# 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:** 391
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7801 "2026-08-09T00:51:54Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Also, if I’m Iran, that looks like a great target for a Shahed drone or two, especially while Trump is directly below blathering about how great he is. Go ahead Trumpy-wumpy, spend all your time in there. Eventually you’ll give a speech that will bring the house down A fellow I follow on Facebook made the point: this makes the White House a legitimate military target, it would no longer be a purely civilian leadership site. Way to keep the president safe, Donald! ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7802 "2026-08-09T01:00:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Total bullshit, as usual. Teachers work on contract, and the vast majority of them ever-renewing contracts. When layoffs happen due to over-staffing concerns, it is localized and specific, not district-wide. The closest I’ve heard was a large city’s parks department employees. So that the employees could qualify for unemployment, they would lay them off for the winter and rehire them in the spring. An old drinking buddy of mine from the 70s worked for that department and loved it. It was like having four or five months off each year. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7803 "2026-08-09T01:37:19Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > A fellow I follow on Facebook made the point: this makes the White House a legitimate military target, it would no longer be a purely civilian leadership site. Way to keep the president safe, Donald! Isn’t the president of the United States already a legitimate target under the international laws governing warfare? He, or she (theoretically), is part of the military chain-of-command and is just as valid a target as Admiral Yamamoto was when U.S. fighter planes specifically targeted the military transport plane he was aboard. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7804 "2026-08-09T01:58:29Z")
[Elect a dictator wannabe and our very own will give you a billion bucks.](https://www.aol.com/articles/u-pledges-1-billion-colombia-143914000.html) > [@](#): > > The United States pledged $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia after its new right-wing president took office. > > [Abelardo de la Espriella](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colombia-presidential-election-abelardo-de-la-espriella-winner/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17), a millionaire lawyer with a taste for spectacle, took office Friday for his four-year term after a campaign focused on anger and fears about security. > > “As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President (Abelardo) de la Espriella’s administration in achieving our shared goals,” the statement said. > > De la Espriella earned President Trump’s endorsement despite never having run for office. > > De la Espriella now has grand plans to crush armed insurgents, cozy up to the U.S. and overhaul the system. In his first speech upon taking office, he pledged to “relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism,” adding that “the option of dialogue is completely exhausted” — a reference to the former administration’s spluttering peace talks with guerrillas. [The felon says _The Washington Post_ reporters committed treason.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-accuses-wapo-treason-lashes-172037982.html) > [@](#): > > President **Donald Trump** upped his criticism of _The Washington Post_ all the way to a treason accusation after initially blasting the paper over a report suggesting he blew up on Defense Secretary **Pete Hegseth**. > > In a Thursday afternoon post to Truth Social, Trump dismissed the _Post’s_ [story](https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/unforgivable-blunder-joe-scarborough-buries-pete-hegseth-over-reported-munitions-shortage-says-he-needs-to-go/) as “false” and “unfounded” and he praised Hegseth’s work in the administration. He wrapped up his criticisms by saying he believes the _Post’s_ “fake” reporting is “treasonous.” And don’t forget he’s often said those who commit treason should be executed. [The felon’s war on the environment to negatively affect an American territory, but it’s okay, they’re just brown people.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/pacific-islands-alarmed-trump-backed-012731212.html) > [@](#): > > A Pacific island leader says there were “no consultations” before the US announced swathes of nearby ocean could be auctioned for deep-sea mining exploration, telling AFP the industry faced strong opposition among his people. > > Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Governor David Apatang said the idea had caused great unease across the tropical island chain of some 40,000 people. > > The United States alarmed its tropical island territories earlier this year, detailing plans to carve up parts of the Pacific Ocean for mining exploration. > > Mining companies see enormous wealth in mineral deposits scattered across the seabed, but the fledgling industry has for years been held back by environmental concerns. > > An expanse of US maritime territory near American Samoa in the South Pacific could be auctioned as soon as November, according to official documents. > > Separate tracts of ocean surrounding Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific are also under consideration. > > “Some concerns include disruption to food security for the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, who rely on the ocean resources for their survival,” Apatang told AFP. [Let’s discuss “Freedom Fuel” for a moment.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/freedom-fuel-praised-trump-sells-142434791.html) > [@](#): > > PHILADELPHIA - As a steady stream of drivers pulled into the Freedom Fuel Network’s gas station on Roosevelt Boulevard this week, some pumps still had signs saying “Red Lion,” the station’s brand as recently as last Friday. > > Other pumps were freshly pasted with Freedom Fuel’s fierce-eagle logo. But what drivers mainly noticed were the prices: 10 to 20 cents per gallon below other stations. > > “It’s awesome,” said Edwin Torres, 29, who works for a rental car company and often stops by to fill up the fleet. “It’s to the point where 20 cents does go a long way.” > > The Roosevelt Boulevard station is one of four new locations announced this week by the Freedom Fuel Network, an expansion that deepens the mystery around a company that has revealed little about itself publicly while drawing praise from the White House for its discount gas. > > Public documents link the network to a Baltimore Ravens special-teams coach, a New Jersey-based energy investor and a fuel distributor sued repeatedly for unpaid debts and other alleged misconduct, including fraud. Their refusal to talk publicly about the project - and the White House’s promotion of it - has prompted wide scrutiny, including from fuel industry analysts trying to figure out how they manage to sell gas at prices significantly lower than geographic competitors. The answer to how is right there. Just like Rip van Simple, their m.o. is to simply not pay their debts. