# 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:** 235
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4742 "2025-05-12T00:46:40Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It weirds me out that people are only discussing the bribery part of the problem. Actually the potential for bugging (or sabotage) was the first thing I thought of. But then, I’m naturally paranoid. I just can’t do anything about it. If trump wants to act like a buffoon in a china shop and give away secrets, I hope every other country makes a complete fool of him. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4743 "2025-05-12T01:11:44Z")
I agree with this. It’s obviously a bribe and intended to get favors (including secrets) in return. It sets precedent for all other countries too. Take notes Russia, Ukraine, India, and Pakistan. Gifts bring favorable terms in negotiations. As for the likely bugs, when you’ve never suffered consequences, who cares? This is a great test for if Trump can get away with anything. This is so clearly a bribe that any reasonably functioning Democratic System should outright reject it. If allowed, I can’t imagine where else the line could possibly be. Like the lobster in a pot, one day we’ll realize we’re truly in an irreversible dictatorship. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4744 "2025-05-12T01:13:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Considering that he’s driving towards a cliff over a volcano… “That’s a shame. That was a very nice car.” - Alan Arkin ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4745 "2025-05-12T02:04:23Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > But the Saudi Plane _Saudi_? Is this the Middle East version of _Mexican countries_? ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4746 "2025-05-12T02:11:56Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It’s like they’ve forgotten all about the US embassy in Moscow, that was absolutely stuffed with bugs during construction. Yeah, it was described as a “three story microphone” as I recall, with some spy tech they’d never heard of. My favorite was how some of the structural members inside the walls were arranged to form an antenna. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4747 "2025-05-12T02:49:52Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > _Saudi_? Is this the Middle East version of _Mexican countries_? You’ve never heard of Saudi Qatarabia? ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4748 "2025-05-12T02:50:55Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > _Saudi_? Is this the Middle East version of _Mexican countries_? Oops! Qatar! I’d blame autocorrect but don’t have a sharpie nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4749 "2025-05-12T03:41:22Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > This is so clearly a bribe… It’s not a bribe, it’s a gratuity. In advance. For things he was going to do, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4750 "2025-05-12T04:27:25Z")
I know I am being a pedant here, but Air Force One is a great movie…er…I mean it is the designation of whatever USAF plane the president happens to be in. This is kind of relevant because the plane Nixon was flying stopped being Air Force One when his resignation went into effect. This unfortunately means that if it gets accepted then the bribe becomes Air Force One if a president flies in it. It does not need to be fumigated ahead of time in order to become so. `//i\\` ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4751 "2025-05-12T04:42:01Z")
> [@icon](#): > > This is kind of relevant because the plane Nixon was flying stopped being Air Force One when his resignation went into effect. The question is, did ex-president Nixon ever fly in Airforce One? How many ex-presidents have flown in it? ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4752 "2025-05-12T05:26:11Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > For things he was going to do, anyway. Oh, he definitely was going to spill secrets left, right, and center. Besides the simple fact (simple because he’s a simpleton) he’s constitutionally (heheheh) unable to keep a secret, he has no ability to follow any rules whatsoever. > [@eschereal](#): > > The question is, did ex-president Nixon ever fly in Airforce One? How many ex-presidents have flown in it? I’m wondering if anyone’s “accidentally” referrred to the plane with the felon in it as _Air Farce One_. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4753 "2025-05-12T06:24:27Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > _Air Farce One_. Do you want a cease&desist letter from the CBC? Because [that’s how you get a cease&desist letter from the CBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Air_Farce). ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4754 "2025-05-12T08:41:19Z")
To be fair, that outfit was _Royal Canadian Air Farce_. As much as the felon thinks he is and his base wants him to be, he ain’t royal. I mean other than being a pain in the ass. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4755 "2025-05-12T09:11:12Z")
