The Official "Damned Trump" Thread: Phase II

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

His latest Grandpa Simpson moment:

“These are people I’ve gotten to know over the years,” the POTUS said, referring to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, and the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. “I mean, I would say it started around 2015 and then went into 2016 when the presidency began, officially began,” he said.

Boru

[Rev. Rye]

Trump threatens to shut down US government unless Democrats agree to ban all trans health care

Pink

I don't care. Shut it down, you worthless toddler.

Big deal, we’re all going to have medbeds soon and what the fuck am I watching?

[Mr Greene]

The Debate on Whether Mormons are Christians is Settled Because Donald Trump Says So

On Sunday, September 28, 2025, a mass shooting and arson attack occurred at a congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints (LDS) in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

Noted religious scholar Donald J. Trump immediately posted on Truth Social, framing the incident as an attack on Christians.

In 2014, Trump suggested that Mitt Romney, a Mormon, lost the 2012 election due to his “alien faith.” McKay Coppins reported that Trump argued vigorously — despite evidence to the contrary — that many Christian voters were put off by Romney’s religion. Privately, Trump reportedly joked about sacred undergarments worn by devout members. Michael Cohen recalled, “Oh my God. How many times did he bring up Mitt Romney and the undergarments…”

Now you have it, Mormons are definitely Christians because it feeds the narrative that Christians are under attack in America. Fox News will run this angle throughout the news cycle, even though many of its commentators would have been among those denying that Mormons were Christians the day before this horrible attack.

At the time of this writing, the shooter has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old Marine Corps veteran from Burton, Michigan. Nothing is known about his motives, yet Donald Trump sees it as an attack on Christianity. That settles that.

What makes Trump’s intervention so hollow is the hypocrisy at its core. For years, he has courted evangelical leaders who openly dismissed Mormons as outside the Christian fold, yet in the wake of tragedy, he suddenly anoints them as Christians because it serves his narrative of persecution. He rails against violence while stoking division, condemns hatred while trafficking in it, and claims to defend faith while weaponizing it for political gain.

https://www.levelman.com/lds-church-atta...hristians/


Indeed, just a few days ago MAGA was claiming that Charlie Kirk's assassin isn't right wing even though he's a Christian because "Mormons are not Christians"

"Tyler Robinson Is Not A Christian Because Mormons Are Not Christians"

Today I’m watching the right wing flood the zone with shit in their desperation to prove that Tyler Robinson is not one of them despite his upbringing and environment — he’s an radical left wing antifa Democrat they say. Their latest evidence is a photo of a member of Utah’s Democratic Socialists of America wearing said shirt, that obviously isnt Tyler Robinson but has a vague resemblance to him.

However what caught my eye is the uptick of MAGA arguing that Tyler Robinson is not a Christian because Mormons are not Christians. So, say you're Mormon and you support Charlie Kirk because you are Christian and so is Charlie Kirk.  Problem is, MAGA is now saying that the shooter is not Christian because he is a Mormon, and Mormons are not Christian.  

Think long and hard about what this means, because this is exactly how America shatters into a million divided pieces where everyone starts kicking each other out of their group.

MAGA just declared that you’re politically expendable — you were one of them until they decide that you’re not.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/...Christians

Experience with creationists suggests they will will argue that Mormons are both christian and non christian simultaneously...

[Thumpalumpacus]

Experience with creationists suggests they will will argue that Mormons are both christian and non christian simultaneously...

Whatever suits their purposes at any given moment.

[Paraselene]

Trump's plan for this shutdown is just the next step in cementing total control over the government and the country.

[Paraselene]

More Americans now agree political violence may be necessary to right the country

NPR

[Rev. Rye]

More Americans now agree political violence may be necessary to right the country

NPR

Looking at the original poll for perspective:

• The poll says more Americans believe that political violence may be necessary to right the country (Dems are the biggest movers in This department), but still, a majority of the population overall (70%) still holds out hope for peace. The closest any groups come to a majority are Latinos, Gen Z, Millennials, Big City Dwellers, and Small Town dwellers, but their percentages only range from 39-42%.
  
• 77% overall consider political violence a major problem. 
  
• The nation is split pretty evenly over whether they’re more worried about violence against political leaders (The Republicans lead here) or violence against protesters (Dems lead here).
  
