# 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:** 420
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8442 "2025-10-02T03:32:57Z")
A lot of the .gov websites now have messages that the Democrats or the Radical Left have shut down the government. So much for bipartisan governance. [USDA](https://www.usda.gov/) [Department of Health & Human Services | HHS.gov](https://www.hhs.gov/) [Front page | U.S. Department of the Treasury](https://home.treasury.gov/) ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8443 "2025-10-02T05:21:00Z")
I decided to see what the [United States Navy](https://www.navy.mil/)’s homepage had about this. > [@](#): > > LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS > > The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025. Militlary personnel will continue in a nomral duty status, witout pay,until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activites will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status. The [United States Army](https://www.army.mil/) has this as a banner across the top: > [@](#): > > **Government Shutdown** The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025. Updates to this website will be limited. Read more on [War.gov](https://www.war.gov/Lapse-In-Appropriations/). So, like a good soldier, I headed off to the suggested link. That verbiage was almost identical to the Navy’s, but they offered some resources for the duration of the shutdown. The United States Marine Corps has a [dedicated page for the shutdown](https://www.marines.mil/Lapse-of-Appropriations/) with some good links and one mighty fine piece of advice: > [@](#): > > **Banking** > > Several banking institutions have been known to advance military pay to their customers during government shutdowns. Contact your bank to inquire about their policies for situations like these. The United States Air Force also has a [dedicated page for the shutdown](https://www.af.mil/Lapse-in-Federal-Appropriations/), also with good resource links. The [Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration](https://www.omao.noaa.gov/noaa-corps) has this on the top of their page. > [@](#): > > The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit [commerce.gov](http://commerce.gov). [link to: [https://www.commerce.gov/news/blog](https://www.commerce.gov/news/blog)] The [United States Space Force](http://www.spaceforce.mil/) has a blurb identical to the Navy’s. The United States Coast Guard has a [dedicated page for the shutdown](http://www.uscg.mil/status/) with some good info links. The [United States Publich Health Service Commissioned Corps](https://www.usphs.gov/) has this bullshit: > [@](#): > > Mission-critical activies of HHS will continue during the Democrat-led government shutdown. Please use this site as a resource as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people. That’s all eight of our Uniformed Services. I must say I’m sorely disappointed in the USPHSCC for their blatant partisanship, not to mention dishonesty, in the announcement. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8444 "2025-10-02T06:31:30Z")
I have no trouble believing that Trump has a bigger heart than the reporter. I’m quite sure he has an enlarged heart, given his eating habits and lack of exercise. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8445 "2025-10-02T10:59:00Z")
Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-college-funding.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.qU8.g151.NOk5J\_CTosGI&smid=nytcore-android-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-college-funding.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qU8.g151.NOk5J_CTosGI&smid=nytcore-android-share) Nothing like freedom of speech at universities… ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8446 "2025-10-02T11:11:38Z")
Back to faxes … I’ve used this site _many, many_ times – free _and_ paid: > **[Free Fax: Send Faxes Online Free](https://faxzero.com/)** > > Send a fax to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada for free. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8447 "2025-10-02T11:49:58Z")
Wow, they are fantastic. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8448 "2025-10-02T12:28:56Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-college-funding.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.qU8.g151.NOk5J\_CTosGI&smid=nytcore-android-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-college-funding.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qU8.g151.NOk5J_CTosGI&smid=nytcore-android-share) > > Nothing like freedom of speech at universities… And that’s exactly what they’ll have with the felon: nothing like it. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8449 "2025-10-02T14:36:13Z")
May it grow larger every day. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8450 "2025-10-02T14:43:39Z")
How long before the Mango Mussolini makes every “warfighter” replace the American flag on their uniform with a patch showing trump’s mug? Probably based on his mug shot. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8451 "2025-10-02T15:01:02Z")
The whole Trump vs Portland thing so perfectly encapsulates everything that’s wrong with everything today: Trump is convinced that Portland is in flames, and he needs to send in the military to save the day. Why? Because an irresponsible media organization has been running video of the 2020 George Floyd protests, on a loop, for 5 years. And Trump thinks it’s current. Why? Because he’s surrounded by lickspittle toadies, who instead of telling him the truth just turn on the TV to his favorite channel. Things are well and truly fucked up, ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8452 "2025-10-02T15:08:24Z")
