# 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:** 366
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7301 "2026-07-20T15:48:50Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > “When the only tool you have is a tariff, everything looks like an import.” Nicely put! 👏🏽 * * * > [@Horatius](#): > > Everyone knew it. Whoever was responsible for this event should have had a plan in place to deal with him… I like the idea of putting him on a leash like people do with toddlers when they take them to a very crowded event. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7302 "2026-07-20T17:36:43Z")
Thanks to this iDJiT Administration, an untold number of employees suddenly have no access to their work computer. Myself included. See, we need to put our ID badge into a slot in our laptop to unlock it. Earlier this year, somebody decided to switch credentialing programs; I went through the new credentialing procedure two weeks ago. My credentials expired around noon today and I do not have my new card yet. So my ability to work is in limbo. ETA: they better give the affected paid time off (Administrative Leave) when this is all over. It ain’t our fault we can’t work! ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7303 "2026-07-20T17:58:54Z")
I don’t know if this rises to “Clusterfuck” standards, but I can’t think of where else to mock it. Take a look at the top picture of a statue that now adorns what used to be the Rose Garden: > **[How a notorious billionaire is behind Trump’s Rose Garden statue spree](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/20/800072549/whitehouse/how-a-notorious-billionaire-is-behind-trumps-rose-garden-statue-spree/)** > > We were just joking around when we speculated that Trump’s tacky Rose Garden statues of Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton that appeared in the dead of night were inspired by billionaire… Now, we can discuss the parts where a billionaire is lending Trump statues, but I really want to focus on the one statue. It’s called “Freedom’s Charge,” and depicts two Revolutionary War soldiers. But. If it’s a “Charge”, _why are they facing in different directions?_ Did one of them just now decide to defect to the British? And one of them isn’t even really “charging”, he’s just kind of squatting down a bit. Is this really the best art a “billionaire” can afford? ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7304 "2026-07-20T18:10:24Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > , he’s just kind of squatting down a bit. Looks like he’s dropping a deuce. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7305 "2026-07-20T18:29:02Z")
May be they are surrounded and the enemy have them just where they (the Revolutionary soldiers) want them? now they can charge in any direction without missing the enemy. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7306 "2026-07-20T18:33:48Z")
We’re surrounded, we have them just where we want them. @Frodo beat me to it. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7307 "2026-07-20T18:35:48Z")
I believe the historical quote is “They’ve got us right where we want ’em. We can shoot in every direction now.” ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7308 "2026-07-20T22:05:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He apparently wandered off during the photo op. The videos appear to show him trying to get IN to the pic of the traditional Lifting of the Trophy, but being physically grabbed by Infantino as well as by the Spanish team player holding the trophy, and ushered off to the side. The result is visible in this photo: [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4u3hwe3p7oy3hoy3amlw7rp2/bafkreiepbp3l3m6esrcl46kna2p72oau23rsc57dwjvcy6harbnqydsyh4) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4u3hwe3p7oy3hoy3amlw7rp2/bafkreiepbp3l3m6esrcl46kna2p72oau23rsc57dwjvcy6harbnqydsyh4) The ‘trophy’ part starts about 2 minutes into this 3:16 video: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cofEPEtBQPY/maxresdefault.jpg "TRUMP presents the WORLD CUP TROPHY to SPAIN and SHARES a SPECIAL MOMENT with LAMINE YAMAL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cofEPEtBQPY1) He was being dealt with. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7309 "2026-07-20T22:13:53Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > putting him on a leash like people do with toddlers Well yeah, but people would do that to: 1. control the toddler and 2. ensure they don’t run off and get lost. Do either of those apply with 45/47? ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7310 "2026-07-20T22:18:03Z")
How about an ideal photo op? ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7311 "2026-07-20T23:03:14Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > 1. ensure they don’t run off and get lost. Well, **I** would prefer that he runs off into oblivion and is never seen again… Calling grammar geeks, should that be “run” or “runs”? ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7312 "2026-07-20T23:05:38Z")
It’s the crowd of opportunists, enablers, spivs and grifters who run off with him that you need to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7313 "2026-07-21T00:04:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Well, **I** would prefer that he runs off into oblivion and is never seen again… > > Calling grammar geeks, should that be “run” or “runs”? Like most subjunctive-mood clauses, it’s a bit tricky. _”I prefer that he run off”_ is the classic subjunctive-verb version of this impositive predicate construction. But for one thing, most people just use the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive in such clauses anyway, so “runs” isn’t wrong. More subtly, I think the sort of hypothetical flavor of the subjunctive makes the expression with “run” feel less satisfying. _”He has a choice, he can run off or not, but I know what I’d prefer that he do.”_ Meh. What we really want is a more definite sense that it **is** happening, right? _”I prefer the scenario where he DOES run off and is never seen again! Yeah!!”_ I think the indicative-mood “runs” gives a stronger feeling of closure there. (Well, you ASKED… 😂) ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7314 "2026-07-21T00:27:24Z")
FIFA cropped him out of the photo on their Twitter feed. [https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2078978672346779703](https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2078978672346779703) [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HNoEA9ZWQAApLFT?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HNoEA9ZWQAApLFT?format=jpg&name=medium) ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7315 "2026-07-21T00:33:11Z")
