# 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:** 458
**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:** [September 26, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9141 "2026-09-26T23:41:44Z")
Great caption. I wonder what the ASL (sign language) interpreter was signing? [![](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/v200/en2thi1mma9ub7pqyjos) ](https://images.spot.im/image/upload/v200/en2thi1mma9ub7pqyjos) ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9142 "2026-09-27T00:21:03Z")
**From 16,000 to 185 to Zero: Trump’s Claims of Illegal Voting in Nevada Fizzle.** When Department of Homeland Security sent Nevada a list of 185 names last month that it claimed identified noncitizens improperly allowed to register to vote, state election officials got to work. On Tuesday, the state sent a rebuke to the federal government: _ **Every single person on the list was a lawful citizen.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9143 "2026-09-27T01:14:50Z")
A list that I’m sure was teeming with white christian types aplenty. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9144 "2026-09-27T02:23:39Z")
Since government documents are in the public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105) and political commentary is classic fair use in any case, the way would appear to be clear for a remix of Chump saying the words “communism”, “socialism”, “marxism” and “communist country” intercut with clips of him yammering about obtaining shares of various companies, promising to give out $5000 to each citizen, etc. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9145 "2026-09-27T10:59:33Z")
[Military families and vets are suspicious of the felon-in-the-oval.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/why-hell-families-military-vets-203925980.html) > [@](#): > > Families of American veterans have expressed concern about plans to add an observation deck to President **Donald Trump’s** [proposed arch](https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-says-his-his-planned-arch-will-double-as-a-top-grade-military-complex-no-facility-like-this-anywhere-in-the-world/) in Washington, D.C., CNN reported on Friday. > > The arch would be built at Memorial Circle, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. > > CNN’s Washington correspondent **Sunlen Serfaty** reported there are between 24 and 27 military funerals each week at Arlington. “So this is a significant concern to Gold Star families and veterans throughout the nation,” she added. > > Serfaty continued: > > > _And in speaking with these families, there’s a feeling that this new observation deck that’s 166ft off the ground, the fifth floor of the president’s proposed arch. It will overlook Arlington National Cemetery, and there’s a feeling that that’s intrusive to their privacy, especially the fact that you have many funerals, multiple funerals going on every day at Arlington. And these are funerals that are highly choreographed. Every detail [is] very precise to, of course, treat the fallen veterans with utmost respect and care._ > > “I want to read you what one veteran told me,” she added. “He says, ‘Why the hell would somebody put an observation deck on top of this arch? What do you want, to observe people’s grief? The solemn, private nature of the ceremony is gone. If people can stand on top of this 250-foot vanity project with a pair of binoculars and look at what’s going on in Arlington.’” [Junior’s ex’s new squeeze apparently is doing the US ambassador’s job but with a lot of grifting.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/don-jr-ambassador-ex-57-192224635.html) > [@](#): > > Donald Trump Jr.'s former fiancée has a mystery shadow. > > In her capacity as U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle has been working to secure deals with European countries to buy American liquefied natural gas—and ultimately wean themselves off Russian energy. > > The 57-year-old has been crisscrossing the continent, buttering up politicians to buy billions of dollars of U.S. product. > > A constant figure by her side has been the 39-year-old businessman Christos Marafatsos, according to The [Wall Street Journal]([https://www.wsj.com/articles/kimberly-guilfoyle-mystery-man-energy-5adeb541?mod=hp\_lead\_pos7\](https://www.wsj.com/articles/kimberly-guilfoyle-mystery-man-energy-5adeb541?mod=hp_lead_pos7%5C)). > > His presence at high-profile meetings has been so frequent that some foreign officials have reportedly assumed he was part of Guilfoyle’s staff. > > Instead, the 39-year-old is a lobbyist for Aktor, a Greek infrastructure and energy group, which recently signed a $6 billion agreement to supply U.S. LNG to Albania, despite being a newcomer in the business. > > It is the same company Guilfoyle has repeatedly promoted, according to the Journal. > > In Bulgaria, she told the government that it should deal with Aktor. > > A person familiar with the talks reportedly said: “There is no doubt that this is kind of an official position of the U.S. government.” > > Government officials who have met with Marafatsos and the ambassador said he made no mention of his ties to Aktor. [Here’s why the stable floor master constitutional scholar thinks he can ban press.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-gives-another-sad-excuse-165406392.html) > [@](#): > > “Another Fake Story is that a very close friend of mine, a man I endorsed very early, Byron Donalds, is taking me off his website and Campaign materials,” Trump [posted on Truth Social.](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117338166998410817) & > [@](#): > > “The story started with the Woke and Dying USA Today, and then, of course, it permeated to CNN, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek, The New York Times, ABC, NBC, Forbes, and others — and I am more popular in Florida today, even more than I was in the last Record Breaking Election!” Trump continued. “This is the Corrupt Media Outlets trying to demean.” & > [@](#): > > “The Fake News Media been doing this for years, I call them out, but they should really be called out by the Courts, and should not be allowed to enter the White House premises, or Press Room, because they are CORRUPT and DISHONEST!” Trump wrote. > > “They are doing everything possible to make my beautiful ‘MAGA’ hate Republicans when, actually, ‘MAGA’ people are smart, and it’s just driving them closer to us!” he continued. [Yep, the felon’s still a slumlord.