He may or may not think Portland is in flames. It’s a legitimate question to ask what he actually “knows”, even from minute to minute. At least partly because he is uninformed and dim-witted (and always has been) but also increasingly likely due to the onset of senility. The more worrying thing is that he does not care either way. The actual facts don’t really matter to him, just what ‘facts’ he can sell to his supporters and what ‘facts’ will best position him to do whatever he wants. His personal philosophy has always been that the truth is determined by force of will, rather than constrained by observable, objective reality. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8453 "2025-10-02T16:46:34Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The [United States Army](https://www.army.mil/) has this as a banner across the top: > > > [@](#): > > > > **Government Shutdown** The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025. Updates to this website will be limited. Read more on [War.gov](https://www.war.gov/Lapse-In-Appropriations/). I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. The Defense Department is just going by a made up name without Congressional action. Fuckers. It’s the Gulf of America all over again. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8454 "2025-10-02T16:48:05Z")
The preview has what the link is about. > **[Harold Hering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Hering)** > > Harold L. Hering (born 1936) is a former officer of the United States Air Force, who was discharged in 1975 for requesting basic information about checks and balances to prevent the carrying out of unauthorized orders to launch nuclear missiles. Hering was subsequently presented the 2017 Courage of Conscience Award at the Peace Abbey, Boston, Massachusetts. > Hering served six tours of duty in Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Hering received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Med... An Air Force Major asked, How can I know that an order I receive to launch my missiles came from a sane president?’ and was discharged from the service. I’ll bet he has some thoughts about Hegseth’s and Trump’s little pep rally. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8455 "2025-10-02T23:08:05Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@Monty](#): > > > > The [United States Army](https://www.army.mil/) has this as a banner across the top: > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > **Government Shutdown** The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025. Updates to this website will be limited. Read more on [War.gov](https://www.war.gov/Lapse-In-Appropriations/). > > I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. The Defense Department is just going by a made up name without Congressional action. Fuckers. It’s the Gulf of America all over again. I’m wondering how many people are going to get disciplined (fired, demoted, discharged) for not quoting the felon’s narrative for these announcements. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8456 "2025-10-03T02:19:54Z")
I heard some entity called the Senate is back tomorrow to enact the agenda Felon has. Military and necessaries (ATC and such) are not getting paid. 3/4 million to be sent home tomorrow. Less Government! (Was that a MAGA promise? Success!) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8457 "2025-10-03T02:28:43Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Wow, they are fantastic. I agree. Fantastic harmonies. Thanks for posting that, @Pardel-Lux . ---
**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:** [October 3, 2025, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8458 "2025-10-03T04:47:19Z")
Just hours in the wake of the felon’s and his co-conspirator’s North Korea emulating summoning of the generals and admirals, [a top Air Force general announced he is retiring](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/top-air-force-general-announces-185352386.html). > [@](#): > > A top Air Force commander, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, announced his retirement Tuesday for “personal and family reasons.” > > “After much reflection and with a full heart, Barb and I have made a difficult decision to request retirement from the United States Air Force for personal and family reasons,” Bussiere, the head of Air Force Global Strike Command, [said in a post](https://www.facebook.com/AirForceGlobalStrikeCommand/posts/pfbid0pW92Bj1RPBjUC67nc37g27kZJHj5DFqhPfj6RpUsVapFBiU1F4ej4KwLhaJLjmHyl) on Facebook. > > “While I’m stepping away from active duty, my commitment to service remains. I look forward to finding new ways to support our Air Force, our national defense and the incredible people who make it all possible,” wrote Bussiere, who was nominated by the Trump administration to be the Air Force’s vice chief of staff over the summer. > > Bussiere has served as Air Force Global Strike Command commander since December 2022. > > He was nominated by the administration to be the next Air Force vice chief of staff in July, but [Aviation Week reported](https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/us-air-force-vice-nominee-pulled-adding-leadership-uncertainty) in early September that