• The nation is split 60/40 over whether gun rights should be restricted or protected, with a majority skewing towards the former. (Take a wild guess which party skews in which direction.)
  

Other points from the same survey: 

• The majority of those polled, apart from Republicans, Trump supporters, White Evangelical Christians, and men who didn't graduate college (and even the last one is split 50/50), think America is moving in the wrong direction.
  
• Majority of all groups polled support mandatory vaccinations for public school students.
  
• Depressingly, a slim majority of those polled are in favour of Trump's National Guard in Cities plans. Majority Demographics: Registered Voters, Republicans, Midwesterners, Southerners, those who make less than $50k a year, non-college graduates, most age cohorts except for Gen Xers and even they're at 49%, White Evangelical Christians, Trumpists, City Dwellers, Small Town dwellers, Rural folk, and Suburban men. All races seem to support it. 
  
• Majority all around think that the government has gone too far in restricting the First Amendment. The majority think that, if any part of the federal government should be responsible, it should be the Supreme Court. 
  
• Every group except Republicans, WECs, rural folk, and Trump supporters, think Trump bungled the Epstein files. Even then, only Republicans and Trump supporters have majorities here.
  
• Every single demographic polled had a majority say "Release All of the Epstein files, with Victims' names removed)." The smallest majority, for some reason (I can only assume it was because they don't care that much about rich white people), was Black people, but even they were only at 63%.
  

[Fake Messiah]

So the US government just forced a tech company to delete apps it doesn’t like, which is totally normal stuff.

Apple removed ICEBlock reportedly after direct pressure from Department of Justice officials. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move,” the developer said.

The developer of ICEBlock, an app that lets people crowdsource sightings of ICE officials, has said he is determined to fight back after Apple removed the app from its App Store on Thursday. The removal came after pressure from Department of Justice officials acting at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to Fox which first reported the removal. Apple told 404 Media it has removed other similar apps too.

https://www.404media.co/iceblock-owner-a...ight-this/

[Thumpalumpacus]

The Senate will not be holding votes this weekend on reopening the government as was initially expected, as some Republican senators will be attending a high-dollar fundraising retreat for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) on Georgia’s Sea Island.

The timing of the fundraising committee’s fall meeting is awkward for senators; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has urged his GOP colleagues not to hold fundraisers during the shutdown because it could open them up to political attacks.

The Senate Republicans’ weekend at the luxurious Sea Island Resort is a big draw for Republican donors and lobbyists, giving them face time with important GOP policymakers.

An invitation to the NRSC’s fall meeting lists “group rates” for rooms at the resort ranging from $495 per night for a Garden Wing Room to $599 per night for the Beach Club One Bedroom Suite.

And the resort itself is a mecca for golf lovers, featuring three immaculately curated golf courses, a spa and fitness center and a picturesque white sand beach.

Republican senators are usually expected to attend the fundraising weekend, which is an annual NRSC event, but they aren’t required to do so.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5537...-shutdown/

That's red-meat campaign material.

[Thumpalumpacus]

... and since we're here, last week Hegseth told our generals, "but if the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign."

So today in my news feed:

The head of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Gen. Bryan Fenton, retired from his role Friday.

“As I hand over the reins, I do so with the utmost confidence in your ability to continue this vital work. The future of USSOCOM is bright because of our people, our commitment to winning and our relentless drive to transform,” said Fenton, who was the 13th commander of USSOCOM, in a letter that was published by the command Thursday.

“Thank you for your dedication, your service and your unwavering commitment to excellence. It has been my greatest privilege to serve among you and as your commander,” Fenton added.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/55372...s-ussocom/

... and:

A top Air Force commander, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, announced his retirement Tuesday for “personal and family reasons.”

“After much reflection and with a full heart, Barb and I have made a difficult decision to request retirement from the United States Air Force for personal and family reasons,” Bussiere, the head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a post on Facebook.

“While I’m stepping away from active duty, my commitment to service remains. I look forward to finding new ways to support our Air Force, our national defense and the incredible people who make it all possible,” wrote Bussiere, who was nominated by the Trump administration to be the Air Force’s vice chief of staff over the summer.

Bussiere has served as Air Force Global Strike Command commander since December 2022.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/55354...etirement/

I hope this doesn't lead to another self-inflicted brain-drain following those of science and academia. National security requires intelligence and experience, yet these yahoos are busy chasing those qualities out in their pursuit of their own brand of political correctness.