# 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:** 263
**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 30, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5302 "2025-05-30T18:47:11Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Spoilered, because it’s topic drift: Now I wonder if we want a new thread to rant about old TSR stuff. Because I have material for that. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5303 "2025-05-30T18:48:56Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > mithr_ **a** _l is the knock-off version from Forgotten Realms’ Toril. My honest misspelling, but somehow appropriate given we’re talking about Trump and “mithral” being a knockoff metal: [Trump has been giving out fake diamond cuff links for years](https://nypost.com/2016/06/21/trump-has-been-giving-out-fake-diamond-cuff-links-for-years/) > [Charlie Sheen:] “He [Trump] says, ‘These are platinum diamond Harry Winston,’ and he pulls off his cuff links, and he gives them to me.” > > The actor said he took the links to an appraiser six months later, only to learn that they were worthless. > > “She took her [magnifying] loupe, spent about 4 seconds and kind of recoiled from it,” Sheen quipped. “She says, ‘In their finest moment, this is cheap pewter and bad zirconias.’ And they’re stamped ‘Trump.’” Yeah, the importer better inspect the shipments before signing for them. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5304 "2025-05-30T18:49:40Z")
I know, but I just wanted to correct the metal’s name, not delving too deep into D&D’s lore mines and risking waking up a Balor… ---
**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 30, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5305 "2025-05-30T19:00:45Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I heard they’ll be announcing a deal to import _mithral_ from Middle-Earth any day now. Seems about as real as any of them. Has he finalized the deal with Wakanda (one of the “200 countries”) for adamantium yet? Those Wakandans are a backward people, and should be a pushover for Mr Art of the Deal. ---
**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 30, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5306 "2025-05-30T19:05:28Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Has he finalized the deal with Wakanda (one of the “200 countries”) for adamantium yet? Vibranium! It’s a source for vibranium. Adamantium is lab-made. (I wish this was the stupidest argument I’ve made today but it isn’t.) ---
**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 30, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5307 "2025-05-30T19:08:38Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Vibranium! It’s a source for vibranium. Adamantium is lab-made. Well, I guess I’m not the master negotiator trump is. (geeze that was a stupid mistake! I even checked the spelling, Should have checked the definition!) ---
**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 30, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5308 "2025-05-30T19:42:01Z")
Considering that the European Union has the exclusive negotiating power in trade matters for its 27 member states, 200 trade agreements are more agreements than countries are left in the world. Either he has several agreements with individual countries, which is a mess therefore fully on caracter, or he has agreements with several planets, moons and asteroids. Or he is simply lying. Again. Do not worry: he will have forgotten what he said by yesterday. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5309 "2025-05-30T19:44:18Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Vibranium! It’s a source for vibranium. Clearly, it’s part of Pete Hegseth’s plan to arm every patriotic, red-blooded American warfighter with a vibranium shield. The straight, cis, male ones, anyway. [![](https://image-cdn.hypb.st/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2018%2F05%2Fcaptain-america-shield-smithsonian-museum-000.jpg?w=960&cbr=1&q=90&fit=max) ](https://image-cdn.hypb.st/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2018%2F05%2Fcaptain-america-shield-smithsonian-museum-000.jpg?w=960&cbr=1&q=90&fit=max) ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5310 "2025-05-30T20:09:09Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Either he has several agreements with individual countries, which is a mess therefore fully on caracter, or he has agreements with several planets, moons and asteroids. Maybe they’re counting deals with uninhabited islands populated by penguins? If they can put a tariff on those islands, I guess they can make a trade deal with them. I’m just curious on how the penguins sign the deals. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5311 "2025-05-30T20:25:13Z")
I think they prefer ballpoints but heard they’re willing to use Sharpies in deference to the Orange One ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5312 "2025-05-30T20:27:02Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > > Has he finalized the deal with Wakanda (one of the “200 countries”) for adamantium yet? > > Vibranium! It’s a source for vibranium. Adamantium is lab-made. > > (I wish this was the stupidest argument I’ve made today but it isn’t.) In the comics, yes. In the MCU, [adamantium is found in the Celestial located in the Indian Ocean](https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Adamantium). (How long until _that’s_ called “The American Ocean?”) ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5313 "2025-05-30T20:41:40Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I think they prefer ballpoints but heard they’re willing to use Sharpies in deference to the Orange One I was picturing the penguins stepping on an ink pad and then stamping their foot down on the trade agreements. Or, maybe they can use Biden’s auto-pen. But then that wouldn’t be valid, would it? ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5314 "2025-05-30T20:43:38Z")
No more so than Krasanov’s autopenning the Jan 6th pardons. ---
**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 30, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5315 "2025-05-30T20:47:09Z")
Now I’m picturing an autopenguin for signing Falkland tariff deals. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5316 "2025-05-30T20:47:29Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Clearly, it’s part of Pete Hegseth’s plan to arm every patriotic, red-blooded American warfighter with a vibranium shield. The straight, cis, male ones, anyway. The **white** , straight, cis, male ones. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5317 "2025-05-30T20:51:20Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > The **white** , straight, cis, male ones. I guess Hegseth is going to be upset when he finds out who the current Captain America is in the MCU. ---
**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 30, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5318 "2025-05-30T21:01:46Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I guess Hegseth is going to be upset when he finds out who the current Captain America is in the MCU. Even in the reality of the MCU, it’s a bit controversial for Wilson to be Cap, which is part of the story. As well as the history of racism in the government’s Super Soldier program. I have to wonder if MAGA really hates the MCU, as much of it would probably qualify as “woke” by their standards. I even got a hint that the portrayal of President “Thunderbolt” Ross was a subtle dig at Trump. ---
**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 30, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5319 "2025-05-30T21:18:58Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Didn’t we have 200 trade agreements within days? This was a month ago. Come on. When you were a child, didn’t you have imaginary friends? He has the best ones, the most, ones nobody’s ever seen before. > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Or he is simply lying. Again Wrong adverb. _Still_. He is simply lying. _Still_. ---
**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 30, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5320 "2025-05-30T23:18:16Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I’m just curious on how the penguins sign the deals. Dip their beak in an ink pot and scrawl their signature? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5321 "2025-05-30T23:30:42Z")
I assume a penguin uses a quill pen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=262) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=264)