Showing posts with label love in vain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love in vain. Show all posts

Saturday, July 11, 2026

The daily pain of Trump’s vanity

The daily pain of Trump’s vanity

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/11/800067755/series/trump-vanity-reflecting-pool-white-house-golf-course-arch/ 

The daily pain of Trump’s vanity

by kos
Staff
68
Share:




56 Comments
President Donald Trump talks to the media after disembarking Air Force One at Paris Orly Airport, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Orly, France. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump, shown in June.AP (original)

The Conversation is a weekly dive into the most popular stories on Daily Kos and what it tells us about the national political environment.

Some weeks are about broad strokes—big policy, momentous decisions, world-shaping events. Then there are weeks like this one, where it’s death by a thousand paper cuts: all the little acts of President Donald Trump’s vanity, incompetence, and cruelty that wear us down.

For example, did Trump really need to stick his ugly mug on our passports?

It’s remarkable that Trump can look at a country facing deep partisan division, economic anxiety, international turmoil, and rising costs and conclude, What America needs is my face on a passport—and me bragging about a new White House helipad.

Add it to his obsession with building a triumphal arch in Washington, redoing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, renovating a D.C. golf course, and whatever fresh hell he’s unleashing on the White House this week (the North Portico is covered in tarps). It’s increasingly obvious that the one thing he doesn’t particularly care about is improving people’s lives.

And that’s not partisan speculation. In his own words:

“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.”

“I don’t want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up.”

“You know what I really love? I love the inflation.”

Heck, someone told Trump that Walmart was having a holiday sale, and it blew his mind. He’d apparently never encountered the concept of a grocery sale before, so he declared, with the usual lack of evidence, that it was all because of him.

It’s no wonder Republicans’ prospects this November look bleak. It doesn’t help that Trump is spending his campaign war chest attacking fellow Republicans.

So yes, there’s plenty of genuine authoritarianism to worry about. But there’s also this constant stream of petty vanity, incompetence, and absurdity.

None of these stories will define Trump’s presidency. But together, they explain what living through it feels like: death by a thousand paper cuts.

We'll get straight to the point: The financial hardships that Daily Kos is facing this year are tough.

We continue to be paywall-free. We continue to be supported by our readers, not billionaires or corporations. But we need to bring in more revenue. We are leaning on our community more than ever to help make ends meet.

$
OR
Donate with
4 Tags

Was this story worth reading?

Recommending and sharing stories helps us decide which stories are most important to show our readers.

68
Share:




Conversation

|

All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. The views expressed in comments are those of the individual authors and don't necessarily reflect the views of Daily Kos.

All Comments

  1. Comment by G2geek.

    'Thousand paper cuts,' bad metaphor, Markos.

    Better metaphor: Playing Hopscotch on a sidewalk splattered with dog doo.

    Obvious solution: get a broom and a hose and wash off the dog doo.

    Four months 'til the Midterms! Everyone get in the activism NOW, it's OUR job to get every Dem to their voting booth!

  2. Comment by Liberal Thinking.

    Yeah, Criminal Trump.

    I think these were the important posts listed:

    * The DOJ’s descent into total clowndom continues: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/6/800065814/courts/the-dojs-descent-into-total-clowndom-continues/

    * ICE is now coming for US citizens over strongly worded emails: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/7/800066423/courts/ice-is-now-coming-for-us-citizens-over-strongly-worded-emails/

    I urge people to hammer Congress to fix the deportation situation. Demand your members of Congress look at my model legislation: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/21/2344742/community/American-Deportation/

    Ask them to get back to you with specific comments. The more we turn up the heat on Congress on this issue, the more we are indirectly turning up the heat on ICE and CPB, who continue to murder people on our streets.

    And while you're at it, press them to demand the DOJ go back to the rule of law.

  4. Comment by ccaissie.

    "Trump threatens to ‘decimate’ Iran if it tries to kill him, as Treasury sanctions alleged Iranian financier."

