenda to prioritize the fossil fuel industry. > Federal websites have been purged of information related to the climate and extreme weather and agencies reduced in size, prompting warnings Americans’ are being made less safe amid the reality of the climate crisis. The global climate isn’t changing, there’s no risk ahead, and minorities don’t exist. Check. But at least we’ll be mining more coal!! ---
**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:** [April 29, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4409 "2025-04-29T18:51:47Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > My understanding is that the younger Sanders is very arrogant and entitledl, so of course Trump feels a kinship. My favorite part is Blondie Baghdad Bob makes it sound like Trump tweeted and soon after someone snapped Sanders up. Trump tweeted, then someone snapped up Sanders the next day. In the 5th round. 5th round out of 7. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4410 "2025-04-29T18:59:05Z")
I’m going with Bullshit Barbie. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4411 "2025-04-29T19:15:37Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > but the quality of truck drivers has markedly decreased over the last couple decades. And hiring non-english speakers is actually a part of it. Companies willing to hire anyone that knows what a steering wheel is and which end of the truck is the front and not much else is the truly larger problem. It’s part of the problem, yes, but the main culprit is that truck driving is a crummy occupation. It used to be a pretty good job allowing someone with little in the way of a formal education to provide their families with a decent, middle class lifestyle. I think MAGAmericans would be perfectly happy to take trucking jobs if they actually paid decent wages. This is a problem the industry created for itself. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4412 "2025-04-29T20:30:36Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > You might think that a judge’s question: “What is your theory of the case and what evidence supports that theory?” would be one that just about every representative would be prepared to answer. But you would be quickly disavowed of that expectation. And it’s even worse in a lot of the depositions I proofread for freelance court reporters. Weasels, weasels everywhere, bloviating, dodging the question, rambling off on their preferred tangent, asking endlessly for clarification of straightforward questions, “I don’t remember”-ing things they damned well should, and likely do. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4413 "2025-04-29T23:12:02Z")
I just saw a clip of a recent Trump interview in which he said China was “going to eat the cost of the tariffs” or something similar. How does that work? If there is a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, does that mean China is going to pay US companies 45% of the goods’ cost to take them off their hands? China can’t offer any discount of more than 100% of the item’s cost, right? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4414 "2025-04-29T23:18:02Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > How does that work? Trump wants it to be true, therefore it _is_ true. Or at least that’s how it’s _supposed_ to work. But since China has no obligation to play along with his delusions it won’t. ---
**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:** [April 30, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4415 "2025-04-30T02:53:47Z")
The clusteriest cluster in the history of clustering clusters on! [The felon cannot stop being petty.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/doug-emhoff-among-those-fired-213014327.html) > [@](#): > > The White House has fired several of former President Joe Biden’s appointees to the board overseeing the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum — including former second gentleman Doug Emhoff — and is actively interviewing new candidates, an administration official, granted anonymity to discuss personnel changes, told POLITICO on Tuesday. > > "Today, I was informed of my removal from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council,” Emhoff said in a statement. “Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized. To turn one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous — and it dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve.” > > [The New York Times first reported](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/us/politics/trump-doug-emhoff-holocaust-museum-biden.html) the list of officials removed, includes Emhoff; former Biden White House officials Ron Klain, Susan Rice and Anthony Bernal; and former DNC Chair Tom Perez. [How did I miss this one? Evidently the clusterer and his flacks have been deleting immigration records.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-forced-reveal-ham-192116619.html) > [@](#): > > The Trump administration was forced to reveal new information Tuesday about its ham-handed and legally dubious operation to cancel the immigration records of thousands of international students that a federal judge described as a blatant due process violation that “concerned” and “troubled” her. > > A Department of Homeland Security official who was deeply involved in the maneuver said in court that the administration had relied on the National Crime Information Center, a registry recording individuals’ interactions with law enforcement. > > The approach meant that international students who had very minor run-ins with the law – including driving citations, misdemeanor charges that were ultimately dismissed, and arrests that never resulted in charges – were put in a legal limbo that prompted at least 100 of them to sue in recent weeks. > > A team of 10 to 20 people were tasked with running the names of the 1.3 million international students through the database, Andre Watson, a senior official within the DHS’ National Security Division for the Homeland Security Investigations, told Judge Ana Reyes. The only individualized review was then to verify the name in the law enforcement database was the same person as the name in a portal known as “SEVIS,” which schools use to ensure their international students are meeting the requirements of their educational visas. > > Judge Reyes’ demands that Watson appear in person to answer her questions at Tuesday proceedings came after previous hearings where she and other judges across the country were stonewalled by Justice Department attorneys. One attorney told multiple judges in Washington, DC, last week that ICE was refusing to provide the information that would allow him to answer basic questions about what the administration was doing. I’m hoping–nah, it’s probably just a pipe dream–the reason the judge wants that flack to appear in person is so she can jail Watson for contempt of court. Hey, what’s happening in the Department of Deranged, I mean Defense? [Ensure the safety and operability of our vessels and equipement? Take care of our service members and their families? Get real.