# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 1, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298 "2025-12-01T20:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 170
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3381 "2026-03-18T20:42:37Z")
> [@DJT](#): > > I wonder what would happen if we “finished off” what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called “Strait?” That would get some of our non-responsive “Allies” in gear, and fast!!! President DJT Nice little “straight” you’ve got there. Be a shame if something happened to it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3382 "2026-03-18T20:46:36Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Nice little “straight” you’ve got there. I wonder if he’s not familiar with the word “strait” and thinks it’s supposed to be called that because it’s a straight body of water, so he’s calling it “so called” because he just found out it isn’t straight. In any event, it’s amazing how in one week we’ve gone through; - We don’t need help with wars we’ve already won - Many nations should be helping us - Many nations are already on their way to help us - They’re all ierks for not helping us - They have to help us because NATO - We don’t need anyone’s help - We should just leave, then it’ll be their problem Very stable genius at work. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3383 "2026-03-18T20:50:00Z")
Nice summary! ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3384 "2026-03-18T20:55:01Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Good lord. One of the most tone-deaf things I heard from some Democrats during the 2024 election was, “yes, inflation has gone up, but it could be worse – it’s much higher in Europe.” But, it’s OK when a Republican suggests it, I guess. Democrats vote on self interest, Republicans on malice. So "yes this is unpleasant, but people Not Like You are suffering _worse"_ is an appealing message to a Republican audience. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3385 "2026-03-18T21:44:09Z")
That is not how I would put it. I would rather say: Democrats vote on decency, even if it is against self interest; Republicans vote on malice, even if it is against self interest. I may be biased. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3386 "2026-03-18T22:02:31Z")
The latest poll puts Trump’s approval rating at 35%. > **[Donald Trump's approval rating hits new low, poll shows](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-approval-rating-new-low-poll-11699929)** > > Shifts in approval and disapproval ratings could signal broader erosion and complicate the Republican Party's midterm strategies. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3387 "2026-03-18T22:07:26Z")
That seems at least 34.5% too high. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3388 "2026-03-18T22:40:19Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > “I’m not worried. I do whatever the f–k I want. DJT will pardon me,” Lewandowski told one of The Post’s sources last year — making the flippant aside during a discussion about official actions. Maybe Corey _should_ be worried. At the rate Donald is deteriorating, quite a few pardons may remain unsigned… ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3389 "2026-03-18T22:42:36Z")
He still has the autopen. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3390 "2026-03-18T23:21:47Z")
And if need be, they can hook the autopen up to a [ouija board.](https://hackaday.io/project/205265-wireless-ouija-board) ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3391 "2026-03-18T23:24:36Z")
Imagine if they have not changed the settings and it still draws Biden’s signature. Deep incompetence is unpredictable, but that would be funny. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3392 "2026-03-18T23:43:21Z")
Diesel fuel in Sydney today say 229c/l = $10.41/ imperial gallon or $8.67/ US gallon with current FX rate 0.7 = USD 6.07/ US gallon. The distribution business where I work in supply chain received advice from a freight carrier yesterday that the fuel surcharge from 19.7% to 29.4% from 1st April. ---
**Author:** ![doomtastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@doomtastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomtastic)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3393 "2026-03-19T00:30:44Z")
We, the citizens of the USofA, humbly accept your thanks for our steadying influence on inter- wait, why are you flipping me off? 🙁 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3394 "2026-03-19T00:44:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@Monty](#): > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > The exchange was captured on video and [posted to X](https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2032556733030170852) by White House communications advisor Margo Martin. In the clip, a company representative presented the president with a $10,000 Resistol 1776 hat, a limited edition accessory commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. > > > > Holy Lord! Isn’t that criminal accepting a _ten thousand dollar_ gift while in office? > > Well, yeah, but the important thing is that trump put that hat on without assistance, so it proves he can find his own head with both hands. I actually did think that they glued that hat to keep it on his unstable head with a special formula of a popular mexican adhesive. > **[Resistol](https://www.henkel.com/our-businesses/resistol-691078)** > > The most recognized brand adhesives in Mexico, has a wide range of products to address the different needs repair, construction and decoration. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3395 "2026-03-19T00:48:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The plea deal should be thrown out. Can the judge do that? I’m pretty sure judges can reject plea deals. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3396 "2026-03-19T00:55:42Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Holy Lord! Isn’t that criminal accepting a _ten thousand dollar_ gift while in office? Accepting the gift isn’t illegal. It becomes property of the US Government. Demento Donny doesn’t get to keep it. 🙄 Sure Steve, as if a little thing like legalities would stop him from keeping it in the copier room. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3397 "2026-03-19T01:54:00Z")
I understand the toilet tank is a good place to hide things. Of course, that’s probably one of the 1st places the FBI looks. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3398 "2026-03-19T03:56:49Z")
Tank? Get real. We already know he just puts it in a box on the terlet floor. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2026, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3399 "2026-03-19T05:08:55Z")
Cost overruns? Delays? Say it isn’t so, Donny! Apparently Golden Dome will be 50% more expensive, and 6 years late. Didnt see that one coming.. [https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5789969-golden-dome-missile-defense-cost/](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5789969-golden-dome-missile-defense-cost/) ---