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7805 "2026-08-09T07:31:41Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > And the accumulation of such blows-to-their-worldview must be getting pretty massive by now. Donald as Jesus? _explained away_ > Donald with more medals that Patton and MacArthur? _explained away_ > Donald claiming a box-cutter created the Reflecting Pool debacle? _explained away_ I think your autocorrect substituted _explained_ for _deranged_. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7806 "2026-08-09T07:50:04Z")
Or even _accepted blindly_. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7807 "2026-08-09T08:28:00Z")
[![](https://unstuckpolitics.com/uploads/default/original/3X/5/4/54e91afaaf6b8a8b077bbb59f3414b6f646ce62a.jpeg) ](https://unstuckpolitics.com/uploads/default/original/3X/5/4/54e91afaaf6b8a8b077bbb59f3414b6f646ce62a.jpeg) One full of morons and one where people know how to use apostrophes. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7808 "2026-08-09T09:03:59Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > A fellow I follow on Facebook made the point: this makes the White House a legitimate military target, it would no longer be a purely civilian leadership site. Way to keep the president safe, Donald! I think that’s less of a risk than just the fact that they would be permanently keeping a lot of powerful explosives on the roof of the WH. One oopsie and the entire White House is a smoking crater (as opposed to just the East Wing as it is now). ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7809 "2026-08-09T09:05:41Z")
The couple on the right appear to genuinely love each other, so that’s another key difference. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7810 "2026-08-09T10:03:54Z")
Why does Melania’s dress have pieces of black duct tape stuck on it? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7811 "2026-08-09T10:05:34Z")
They’re the bits that are redacted ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7812 "2026-08-09T10:29:45Z")
… one America that wears tuxedoes and designer dresses, and another that eats at diners. Seriously: how tone-deaf can you get? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7813 "2026-08-09T12:44:45Z")
To remind us all of the Epstein files. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7814 "2026-08-09T12:48:58Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Seriously: how tone-deaf can you get? Unfortunately, MAGA will see this as a brilliant attack on the libtards. They won’t see anything but white in Trump’s America and brown Muslims in El-Sayed’s America. I’m sure Michigan is already seeing, and will continue to see, tons of advertising implying or outright stating this message over the next three months. I was going to put this next bit in the Texas pit thread but it fits perfectly with this picture so I will put it here. The Texas state legislature is only in session for a few months every other year. Their next session starts in January of 2027. There was an article in the Dallas Morning News on Friday about the bills the Republicans are planning to introduce which will be attacking Muslims: A ban on the sale of halal foods, a ban on hijabs in public schools, required school lessons on the “violence and political domination of Islam.” I feel like this post needs something else to make it more coherent, but the bigotry is so depressing I feel overwhelmed. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7815 "2026-08-09T12:59:03Z")
Well put. What’s astounding about this image is that it isn’t astounding at all. Once you get past the idiotic apostrophe, it looks like just a mild, accurate, obvious commentary on US culture in recent years: “Americans” includes diverse folks, which is good, but has polarized into two camps, which is bad. It implies no judgment about either camp. Each is equally American. Each includes couples who apparently love each other and are generally happy. The absurdity, of course, is that so many people would read something sinister or scary, driven not by anything in the image, but by their own racist bitterness. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7816 "2026-08-09T14:23:58Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Each includes couples who apparently love each other and are generally happy. But that’s not the reality. trump is never happy, and Melanie has a sign on the ceiling over her bed that says “Think of the money!” When she is even in the same city with trump, that is. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7817 "2026-08-09T15:33:55Z")
Oh, totally. I’m just trying to see the image from the perspective of someone who knew nothing about the details of the persons pictured. A Martian, say. “Oh, how nice! Despite their differences, these Americans have much in common, like happy marriages.” Of course, you and I know the reality. The only distinctions depicted are the names, and that one person happens to be wearing a head covering\*. Pathetic MAGA wimps are scared of language, and clothing. Jeez, grow a pair! \*Actually, two are. And only one of these head coverings could be construed as genuinely scary – the rabies-infected mongoose. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7818 "2026-08-09T15:37:41Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > A Martian, say. “Oh, how nice! Despite their differences, these Americans have much in common, like happy marriages.” “Happy families are all alike.” ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7819 "2026-08-09T15:39:43Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > … one America that wears tuxedoes and designer dresses, and another that eats at diners. One is in league with religious fanaitcs bent on the destruction of America and the other one’s wife wears a Hijab ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7820 "2026-08-09T15:44:33Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > One is in league with religious fanaitcs bent on the destruction of America and the other one’s wife wears a Hijab Ha! Excellent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=390) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=392)