    ----Headline from CNBC.

    Well, retaliation is retaliation, but it's a tit for tat that leaves everyone worse. Fools threaten it.

    Don't worry, we don't have to encourage any violence. tRump is so old and sick, he'll soon be out of the picture.

    • Reply by DangerZone007.

      "tRump is so old and sick, he'll soon be out of the picture." Clickbait in pretty much every MidasTouch headline!

  5. Comment by Perlinator.

    Be best!

    Trump is proud to give Putin all the best handjobs

  6. Comment by liberalchristian.

    The election can't come soon enough and Democrats taking control of the House will put some kind of guard rails on Trump's destruction. Trump will continue his self promotion but there will be some accountability on his corruption.

    • Reply by De veritas.

      This too.

      talkingpointsmemo.com/news/the-brief-trump-seizes-on-scotus-decision-to-mess-with-the-midterms

    • Reply by teerah.

      I'm pretty sure that Humpty Trumpty will ignore and defy any act of a Dem led Congress. And IF, by some extraordinary set of circumstances, he is successfully impeached and convicted, I doubt that he will leave without attempting an armed resistance. Even a rabbit will fight when cornered

  7. Comment by Slideman.

    Every day feels like a fucking decade with him in power!! How much stress is he putting us all through?

    I remember when Biden was inaugurated - I could feel my cortisol levels drop and I had the first good nights sleep in 4 years! This time around I am not letting him in my head! But I have a huge amount of anger at the ID 10 Ts who voted him in again!

    • Reply by u4riah.

      I occasionally have to turn off all incoming information to save my sanity and I'm getting very close to that once again. A few days break from the criminality is what I need.

    • Reply by ccaissie.

      Yeah, don't worry, the world will continue on its course if you take a few days off. Come back refreshed, new courage and ideas. All good.

      Imagine if we ALL took 3-4 days off? The banking world would lose its wheels!!!!

    • Reply by teerah.

      It may be some comfort to you to know that there are few things more debilitating to our health than stress. And as much stress as he puts on us, much more is on him since he KNOWS we want his head on a pole. He's obese, lazy, out of shape, sleep disorder, paranoid, ankles drooping over his shoes, barely able to waddle up and down stairs... the fat psycho is spent.

  8. Comment by Posco Bonitas.

    In ancient times, new kings or pharaohs made some real efforts to erase from history people or incidents they did not like. Here's hoping that the next Potus will do the same for 47. There will be many things to do, some more important than others, but krasnov's name and image should be removed from everything possible. An executive order should render any passport or currency bearing his image officially cancelled.

    • Reply by ccaissie.

      R voters have to wear a lead chain with a picture of his fat ass.....By Executive Order

    • Reply by Liberal Thinking.

      Total erasure. I want an erasure so thorough that even the CIA won't be able to get a bit of it back.

  9. Comment by World traveller.

    If he continues and no one stops him, he will burn this country to the ground. The question is who, if anyone is left will rebuild it?

    • Reply by CanadianKitty.

      This is horrible, truly horrible. I cry for our animal friends and for our children and grandchildren that will be robbed of the diversity and splendor that we have enjoyed. We have to watch while the few destroy the heritage of billions.

    • Reply by ccaissie.

      People are so numb, we won't enact change until it's crucial.......

      Krasnov has awakened our morality and urgency to think and do the right things.

      Thank you, Dontard, for waking us up...a little late, but thanks anyway....

    • Reply by DangerZone007.

      "Krasnov has awakened our morality and urgency to think and do the right things"

      In any SANE country this would have been the case after term #1....

  11. Comment by Tippy and Dad.

    When the Strategic Petroleum Reserve runs out it will be interesting to see who they blame, what they do and who they attack. No amount of flailing can fix that problem - Fox Noose can't fluff it!

    • Reply by hissing kitty.

      He'll invade someone for the oil. Canada?

    • Reply by Posco Bonitas.