**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:** [March 19, 2026, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3400 "2026-03-19T06:15:19Z")
[Nobody knew fighting a war would be so expensive. Nobody’s ever seen such an exepnsive war.](https://www.aol.com/articles/us-national-debt-surges-past-215706636.html) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON (AP) — The national debt surpassed a record $39 trillion on Wednesday, a milestone that comes just weeks into the [U.S.-Israeli war in Iran](https://apnews.com/hub/iran). > > The unprecedented figure highlights competing administration priorities, from passing a massive tax law and boosting defense spending and immigration enforcement to chipping away at the debt itself — the latter of which [Donald Trump](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) promised to do as both a candidate and as president. > > The Government Accountability Office outlines some of the impact of rising government debt on Americans — including higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages and cars, lower wages from businesses having less money available to invest, and more expensive goods and services. Advocates for a balanced budget also warn that the long-term trend of borrowing more and paying more in interest will force Americans to face tougher fiscal tradeoffs ahead. > > Michael Peterson, chair and CEO of the nonprofit Peter G. Peterson Foundation, created to raise awareness of America’s long-term fiscal challenges, said in a statement that “we must recognize this alarming rate of growth and the significant financial burden we are putting on the next generation.” [Mullin’s hearing starts out with fireworks.](https://www.aol.com/articles/one-freaking-snake-no-apologies-210807819.html) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman [opened the hearing](https://apnews.com/live/markwayne-mullin-dhs-hearing) with a provocative dare: Say it to my face. > > [Sen. Rand Paul](https://apnews.com/hub/rand-paul), the Republican from Kentucky, has made clear he has little regard for [President Donald Trump’s](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, fellow [Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin](https://apnews.com/hub/markwayne-mullin). He says he’ll vote against him. > > Their differences go way back. > > Mullin has called him a [“freaking snake,”](https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-confirmation-hearing-mullin-95ba35e6feff8473661ccf3dac66fd3a) siding with Paul’s neighbor who left the senator with [multiple broken ribs](https://apnews.com/general-news-senate-elections-domestic-news-domestic-news-united-states-senate-68fb5bbe2e0441489a4e0002f0edd754) after a surprise attack, the neighbor having tackled the senator years ago as he was doing yardwork outside his home. > > Paul calls Mullin a liar with anger management problems who lacks the temperament to lead the troubled [Homeland Security Department](https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-homeland-security) that is at the forefront of Trump’s [mass deportation agenda](https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-agenda-dhs-noem-mullin-cce52a9f2009ef645ceffe4e44cb4def). > > "Tell it to the world why you believe I deserved to be assaulted,” Paul said on Wednesday [as he gaveled](https://apnews.com/video/rand-paul-confronts-dhs-nominee-mullin-in-senate-hearing-d59db29ae19440479d6613f29b51352b) the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to order. > > “Explain to the American people why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and border patrol agents." And while he’s about that, perhaps he can tell the world while that clown with anger issues is in the White House. [Oh, God. Wait. Oh, Hell. Wait. Oh, it’s just more of th same cluster: Religious Liberty ain’t.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/president-donald-trump-fires-nfl-093003542.html) > [@](#): > > Almost a year ago, President Donald Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission through Executive Order 14291. That created an advisory body meant to counsel the White House on matters of faith and religious freedom in America. But as tensions in the Middle East continued to shape political discourse at home, a former NFL quarterback’s wife received a final termination letter from the President himself, following a controversy that kept escalating. > > The chain of events that led to her removal began on February 9, during a commission hearing focused on antisemitism in America. That session quickly grew contentious, with Boller engaging in direct exchanges with witnesses and fellow participants over how antisemitism should be defined and where criticism of Israel fits within that framework. Commission leadership later pointed to those exchanges as the basis for disciplinary action. > > “President Trump officially removes me from the Religious Liberty Commission for exercising my Religious Liberty,” Carrie Prejean Boller, wife of former [Baltimore Ravens](https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nfl/baltimore-ravens/) quarterback Kyle Boller, wrote on X on March 12. “The only Catholic woman who opposes Zionism was removed as a prelude to the Iran war.” > For Boller, the removal carries a deeper contradiction. > > The entire purpose of the Religious Liberty Commission is to uphold First Amendment rights, the constitutional guarantee that every American can freely practice their faith without government interference or fear. In her view, her termination did not just end her role on the commission; it undermined the very principle the commission was created to defend. And she’s surprised? [The 51st state! Or is it the 52nd? The 53rd? The Infinitiest! That’s it! The Infinietiest!](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/trump-fires-off-one-word-034112053.html) (The formatting is from the original.) > [@](#): > > “Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal,” he [wrote](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-hails-venezuela-win-world-034322326.html). “They are looking really great. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE? President DONALD J. TRUMP.” Hey, it looks like he’s forgotten about making Canada a state. I wonder if their refusal to follow him to war against Iran had anything to do with that. [Check out his numbers!](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ice-deporting-pregnant-postpartum-immigrants-144415707.html) > [@](#): > > U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained and deported hundreds of pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants since the start of the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed for the first time Wednesday. Federal policy says that such individuals should only be detained in limited circumstances. > > Between January 1, 2025, and February 16, 2026, 363 pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants were deported, DHS reported in response to questions submitted last fall by Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat. Sixteen miscarriages were recorded during that time period. In total, 498 pregnant, postpartum and nursing people were reported as “booked out” of ICE detention in that timespan, meaning that they were detained and then left ICE facilities. > > As of February 16, 121 people who were actively detained were pregnant, postpartum or nursing, according to DHS. Of those, nine were in their third trimester of pregnancy. Need I remind you of a certain political persuasion’s attitude towards causing a pregnancy’s early and non-viable termination? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=169) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=171)