The Trump Presidency, Season 2

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Noteworthy stuff from the White Mad House:

1. The US officially accepted the Boeing 747 from Qatar. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-formally-accepts-luxury-jet-qatar-trump-new-york-times-2025-05-21/

2. South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Orange and got the Selenkiy treatment, this time about the "genocide" against white farmers in the country.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

WhoTF is shooting missiles at the US, that we need a system like this? What a waste of money.

Severe weather assaults the US every single day, but we're completely hollowing out the NWS and then spending $25b on a system to protect the country from something that literally never freaking happens. It's the MIC's version of furry litter-boxes in schools.

Flashbacks of Reagan's "Star Wars" initiative.

But, given how the US is busily burning bridges and alliances, this "golden dome" might prove necessary.

"Crisis validation" - Creating a problem to sell a solution.

 

[Khamon]

Why do people continue to visit the White House? Do they not understand that they will be mistreated with attempts to publicly humiliate them? Is it a prove I'm the better man show? or Do they feel they need documented proof that the USA is untrustworthy when they break relations? I do not understand why they keep showing up here.

 

[Grey Mars]

I think the thought process went something like this:

T: I don't get it, why can't I do whatever I feel like doing, just like the Jews always do?

Advisor: ...the... Jews sir?

T: You know, the Jews. They can just purge whole neighborhoods and get the land for free! That's smart. No one fucks with the Jews, and everyone loves them. Why can't we just take whatever we want just like that? I'm tired of these loser courts and politicians slowing down my pocket book. And forget those sucker cowards in the military! We need to be like the Jews.

Advisor: (trying to make sense of dementia caesar salad) ...Do you mean Isreal sir?

T: Yeah, the Jews!

Advisor: Uh... well to start with they have a lot of defenses to keep back the neighbors like the Iron Dome that...

T: Yeah, yeah! That's what we need. Only we'll make our bigger, and better. It will be the best dome! It will stop all those illegals and blacks, and stop those traitors trying to get out of the country too. Get on it, I want the 'Golden Dome' on everyone's lips by tonight's meeting with Putin. He'll be so jealous.

Advisor: I... Right away sir.

T: Oh, and don't forget to get a lot of stock in whoever we allow to have the building rights. Let them know it's going to cost them a lot if they want my attention. I just got a flying palace just by being smart, tell them that whoever manages to top that will get the contract. See if some of those Arabs want to build the Golden Dome, they know how to do business. Or maybe we can trad Ukraine to Russia to build it? Get Elon to ask, they love him.

 

[Casey Pelous]

Why do people continue to visit the White House? Do they not understand that they will be mistreated with attempts to publicly humiliate them? Is it a prove I'm the better man show? or Do they feel they need documented proof that the USA is untrustworthy when they break relations? I do not understand why they keep showing up here.

It seems to be a sort of hazing one must endure if one hopes to have any relationship with the US at all.

 

[Free]

He doesn't even know when he's being mocked.

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)

RAMAPHOSA: I am sorry I don't have a plane to give you TRUMP: I wish you did. I'd take it. If your country offered the US Air Force a plane, I would take it RAMAPHOSA: Okay

bsky.app

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Why do people continue to visit the White House? Do they not understand that they will be mistreated with attempts to publicly humiliate them? Is it a prove I'm the better man show? or Do they feel they need documented proof that the USA is untrustworthy when they break relations? I do not understand why they keep showing up here.

Because Trump is the head of the state, and when visting the USA diplomatic protocol often dictates that.

 

[Cindy Claveau]

WhoTF is shooting missiles at the US, that we need a system like this? What a waste of money.

One part macho penis obsession, one part "let's do what we've already been working on and give it a sexy public name that includes the letters "t" "r" "u" "m" "p"' maybe listed as "credit for original idea: Donald T The Orange King.

A working missile defence has been a dream of the military since missiles happened. Under Reagan, we learned that it's tougher than hell to hit a speeding bullet with another speeding bullet. Then, strangely, the talk about Star Wars subsided. In the ensuing 40+ years, we've gotten better computers but it's still tougher than heck to hit a speeding bullet.