Bussiere’s nomination was withdrawn. > > The former Air Force vice chief of staff, Gen. James Slife, was fired in February. > > Bussiere’s retirement came hours after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held an extraordinary [gathering of top military officials](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/5-takeaways-hegseth-liberation-day-152731993.html) in Quantico, Va., where he announced he was raising fitness standards and overhauling the military’s internal complaint and investigation process. There’s a lot of inter-service rivalry and, as a former soldier and retired sailor, I participated in it. There’s no way I’m going to fault this outstanding officer for this move. I applaud him and hope more stand up. p.s. I just watched a video about that mandatory adoration gathering. One of the men sitting in the front row is an Air Force Chief Master Sergeant. I couldn’t see the entire rank insignia on his sleeve, so I do not know he is the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. _Aside: This adoration nonsense brought to mind a silly joke I came up with while assigned to the USS CARL VINSON. The senior engineering officer on the ship is the Chief Engineer (aka CHENG). During Battle Stations, his assistant, the Damage Control Assistant, is in charge of protecting the ship’s structure. He’s referred to as the DCA. At the time I served aboard the VINSON, we all had to be familiar with the Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (or OBA). As it turned out, according to this silly joke, the proper way to greet the DCA, was to imitate Wayne and Garth’s “we are not worthy” gesture while saying, “DCA, oh, DCA.” It’s an OBAsance._ _I brought this aside to you because it’s silly. And so is the way the clusterfuck is misrunning our military, along with any and everything else they put their orange-stained stubs on._ [Hypocrite Hegseth targets women but ignores something serious about standards.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/hegseth-reignites-battle-over-women-100000490.html) > [@](#): > > “I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape, or in combat units with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men,” he said. “This job is life and death. Standards must be met.” Ah, military standards, hey, Pete? You probably shouldn’t’ve opened that particular can of worms. After all, you failed to meet military standards. [Governor Newsom lays down the law to California universities about caving to the felon in the felon’s war on education.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/usc-told-adopt-trumps-conservative-155336133.html) (The **bolding** is mine.) > [@](#): > > Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday threatened to cut “billions” in state funding, including to USC, from any California campus that signs a Trump administration compact to agree to sweeping and largely conservative campus policies in exchange for priority access to federal funding. > > “If any California University signs this radical agreement, they’ll lose billions in state funding — including Cal Grants — instantly,” Newsom said. **“California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom.”** Another nifty trick would be to refuse to sign diplomas for any state-run school that caves to the felon. Now I don’t think the Guv would pull that stunt, but if the felon were in his position, he’d’ve already done so. Luckily, the only diplomas the felon’s scrawl appears on are those from the federal service academies. [White guy tells Black guy to just ignore another white guy’s racism because, according to the first white guy, it’s just not important.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/johnson-tells-jeffries-just-ignore-153231972.html) > [@](#): > > Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) that he should ignore the AI-doctored videos President Trump has posted picturing him in a sombrero, calling them a “sideshow” distracting from ending the government shutdown. > > Johnson in a press conference Thursday brought up Jeffries being “all alarmed” by videos that Trump has posted, which edit a sombrero and mustache onto Jeffries — an apparent reference to Republicans’ [shaky claims](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/gop-shaky-ground-claim-democrats-100000809.html) that Democrats are demanding free health care for immigrants in the country illegally. Jeffries had [called the video “racist,”](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jeffries-challenges-trump-over-racist-192151108.html) challenging Trump to “say it to my face.” > > Johnson downplayed the videos. > > “These are games. These are sideshows. People are getting caught up in — in battles over social media memes,” Johnson said. “This is not a game. We’ve got to keep the government open for the people. I don’t know why this is so complicated.” > > “And to my friend Hakeem, who I was asked about: Man, just ignore it,” Johnson said. Somehow I don’t see your comments, Mike, being classified as all that frienly by the Honorable gentleman from New York. [And _another_ white guy gives similar “advice” to a Black woman.