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/axed-pentagon-aide-says-hegseth-120109079.html) > [@](#): > > [Pete Hegseth](https://www.thedailybeast.com/keyword/donald-j-trump/) spends at least half of his time investigating leaks—and then working out with active-duty troops to appear competent despite the leaks, according to a former Pentagon aide. > > President [Donald Trump](https://dailybeast.com/keyword/donald-j-trump)’s defense secretary has reportedly become increasingly isolated and paranoid as news of Pentagon plans leaked, including details of military plans for the Panama Canal, the movement of a U.S. carrier in the Red Sea, the decision to pause intelligence gathering related to Ukraine, and [Elon Musk](https://www.thedailybeast.com/keyword/elon-musk/)’s visit to discuss China. > > Three aides were put on administrative leave and [escorted out of the building](https://www.yahoo.com/news/hegseth-aides-civil-war-plunged-090934629.html) earlier this month following a probe into the leaks. > > “I think it’s kind of consumed the team a little bit… If you look at a pie chart of the secretary’s day, at this point, 50 percent of it is probably leak investigation. Press. It’s that,” one of the fired aides, Colin Carroll, said during the latest episode of [_The Megyn Kelly Show_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJdRNRChfQ). [Here’s a fun one. Let’s cancel a program your boss put in place, but lie about it really being Biden’s program.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/pete-hegseth-brags-axing-women-170520352.html) > [@](#): > > Defense Secretary [Pete Hegseth](https://www.thedailybeast.com/keyword/pete-hegseth/) crowed about shutting down a “woke” women in the military program Tuesday—which it turns out was enacted by President [Donald Trump](https://www.thedailybeast.com/keyword/donald-j-trump/). > > “This morning, I proudly ENDED the ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) program inside the @DeptofDefense,” Hegseth wrote. “WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING.” > > Hegseth said he would gut the program—which promotes women’s participation in resolving overseas conflicts—to the minimum required by law. > > “GOOD RIDDANCE WPS!” he wrote. > > While Hegseth is now disparaging the program, Trump’s first administration was the driving force behind its implementation. > > The [Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017](https://www.congress.gov/115/plaws/publ68/PLAW-115publ68.pdf) was signed into law by Trump during his first term. [But all is going to be fine with Pete. Donnie says so.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-thinks-beleaguered-defense-secretary-163752334.html) > [@](#): > > President Donald Trump said he thinks beleaguered defense secretary Pete Hegseth is “gonna get it together” after reports of [chaos at the Pentagon under his leadership.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/pete-hegseth-keep-job-insider-135235713.html) > > [Trump revealed in a sit-down interview](https://www.yahoo.com/news/m-having-lot-fun-considering-125816598.html) with [_The Atlantic_](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/06/trump-second-term-comeback/682573/) that he has “had a talk” with Hegseth following reports that the Pentagon is in “full-blown meltdown.” The president did not reveal details of said talk, but stressed that he still supports to the former Fox News host. > > “I think he’s gonna get it together,” Trump told the outlet. “I had a talk with him, a positive talk, but I had a talk with him.” WTF does _I had a talk with him but I had a talk with him_ supposed to mean? [In the “I run the world” delusion news:](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-jokes-no-1-choice-213700064.html) > [@](#): > > t’s barely 100 days into [Donald Trump’s](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/donald-trump) second term in office, and already, he’s suggesting he wants another job. > > After a reporter asked Trump who he thought should follow [Pope Francis](https://www.huffpost.com/topic/pope-francis) as the next pope, the non-Catholic president offered a response that was entirely in character. > > [“I’d like to be pope,” Trump joked](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-jokes-hed-like-pope-number-1-choice-names-real-contender?intcmp=tw_pols). “That’d be my No. 1 choice.” > > Trump then presented a less narcissistic option. > > “I don’t have a preference. I might say we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who is very good,” he said, referring to [Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York](https://www.huffpost.com/topic/timothy-dolan). How many times does it need to be said before it sinks in? \*Trump has never, not even once, in his life joked. Yes, he’s made a statement then laughed about it. He’s made a statement and then said he was joking. He’s mocked and insulted others and laughed about that. Not one of those things is a joke. He’s serious! The only possible reason he mentioned the cardinal is because he realizes he cannot become Pope. If there were a loophole for him, he would go for it. [A magamasturbatory frenzy for the masses!](https://www.yahoo.com/news/chants-usa-100-days-michigan-224422849.html) > [@](#): > > Chants of ‘USA’ at 100 days Michigan rally after Trump plays clips from El Salvador mega prisonSource: Reuters It’s a video so be warned. [And to nobody’s surprise, it’s all a lie the deported mothers of US citizen children chose to have their children deported with them.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/ice-lied-everything-deported-u-154817017.html) > [@](#): > > The Trump administration may not be telling the truth on deporting undocumented immigrant mothers with their U.S. citizen children. > > Attorneys for the women and three U.S.