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/whistleblowers-accuse-kennedy-center-officials-041026631.html) > [@](#): > > Whistleblowers are alleging that Kennedy Center officials halted plans earlier this year to repair leaks in the building, which the Trump administration has highlighted as its reason to close the storied arts institution. > > In a letter to Congress Thursday, obtained by CNN, a lawyer representing the anonymous whistleblowers wrote that the Kennedy Center’s director Matt Floca has known about leak issues “for years” and stopped plans for repairs in April, despite receiving $9.3 million dollars in congressional funding for roofing replacement last year. > > Repairs “were not treated as priorities nor as acute risks to public safety,” attorney David Seide said in the letter to congressional committees that oversee the arts center. The whistleblowers claimed that Floca requested and received funding for repairs but “stopped the remediation process from moving forward.” > > The whistleblowers said Floca received the funds through Trump’s hallmark One Big Beautiful Bill Act but he has delayed addressing the repairs since the bill’s passage last year. > > Members of Kennedy Center leadership and President Donald Trump have repeatedly pointed to a September 4 incident where a section of [ceiling](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/05/politics/video/kennedy-centers-ceiling-partially-collapsed?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo) plaster fell in the Grand Foyer as justification for needing to close their doors. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick [shared security video](https://x.com/howardlutnick/status/2099643013894939087) of the piece of ceiling falling, later shared by Trump, as further evidence that the center has “completely unsafe conditions” and declared “people cannot be allowed to go into this building any longer.” And finally, [Sir Screwupalot screws the National Anthem.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-80-botches-national-anthem-085217828.html) > [@](#): > > President Donald Trump, 80, has once again botched national anthem etiquette at a critical moment. > > Trump made his faux pas during the official welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday morning. The ceremony featured military honors and the playing of both the American and Chinese national anthems. > > When “The Star-Spangled Banner” began to be played, Trump immediately saluted the flag. > > His wife Melania as well as members of his Cabinet including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth can all be seen putting their hands over their hearts, as is customary. > > The U.S. Flag Code calls for placing the right hand over the heart during the national anthem. > > A federal statute, [36 U.S. Code § 301](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title36-section301&num=0&edition=prelim), specifies that during a rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, “individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note.” > > “Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform,” the code states. > > “All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.” This part of the article, though, is utter nonsense. > [@](#): > > There is [some debate](https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article300067754.html), however, whether as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the president holds a unique position bridging civilian and military authority—although many veterans disagree. One of the keystones of (what used to be) the United States of America’s system of government is civilian rule of the miltiary. And yes, I’m obviously one of those veterans who disagree with that so-called debate. There is no debate. It’s a fact. He’s a civilian, pure and simple. Well, simple. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9146 "2026-09-27T13:13:24Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > > men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart I wouldn’t have called it headdress myself but yes, I would like to see that. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9147 "2026-09-27T16:22:09Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I wouldn’t have called it headdress myself but yes, I would like to see that. This piqued my curiosity, so I asked Gemini: **General Terms and Slang** - **Cover** : The standard umbrella term used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for any official headgear. - **Headdress** : A formal military and historical term describing any official cap, helmet, or ceremonial hat. - **Garrison Cap** : A lightweight, foldable cloth cap worn with service uniforms, historically carrying various informal or crude barracks nicknames depending on the era and branch. [[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFYEb_AoVU8), [2](https://www.militarytrader.com/militaria-collectibles/a-tip-of-the-hat-the-evolution-of-headwear-badges-of-the-u-s-military), [3](https://www.quora.com/What-are-other-names-for-a-military-garrison-cap), [4](https://thewarriorcollective.us/glossary/cover)] **Common Types of Military Head Coverings** - **Combat Helmet** : A hardened piece of protective personal armor designed to shield the head from shrapnel, ballistic threats, and impact during combat. - **Patrol Cap** : A soft, billed field cap with a rounded crown used extensively in training and tactical environments. [[1](https://www.jay-jays.