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jd-vance-offers-non-trolling-180826553.html) > [@](#): > > Vice President **JD Vance** singled out ex-MSNBC host **Joy Reid** on Thursday, telling the liberal pundit to show a “little gratitude” for her country. > > On Thursday, Vance took to X to respond to a clip of Reid discussing racism in the United States. The original video was taken in March, but was reposted by a conservative social media account this week. In the talk, Reid discusses that her parents got a “rude awakening” after immigrating to the United States. > > “My mother got the rude awakening, like, oh, it’s racist here, that’s weird,” she said, adding that her mother realized this was “not a land of opportunity” for Black people. > > Vance responded to the March clip by telling Reid, who was [fired](https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/joy-reid-speaks-through-tears-on-msnbc-ouster-says-i-am-not-sorry-i-went-hard-at-trump/) from MSNBC in a [network shakeup](https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/breaking-joy-reid-out-at-msnbc-as-part-of-stunning-network-shakeup/) in February, to show a “little gratitude.” > > “Joy Reid has had such a good life in this country. It’s been overwhelmingly kind and gracious to her. She is far wealthier than most. Yet she oozes with contempt,” he wrote. “My honest, non-trolling advice to Joy Reid is that you’d be a much happier person if you showed a little gratitude.” This is so mindboggling, heartwrenchingly, shake your head like Linda Blair in _The Exorcist_ stupid. [Co-bigot Vance doesn’t want foreigners to get treated in hospitals.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jd-vances-latest-argument-against-190837226.html) (I’ve removed the formatting for readability.) > [@](#): > > This week, Vice President JD Vance held a White House press briefing, where he argued against undocumented immigrants receiving healthcare benefits. > > In a now-viral clip seen by over [5.2 million](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1973441228675944592) people, Vance told the press: “If you’re an American citizen and you’ve been to the hospital in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed that wait times are especially large and very often somebody who’s there in the emergency room waiting is an illegal alien.” > > “Why do those people get healthcare benefits at hospitals paid for by American citizens?” Vance continued. First we have Killer Kennedy who can diagnose illness just by looking at a child (and that’s creepy enough right there); now we have Just a Dumbass Vance trotting out his ability to tell a person’s citizenship or visa status just by looking at the person. Please take a few minutes to read the response’s listed in that article about what one person called the “most anti Christian shit I’ve ever heard.” [Holy Shit! Hegseth’s hellbent on fucking up even our allies’ militaries.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/air-force-program-forged-ties-090025501.html) > [@](#): > > A corner of [Lackland Air Force Base](https://www.jbsa.mil/Information/JBSA-History-Fact-Sheets/Article-View/Article/2664929/jbsa-lackland/) is home to what might be the most important English language academy in America. > > In classrooms on San Antonio’s Southwest Side, foreign military personnel study English so they can be trained to operate and maintain sophisticated aircraft and other U.S. military equipment. The stakes are high. If a pilot’s command of English faltered at an inopportune moment - if he couldn’t decipher a checklist for making an emergency landing, say - the results could be disastrous. > > It’s called the [Defense Language Institute English Language Center](https://www.dlielc.edu/org/637ISS.php), and it’s critical to foreign sales of U.S. military hardware, which [totaled $118 billion last year](https://www.state.gov/fiscal-year-2024-u-s-arms-transfers-and-defense-trade). The program is also a pillar of cooperation between the U.S. and its allies on the battlefield: It’s easier for troops to fight together when they speak the same language. > > Now, however, there’s a cloud over the entire enterprise. The reason? Teaching English doesn’t directly contribute to [Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s goal of enhancing the “lethality”](https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/air-force-hegseth-lethality-family-days-cutback-20271184.php)of the U.S. armed forces. I think I’ll start spewing some _Exorcist_-style vomit to go along with the headspinning. Have you heard this one? First Person: _Have you heard the joke about President Trump?_ Second Person: _No, what is it?_ First Person: _That’s the whole joke._ [Prime Minister Rama has a good one, too.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/world-leader-completely-clowns-trump-171234739.html) (The **bolding** is mine.) > [@](#): > > President [Donald Trump](https://www.nj.com/topic/donald-trump/) became the center of attention at a world leaders summit on Thursday — but for the wrong reasons. > > Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was [caught on camera](https://x.com/clashreport/status/1973670241877238121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1973670241877238121%7Ctwgr%5E871deb18b5951e102e9db0dca3ccd37f2224b6d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediaite.com%2Fmedia%2Fnews%2Fwatch-trump-literally-laughed-at-by-leaders-of-countries-whose-war-trump-claims-to-have-ended%2F) joking about a geography mishap from Trump, [according to POLITICO](https://www.politico.eu/article/european-leaders-mock-donald-trump-over-armenia-albania-mix-up/). > > **“You should make an apology to us because you didn’t congratulate us on the peace deal that President Trump made between Albania and Azerbaijan,” Rama told French President Emmanuel Macron during the European Political Community meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.