And the felon rolls on! This latest bit of news is just too funny. The felon was triggered by the word _woke_, so you should not be surprised by [what he then did](https://www.yahoo.com/news/angry-trump-kills-woke-program-100000690.html). > [@](#): > > # Angry Trump Kills “Woke” Program—and Accidentally Screws MAGA Voters > > The other day, during his intensive daily reading of complex policy papers, President Donald Trump noticed that a government initiative created by his predecessor had the word “equity” in its title. Naturally, this caught his attention. As he appeared to conclude, this could only mean the initiative was designed to help undeserving minorities. > > Which presented Trump with a ripe opportunity to demagogue about supposed reverse racism against white people. As Trump [just announced](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114474136573150113) on Truth Social, he has canceled the program, raging that it’s “RACIST.” He fumed: “No more woke handouts based on race!” > > Except there’s a problem here. The program in question, the Digital Equity Act, contained huge amounts of money for governments in GOP-run states, as well as Democratic ones, to expand high-speed internet access in underserved communities—very much including red states’ rural areas. > > What’s more, every red state government [had submitted proposals](https://www.ntia.gov/press-release/2024/biden-harris-administration-allocates-more-800-million-increase-digital-inclusion-efforts) designed to garner their states large amounts of this funding. These proposals were explicitly designed by these GOP governments partly to serve their states’ rural areas. _There’s more schadenfreude in the rest of the article._ I’ll cross-post this into the schadenfreude thread. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4756 "2025-05-12T09:52:50Z")
You know how bad the Qatari plane thing is? Trump has lost _ **Laura Loomer** _, who tweeted: > [@](#): > > I love President Trump. > > I would take a bullet for him. > > But, I have to call a spade a spade. > > We cannot accept a $400 million “gift” from jihadists in suits. > > The Qataris fund the same Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah who have murdered US Service Members. The same proxies that have worked with the Mexican cartels to get jihadists across our border. > > This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true. > > And I say that as someone who would take a bullet for Trump. > > I’m so disappointed. Setting aside the thought of her offering to take a bullet for Trump **twice** , the woman is a batshittedly-rabid MAGA cultist and yet even she has found a line that is too far to cross. Yeesh. That said, this administration is already 100% stain. Who would notice a little more? ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4757 "2025-05-12T10:00:38Z")
Well the [Purge of Competence](https://www.aol.com/trump-administration-fires-top-copyright-171545614.html) is not over. > [@](#): > > The Trump administration has fired the nation’s top copyright official, [Shira Perlmutter](https://apnews.com/article/ai-copyright-artificial-intelligence-b456fa19dd90bea87533f97f043a31bc), days after abruptly [terminating](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-library-of-congress-carla-hayden-20a1862ce6d2e0d51a84a37b264ce2ef) the head of the Library of Congress, which oversees the U.S. Copyright Office. > > The office said in a statement Sunday that Perlmutter received an email from the White House a day earlier with the notification that “your position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately.” ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4758 "2025-05-12T10:22:15Z")
It seems the nation’s top copyright official has no business telling our AI overlords what material they are allowed to use to train their stochastic parrots: > **[Copyright Office thinks AI companies sometimes stole content](https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/12/us_copyright_office_ai_copyright/)** > > : Some see an action to benefit Elon. The White House sees an agency obsessed with DEI What goes too far goes too far: > The head of the US Copyright Office has reportedly been fired, the day after agency concluded that builders of AI models use of copyrighted material went beyond existing doctrines of fair use. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4759 "2025-05-12T10:40:25Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > > [@Monty](#): > > > > _Air Farce One_. > > Do you want a cease&desist letter from the CBC? Because [that’s how you get a cease&desist letter from the CBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Air_Farce). Can I get a cease&desist letter too? I stopped posting pictures about trump ages ago, it turns out the **[old pictures](https://schumanchu.eu/html/r1/r1_00109~air~farce~one.html)** keep getting relevant again and again and again… And that was a sloppy one. Maybe I should start again, let’s see if I can get him to nuke me. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4760 "2025-05-12T17:41:52Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It weirds me out that people are only discussing the bribery part of the problem. If congress enforced the emoluments clause any bugs become moot. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/4761 "2025-05-12T20:03:10Z")
There will be plenty of snakes on that plane though. A lot of them over 200lbs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=234) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=236)