[I’m shocked. Shocked, I say! (Not really; this more of a MOTO\* report.)](https://www.aol.com/articles/schumer-trump-family-used-white-120745000.html) > [@](#): > > Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and other Senate Democrats on Monday [released a report](https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_democrats_trump_corruption_report.pdf) asserting that President Trump and his family have “systematically turned the power of the presidency into eye-popping profits” while regular American families struggle to afford the rising cost of living. > > Schumer and other colleagues, including Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), released the report as part of a new “anti-corruption initiative” to expose what they say is Trump’s “rampant self-dealing.” > > The Democrats hope to tie the Trump family’s staggering [increase in net worth](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5949500-trump-financial-disclosure-crypto/) since the start of the president’s second term to the struggles of American families, who Democrats argue are feeling the brunt of “corruption costs.” > > “Trump is without question the most corrupt president in American history,” Schumer said in a statement. > > “Trump has betrayed the American people by using our highest office not for the good of country, but to pad his own bank account, at the expense of working families. Senate Democrats are launching this effort to expose the corruption, show Americans exactly what it is costing them, and build the reforms needed to stop any president from using public office for personal profit,” he said. > > The White House pushed back on the Democrats’ report, saying the president “has a lot of assests because he was a massively successful businessman prior to becoming President.” The Wrecked House respose is hilarious. \*_M_aster _O_f _T_he _O_bvious. [Welcome to the People’s Democratic Republic of North America, Edition ninety-nine and a half.](https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-admin-seeks-phone-records-174136000.html) (The **bolding** is mine.) > [@](#): > > The Trump administration is going after the phone records of several _New York Times_ journalists — **and even their relatives** — in an attempt to root out the confidential sources who provided intel on security deficiencies with the Qatari-gifted Air Force One. > > The _Times_ reported earlier this month “that the new jet, which he flew to Turkey, lacks the same defensive countermeasures as the older model, including antimissile capabilities.” Just 24-hours after the report was published, the Justice Department hand-delivered subpoenas compelling the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury. > > Times reporter **Michael M. Grynbaum** [wrote Monday](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/business/media/new-york-times-subpoenas-phone-records.html), “The government’s actions amount to an extraordinarily aggressive and **unorthodox attempt** by the Trump administration to unearth the confidential sources of independent journalists whose reporting had angered the president.” Next step: arrest three generations of one family. I already know his base loves the idea of public executions. Trials they don’t care about. [And speaking of trials…](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/ex-olympian-charged-damaging-reflecting-153807906.html) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge in the nation’s capital has set a trial date in September for a former Olympic canoe racer charged with deliberately damaging [the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool](https://apnews.com/article/reflecting-pool-drained-washington-monument-trump-repairs-0745ba52bc7273ce411ef29880f71cf0), the site of a troubled multimillion-dollar renovation project championed by President Donald Trump. > > D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman scheduled the Sept. 28 trial date for David Hearn during a hearing on Monday. It was Hearn’s second court appearance since a grand jury indicted him on a felony count of property destruction. > > Hearn, who [pleaded not guilty](https://apnews.com/article/reflecting-pool-damage-trump-david-hearn-c2f8e1d689d8cd3cd4f9aade65c674ee) to the charge on July 9, has asked the court to dismiss the case. In a court filing, his attorneys argued the government has failed to properly preserve important physical evidence from the Reflecting Pool. [Democrats in the Senate want war criminal Hegseth to _man up_ and honestly answer questions.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/democratic-senators-want-answers-hegseths-194440583.html) > [@](#): > > Senate Democrats are pressing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers about his [directive requiring the military to measure troops’ testosterone levels](https://abcnews.com/Politics/hegseth-directs-troops-30-testosterone-checked/story?id=134793096), seeking details on how the policy will be carried out amid concerns over how it will apply to women and whether it could inadvertently encourage service members to self-medicate with potentially dangerous supplements. > > In a letter to Hegseth, Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Gary Peters of Michigan, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ruben Gallego of Arizona said the Pentagon has provided little explanation for the new requirement, raising questions about its scientific basis, cost and potential consequences. > > “The Department has provided no evidence that this sweeping new policy will improve force readiness or health, nor has it explained the scientific basis, costs, or risks associated with implementing it across the force,” the senators wrote. ---
**Author:** ![TheTooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/919ad9/32.png) [@TheTooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTooth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7316 "2026-07-21T00:39:33Z")
Should be “R-U-N-N-O-F-T”. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7317 "2026-07-21T01:10:17Z")
MagaMike explains to college students why the USA is the greatest nation ever. Spoiler… It’s GOD. [MeidasTouch](https://youtu.be/8wQo-rhy19k?t=310) ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7318 "2026-07-21T01:19:05Z")
…could you please not post blind links to a 17-minute Youtube video? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7319 "2026-07-21T01:34:58Z")
the “?t=310” takes you to the relevant part. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7320 "2026-07-21T01:51:00Z")
It’s still a blind link to Youtube. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=365) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=367)