# 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:** 219
**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, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4421 "2025-04-30T09:45:12Z")
Does any of that matter? Remember: _It’s good to be the king_. We no longer have checks and balances on the separate branches of govenrment, nor do we even have a viable constitution. And the reaction to this from the conservatives, the Republicans, the MAGA? They love it. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4422 "2025-04-30T10:09:05Z")
> [@Jihi](#): > > 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. Not to mention, that he didn’t actually say “warfighter”, he said _war fighting._ Is that a term of art? Because that really does sound like kids playing with toy guns. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4423 "2025-04-30T10:42:04Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > 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. I run the US office of a foreign company. Our factory is overseas. We are getting 10% tariffs (based on declared value) on all our shipments. This is a bill from our customs broker. We are adding a 10% surcharge to all invoices. Customers are asking us to share the tariff, and we are saying no. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4424 "2025-04-30T12:46:51Z")
And I believe you’re in pharma, correct? Which means American drug prices, already insanely high because of for-profit healthcare, are just going to go even higher, which will result in more people not being able to afford to treat their illnesses. Americans will quite literally suffer and possibly die from these tarrifs and the way this system works in that country. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4425 "2025-04-30T13:09:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > 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. It was a jokey comment on Trump’s stupidity. If China is going to “eat” the $145 tariff on a pair of shoes that are sold for $100, doesn’t that mean China has to pay the US importer an additional $45 to “eat the full cost of the tariff”? The US importer gets free $100 shoes and is paid an additional $45 by China. China has now eaten the cost of a $145 tariff. In his mind, I bet Trump thinks this is business genius. ---
**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, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4426 "2025-04-30T13:10:41Z")
Ah, I get it now. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4427 "2025-04-30T13:35:16Z")
I am in pharma. Some of what we do are inputs to other companies’ products, so while our pharmaceutical products are (supposed to be; more on that below) exempt, some are not. What is infuriating is that we had material delivered last week that was, rightfully, not tariffed. We received another shipment of the exact same stuff, with the exact same HS code, and it was tariffed. It appears that someone in customs is adding a second HS code which applies the 10% tariff. And my guess is that suddenly they have to review tens of thousands of shipments and see if they are exempt, are horribly overworked, and making mistakes. We don’t deal directly with customs, we deal with a broker, and they’re so busy now that we can’t get them on the phone. So even in the context of these tariffs, it’s incompetence. And yes, I’ve told the staff that we can’t make sense of this, and just put a 10% surcharge on the invoices. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4428 "2025-04-30T14:45:12Z")
Shamelessly stolen from Reddit: One tariff fueled economic meltdown. That’s not mine. One credit card receipt for tariff fueled economic meltdown signed by Donald Trump. I’m telling ya baby, that’s not mine. One warranty card for tariff fueled economic meltdown, filled out by Donald Trump. I don’t even know what this is! This sort of thing ain’t my bag, baby. One book, “Tariff Fueled economic Meltdowns and Me: This Sort of Thing Is My Bag Baby”, by Donald Trump. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4429 "2025-04-30T17:58:49Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > The article speculates (though without a cite) that Disney may remove the speaking role traditionally reserved for the sitting president. I have not been in the Hall of the Presidents in decades but if I’m remembering right, when I saw it only Lincoln had a speaking role, after rising out of a chair. The others just nodded or made other small movements while he spoke. It must have changed. In any event what in God’s green earth would WED have robo-Trump say that was inspiring? > “One of the problems when you become successful is that jealousy and envy inevitably follow. There are people—I categorize them as life’s losers—who get their sense of accomplishment and achievement from trying to stop others. As far as I’m concerned, if they had any real ability they wouldn’t be fighting me, they’d be doing something constructive themselves.” > > “I know words. I have the best words.” > > “You know, it really doesn’t matter what (the media) write as long as you`ve got a young and beautiful piece of ass.” > > “My motto is: Always get even. When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades.” ---
**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 30, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4430 "2025-04-30T18:16:39Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > In any event what in God’s green earth would WED have robo-Trump say that was inspiring? You missed the most obvious one: > “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. … Grab 'em by the pussy.” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4431 "2025-04-30T18:28:56Z")
That Trump thinks he’s a ‘Star’ is part of all of his delusions. He’s a third rate ‘reality TV’ host that got off on saying YOUR FIRED. Never saw the show myself, would never put myself through that. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4432 "2025-04-30T18:29:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > You missed the most obvious one: I considered it but it was too shopworn and used the _piece of ass_ one instead. ---
**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 30, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4433 "2025-04-30T18:41:06Z")
So many great options! How to choose-- 🤯 ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4434 "2025-04-30T19:17:04Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > > [@Wheelz](#): > > > > The article speculates (though without a cite) that Disney may remove the speaking role traditionally reserved for the sitting president. > > I have not been in the Hall of the Presidents in decades but if I’m remembering right, when I saw it only Lincoln had a speaking role, after rising out of a chair. The others just nodded or made other small movements while he spoke. It must have changed. I’ve been to the attraction several times much more recently, including once during Trump’s first term (for which they made a point of telling the audience to be quiet and respectful—which had never happened before), and even more recently during Biden’s term. Anyway, IIRC, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln have speaking roles, and there is a narrator that reads a roll-call of all of the presidents. Then the current president recites the presidential oath of office. That’s it—no speech. I’m actually supposed to go to Walt Disney World in the next couple of weeks. Thankfully the attraction is closed for refurbishment. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4435 "2025-04-30T19:40:40Z")
Does Susan Collins have any idea that she’s literally become a laughingstock? Since The Hill doesn’t do previews, the headline is " GOP lawmakers unnerved by Trump’s intensifying fight with judiciary" [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5273838-trump-judiciary-conflict/](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5273838-trump-judiciary-conflict/) > Sen. [Susan Collins](https://thehill.com/people/susan-collins/)(R-Maine), who is up for reelection next year, said she found it “ **troubling** ” that a federal judge found that the Trump administration did not give Abrego Garcia due process before sending him to the notorious CECOT megaprison in El Salvador. Bolding mine. I can’t remember, is troubled more or less than concerned? ---
**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 30, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4436 "2025-04-30T19:59:23Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > > she [Susan Collins] found it “ **troubling** ” that a federal judge found that the Trump administration did not give Abrego Garcia due process before sending him to the notorious CECOT megaprison in El Salvador. She found it troubling that trump sent the guy off without due process OR that the judge called him on it. Two different things. Is her brow furrowed? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4437 "2025-04-30T21:17:01Z")
That’s Tier 2 for Collins, I think. It goes from Concerned to Troubled. I think Tier 3 is Worried, but it’s been so long since she’s pulled out the big guns that I can’t say for certain. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4438 "2025-04-30T21:28:32Z")
Is Tier 3 the top? Do we ever get to “Upset?” ---
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4439 "2025-04-30T21:45:49Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I think Tier 3 is Worried, but it’s been so long since she’s pulled out the big guns that I can’t say for certain. Tier 4, or more likely Tier 5, is “take action,” but that exists only in a hypothetical state, and has never been observed by scientists. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4440 "2025-04-30T21:48:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > has never been observed by scientists. Nor anybody else [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=218) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=220)