Severe weather assaults the US every single day, but we're completely hollowing out the NWS and then spending $25b on a system to protect the country from something that literally never freaking happens. It's the MIC's version of furry litter-boxes in schools.

I normally approve of anything that improves my chances of surviving a nuclear attack, but we have reached the point that missiles have become our security blanket while the destruction of human rights is happening under our feet.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Trump the mongrel idiot is putting more pressure on Harvard, this time taking away their ability to enlist foreign students. Harvard is collborating with the Chinese Communist Party according to Shitti Noem.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered DHS to terminate Harvard's student and exchange visitor program certification, the agency said.

• "This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status," per DHS.
• Noem said the administration is "holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus."
• She said in a statement that the university lost their program certification "as a result of the failure to adhere to the law," calling it "a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country."

Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton called the government's action unlawful.

• "We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably," he said in an emailed statement.
• He said the university is working quickly to provide guidance to the campus community.
• "This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission," Newton said

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/22/harvard-trump-international-students-dhs

 

[Cindy Claveau]

The hidden provision in the Big Ugly Bill that makes Trump king

So what’s next? Will the Supreme Court and lower courts hold the administration in contempt and enforce contempt citations?

Not if the Big Ugly Bill is enacted with the following provision, now hidden in the bill:

“No court of the United States may use appropriated funds to enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary restraining order if no security was given when the injunction or order was issued….”

Translated: No federal court may enforce a contempt citation.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Why do people continue to visit the White House? Do they not understand that they will be mistreated with attempts to publicly humiliate them? Is it a prove I'm the better man show? or Do they feel they need documented proof that the USA is untrustworthy when they break relations? I do not understand why they keep showing up here.

While all the US's traditional allies and partners are having to readjust to the new normal, we all of us have to do business with the US, no matter who the President is. We can't simply disengage until 2028 and hope for the best.

 

[Casey Pelous]

In other words, it's a white elephant.

Since we have now accepted the 747, an obviously benevolent gift with no strings attached from our new besties, I believe it has transitioned to being a "boondoggle."

noun

1. work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value.

 

[Essence Lumin]

So what will save us from the "big beautiful bill"? Maybe if the bond market crashes before it passes.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

So what will save us from the "big beautiful bill"? Maybe if the bond market crashes before it passes.

Watch for Senate changes. If they flip one vote it will not pass the final version.

 

[Essence Lumin]

Sometimes facebook shows posts of memories. This is from 5 years ago with trump and near the beginning stages of the corona virus.

 

[Sid]

"This is a very dangerous world. We're going to protect our citizens like never before." - So now coming: the GOLDEN DOME FOR AMERICA!

Price tag: about $175bn. in 3 years, or so.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5310368-trump-announces-golden-dome-missile-defense/

Is Mexico going to pay for this, after they payed fully for that wall?

 

[Casey Pelous]

Is Mexico going to pay for this, after they payed fully for that wall?

You know how The Operation works: If you pay, no protection.

Wait -- we need The Other Operation: If you don't pay, we will protect you.

Yes. That's it.

Special thanks to Doug & Dinsdale, the Piranha Bros. BTW, the check is in the mail for the "fruit machine."

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Be afraid, be very afraid: Trump signed a series of new executive orders which should boost nuclear power in the states.

It orders the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to cut down on regulations and fast-track new licenses for reactors and power plants.

One order reduces the approval process for a new reactor design to 18 months, at the moment this can take over a decade.

Trump described the nuclear insdustry as "hot." “It’s a brilliant industry. You have to do it right,” he said, flanked by CEOs of nuclear companies, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Burgum told reporters that the president’s actions would “turn the clock back on over 50 years of overregulation” in the nuclear industry.

[And why? Because... AI!] Building more nuclear reactors, an official told reporters in advance of the signing, is aimed in part at addressing the increased energy needs created by artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

It was not immediately clear how much authority Trump and the executive branch could assert over the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which Congress created as an independent agency in 1974.

Trump seeks to boost US nuclear power, roll back regulations

A host of new executive orders seeks to fast-track approvals to grow the US's nuclear energy sector, a lengthy process.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Noodles]

What could possibly go wrong?

Don't threaten me with a good time.