** > > **Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, standing next to them, let out a laugh.** > > **“I am sorry for that,” Macron replied, to which Rama added: “He worked very hard.”** [Head of Eisenhower library resignes, evidently because he wouldn’t help the felon steal a sword to give to King Charles III.](https://www.aol.com/head-eisenhower-library-resigns-sword-110206667.html) > [@](#): > > The head of a presidential library resigned this week after a tug-of-war with the Trump administration over gift selection and a sword for King Charles III, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. > > Todd Arrington, a career historian who previously held posts with the National Park Service and National Archives and Records Administration, said he stepped down on Monday under pressure as director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. > > In an interview with CBS News, Arrington said he was told on Monday, “Resign — or be fired.” > > “Apparently, they believed I could no longer be trusted with confidential information,” he said. When asked what specific confidential information he’d shared, Arrington said it was “about the sword” and an unrelated matter. > > Arrington’s departure came after he resisted taking an original Eisenhower sword out of the library’s collection [to give to King Charles last month](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-uk-state-visit-epstein-protests-king-charles-windsor-castle/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) during President Trump’s unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom. [Shutdown emails were manipulated.](https://www.aol.com/education-dept-staff-surprised-email-165331383.html) > [@](#): > > Education Department employees furloughed this week discovered their email accounts had been manipulated while they were out of office to include partisan talking points that blamed the government shutdown on Democrats. > > Five employees who spoke with NBC News and provided copies of their out-of-office messages said the wording was altered from how they originally had composed them. All of them are civil servants, not political appointees, and requested anonymity out of fear of professional repercussions. > > Education officials initially sent employees templates of nonpartisan out-of-office wording to use in their emails. Several employees said they used that language earlier in the week, only to find that while they were furloughed, someone had changed it. > > One person reported changing the out-of-office message back to the nonpartisan version, only to have it revert to the partisan wording later. > > “None of us consented to this. And it’s written in the first person, as if I’m the one conveying this message, and I’m not. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s ethical or legal. I think it violates the Hatch Act,” this person said, referring to the law that limit federal employees’ political activity. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2025, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8459 "2025-10-03T06:56:32Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was [caught on camera](https://x.com/clashreport/status/1973670241877238121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1973670241877238121%7Ctwgr%5E871deb18b5951e102e9db0dca3ccd37f2224b6d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediaite.com%2Fmedia%2Fnews%2Fwatch-trump-literally-laughed-at-by-leaders-of-countries-whose-war-trump-claims-to-have-ended%2F) joking about a geography mishap from Trump, [according to POLITICO](https://www.politico.eu/article/european-leaders-mock-donald-trump-over-armenia-albania-mix-up/). > > **“You should make an apology to us because you didn’t congratulate us on the peace deal that President Trump made between Albania and Azerbaijan,” Rama told French President Emmanuel Macron during the European Political Community meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.** > > **Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, standing next to them, let out a laugh.** > > **“I am sorry for that,” Macron replied, to which Rama added: “He worked very hard.”** This is **hilarious**. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8460 "2025-10-03T07:22:36Z")
I’m glad I was able to spend a couple of weeks visiting and exploring Albania a few months ago. It will be very sad when Trump bombs it to glass in petty vengeance. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/8461 "2025-10-03T09:19:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > This is **hilarious**. I hope it is considered that way by both countries. They’ve had a simmering war for four decades and oil & gas are involved, and Trump’s administration did something something for which he’ll definitely add to his - is is 42 or 43 - wars & conflicts he’s defused. Whenever the Nobel’s get together, they’ll certainly include all permutations of the Scandinavian countries conflicts Trump stopped. And now looks like the USA is going to scrape all the resources from Greenland in a “deal” rather than annexation. The peace-making President. Yet looks like Tomahawks are half-price (or even free) now. And when Putin says that should not happen yet if it does happen, meh. Kiev to Moscow is about their range. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=419) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=421)