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-military-cap-styles/)] - **Boonie Hat** : A wide-brimmed hat designed for tropical and hot-weather environments to provide maximum sun protection. - **Watch Cap** : A tight-fitting, brimless knitted wool cap worn by sailors and soldiers in cold weather conditions. [[1](https://www.yuemaioutdoor.com/8-types-of-military-hats-and-their-uses/)] - **Service Cap / Peaked Cap** : A structured, formal cap featuring a stiff visor (or peak) worn by officers and enlisted personnel during dress or garrison duties. [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaked_cap)] - **Beret** : A soft, round, brimless cap pulled on one side, often used to signify specific units, airborne forces, or general garrison wear. **Historical Military Headwear** - **Shako** : A tall, cylindrical military cap popular in the 19th century, usually adorned with a large plate or plume. - **Kepi** : A historical wool cap with a flat top and a short visor widely used during the American Civil War. - **Tricorne** : A three-cornered cocked hat standard for soldiers and officers during the 18th century and the Revolutionary War era. [[1](https://www.militarytrader.com/militaria-collectibles/a-tip-of-the-hat-the-evolution-of-headwear-badges-of-the-u-s-military), [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFYEb_AoVU8)] ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9148 "2026-09-27T16:24:35Z")
Chief Donald. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9149 "2026-09-27T17:10:21Z")
I think @Pardel-Lux may have been referring to the possible removal the Orange marmot that has taken up residence atop his Lowness’s head, If not he should have been. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9150 "2026-09-27T18:50:20Z")
Nobody: Trump: WE HAVE THE BEST POVERTY > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mwit43o7ql2b)** > > Trump: "We have the best, uhh, I guess you could say poverty. They talk poverty. We have the best poverty numbers ever in the history of our country." ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9151 "2026-09-27T19:10:28Z")
Reality check: The US poverty rate has been declining for years from its 2010 peak, with a brief rebound when COVID hit, quickly countered by stimulus checks (AKA “DemoCrommuniSocialism”, of course) among other measures. Even so, touting a currently low absolute number for the poverty rate masks a couple of important facts: - Continuing inflation can push some rising incomes above the nominal poverty level even as their actual purchasing power decreases. As in _”Yay, now that I earn X more dollars I’m no longer Officially Poor! Oh, except now I need X+Y more dollars to continue paying my bills, so I’m even more Actually Poor than I used to be.”_ - The poverty rate for US elderly is **rising** , not falling. (Which makes sense given that many elderly are on fixed incomes, which inflation hits hardest.) ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9152 "2026-09-27T20:26:33Z")
You are correct. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9153 "2026-09-27T22:08:44Z")
You’re overthinking it. Trump’s dementia has run into his need to be the “best” at everything. Last week in the Oval Office a reporter told him China was very repressive of their media and his response was “We’re much more repressive”. At this point you told tell him that Myanmar is having a smallpox epidemic and he’d say “we have the most smallpox”. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9154 "2026-09-27T22:10:59Z")
Senator Leghorn has gone rogue. > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mwj2q26udp2g)** > > Kennedy: "I don't think any public official, including Trump or Noem or John Kennedy, should spend public money on private ads for themselves ... I may end up with a sombrero on my head, but I also think we ought to have a rule that no politician can... ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9155 "2026-09-27T22:12:38Z")
White House airs another government-funded ad, this time with Trump warning of ‘final battle’ > **[White House airs another government-funded ad, this time with Trump warning...](https://www.wmur.com/article/white-house-government-funded-ad-trump-final-battle/73914732?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=Iwb21leAUmc4ZjbGNrBSZza2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeTkSbi5Wja4ohAb-hiadG1qiWFCxrrpY4SWHnzu9SBhh_tGqHruRyfoVXnV8_aem_immPRJh3fTX_nlmAMf9_9Q)** > > The White House has launched another taxpayer-funded television ad before the midterms, showing President Trump walking as he warns "this is the final battle." ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9156 "2026-09-27T23:03:51Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > At this point you told tell him that Myanmar is having a smallpox epidemic and he’d say “we have the most smallpox”. “We have the biggest smallpox.” ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9157 "2026-09-27T23:19:32Z")
“Some say it’s the best smallpox. In fact, our smallpox is so great, it’s not small anymore. People say it’s the biggest pox ever. With giant muscles.” ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9158 "2026-09-27T23:21:45Z")
And tears … don’t forget the tears! ---
**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:** [September 27, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9159 "2026-09-27T23:45:53Z")
> [@45/47 via Monty](#): > > “The Fake News Media … are CORRUPT and DISHONEST!” Trump wrote. 45/47 really does have a different concept of “CORRUPT” to that found in the OED, doesn’t he? ---
**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:** [September 28, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9160 "2026-09-28T00:23:53Z")
It’s very much the Lewis Carroll “when I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean” sense of words, which doesn’t work well for a dementia addled elder who was never very bright to begin with [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=457) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=459)