-born children say their [deportations](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/deported-moms-citizen-children-cancer-trump-officials-rcna203398https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/deported-moms-citizen-children-cancer-trump-officials-rcna203398) over the weekend were illegal and the administration’s claims that the children were placed on deportation flights at their mothers’ request are false. One mother wasn’t allowed to speak with a lawyer or her family before she was deported with her children, even though Immigration and Customs Enforcement knew that one of them has stage 4 cancer. [And the felon’s response to his flacks deporting US citizens? “Nothing’s perfect.”](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-admits-possible-us-citizens-204855816.html) > [@](#): > > President [Donald Trump](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/donald-trump) admitted earlier this month that the “[homegrowns are next.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/home-growns-next-trump-tells-201617817.html)” Now he refused to eliminate the possibility that U.S. citizens could be deported by mistake. > > Steeped in controversy over his recent orders to remove green card holders and deportations of [immigrants](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/immigrants) without due process, the president appeared to confess in an interview with [_The Atlantic_](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/06/trump-second-term-comeback/682573/) that accidental deportations of U.S. citizens are not inconceivable. > > Asked what would happen if his administration mistakenly removed the wrong person or an American citizen, Trump told the magazine: “Let me tell you that nothing will ever be perfect in this world.” If I had written even 1% of what this clown has done in this administration alone for a civics paper way back in middle school or high school, I would’ve been awarded an F and then sent to psychologist or psychiatrist to find out what was wrong with me. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4416 "2025-04-30T03:10:50Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > “This morning, I proudly ENDED the ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) program inside the @DeptofDefense,” Hegseth wrote. “WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING.” What an embarrassing idiot. War fighting? What is he, nine years old? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4417 "2025-04-30T03:17:14Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > War fighting? What is he, nine years old? Discussed in another recent thread (or maybe this one, earlier), but AIUI, “[warfighter](https://www.yourdictionary.com/warfighter)” is apparently an actual, if relatively recent, term which is commonly used in the military community to describe military members who are in combat roles and combat areas (as opposed to support roles and those who are stationed outside of combat areas), though not without some controversy over its use. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4418 "2025-04-30T03:43:24Z")
It still sounds juvenile and slightly malevolent. Like a nine year old, as @GuanoLad said. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4419 "2025-04-30T04:41:38Z")
> How does that work? If there is a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, does that mean China is going to pay US companies 45% of the goods’ cost to take them off their hands? China doesn’t pay anything. US companies that import products from China pay 145% more than they did before the tariffs. A pair of shoes that cost $100 to import from China now cost $245. That’s how this works. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4420 "2025-04-30T05:16:21Z")
The term warfighter might be commonly accepted as a catch-all term for people in uniform. Well accepted in defense circles from what I’ve heard and read over the last several weeks. Under normal circumstances I could accept that it was being used in a neutral sense. It’s military jargon. But Hegseth was clearly using this in a “rah rah” the one and only purpose of a military is to crush your perceived enemies sense. Yes, the thinking of an emotionally stunted 9-year-old. When I saw this tweet, or wherever this was posted at, it reminded me of reporting that came out over the last couple of weeks about the Trump regime declaring 170 MI of the Mexican border as a “military base.” This of course makes it legal for military personnel to arrest and detain non-combatants. American citizens, immigrants legal or otherwise. Prediction? I think we’re going to see Trump deploy military assets against a civilian population, probably sooner than later. The groundwork is already being laid. Cites for the border situation. DOD website [https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4166835/at-southern-border-defense-secretary-visits-newly-created-national-defense-area/](https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4166835/at-southern-border-defense-secretary-visits-newly-created-national-defense-area/) > **[The New “National Defense Area” at the Southern Border](https://www.justsecurity.org/111022/national-defense-area-southern-border/)** > > NSPM-4 creates a military area that is twice the size of Washington, D.C. and expands the military’s role in stopping cross-border migration. > Second, the establishment of a National Defense Area increases the military’s role at the southern border, effectively bypassing longstanding legal restrictions put in place by the Posse Comitatus Act. The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits federal military forces from being used in a law enforcement capacity, such as searching, seizing, detaining, and arresting people entering the country. The Posse Comitatus Act does not apply to National Guard members under state control. Today, there are approximately 10,000 active-duty soldiers operating at the border alongside members of the National Guard. By statute, Congress has granted the military broad authority to protect federal property. Now, federal military forces at the southern border will be empowered to arrest, detain, search, and seize anyone—migrant or otherwise—that attempts to cross into the new National Defense Area. If I’m reading these articles correctly this is bypassing both standard Congressional approval for establishing new military land. And of course it’s also skirting posse comitatus. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=217) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=219)