      Do we know what's happening with the oil in Venezuela? My guess is there is another krasnov crime happening there.

    • Reply by hissing kitty.

      Iirc, Marco of the ill-fitting Florsheims, is viceroy of Venezuela, is he not? And of course, the don must wet his beak.

    • Reply by ccaissie.

      total crock of shit. We are the #1 producer of fossil fuels. We have drained the oil coffers to satisfy business contracts for selling oil, at a huge profit mind ya, and have had trouble importing the kind of oil we like to refine for our own use...Venezuelan heavy crude and Canadian heavy crude. Blame big finance and the Oil Barons for the depletion...and tRump oil cronies for putting profit over national security.

      Remember when Biden touched the reserves? HOLY SHIT did they scream.....

  12. Comment by Eric Nelson.

    Cowards exist and depend on Lying

    "petty vanity, incompetence, and absurdity." = Cowardice like we've never before witnessed

    Lying out of fear of being ridiculed = Cowardice

    Lying to brag about nonexistent accomplishments = Cowardice

    Lying to hopefully sell & foment racism & white grievance (eg. Birtherism attacking President Obama out of utter & complete envy) = Cowardice

    Lying covering-up massive thieving = Cowardice

    Lying to convince creditors and all of NY that you're "really Rich" and a "savvy / The BEST business man" (6 bankruptcies including a Casino) = Cowardice

    Lying to cover-up the fact that you're a PoS loser desperate to sell oneself as a "tough guy" (see; ripping up the JCPOA & subsequently staring an illegal war attacking Iran) = Cowardice

    .

    Donald bitched & sniveled about his voter suppression corrupt "save" Bill and pretended he's being tough by making a big deal out of "not signing" the bi-partisan Housing Bill - when he was in fact, too scared to veto it Knowing he'd be overruled = COWARDICE

    .

    Elizabeth Warren - https://x.com/ewarren/status/2075599824552894653?s=20

    @ewarren

    ·

    Jul 10

    The bipartisan housing affordability bill will become the law at midnight tonight—even if the President refuses to sign the bill.

    Trump’s protest shows he does not care about lowering housing costs.

    Quote

    FactPost

    @factpostnews

    ·

    Jul 10

    Trump announces he will not sign the bipartisan housing affordability bill

    Cowardice. Blithering Idiot PoS loser cowardice

  13. Comment by randallt.

    Add to those, Easter eggs everywhere we don’t even know about yet.

    • Reply by sfmikey1.

      I think that's why Easter is Trump's favourite holiday. He gets to hide his own Easter eggs.

  14. Comment by Harvey Manfrenjensenden.

    Trump is slipping. Last night, he allowed a bill that is generally considered to be a good one to become law without his signature.

    The old Trump would not only have signed it, he'd have called it the "Trump Housing Bill," claimed to have come up with the idea, claimed to have written every word of it, and declared it to be the best piece of legislation in the history of legislation.

    • Reply by Things Come Undone.

      You are right Trump's instincts on politics, what would be popular with voters are normally spot on this is unlike him the pressure might be getting to him and or the Dementia the guy is looking rough.

    • Reply by hissing kitty.

      Perhaps. But I think the bigger picture is coming up soon. Fiscal year end nid means a shutdown is usually guaranteed. Just in time for him to save the country again?

      Not s/. I wish.

      And it may be 2-1/2 months away, but there's summer recess and morbidity Mitch to deal with, too.

    • Reply by rudewarrior.

      Huh, so he let it go through. I thought he was going to execute the 2nd paragraph just before the deadline, so he could make it all about him. I like your take.

    • Reply by blueoregon.

      Because the item he was obsessed about, the SAVE act, didn't get thru.

  15. Comment by Things Come Undone.

    "Trump wants $88B for Iran war, disaster aid in emergency request".

    https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/24/trump-wants-88b-for-iran-war-disaster-aid-in-emergency-request-00974712

    You don't ask for that kind of money unless you expect a long and or expensive war. Voters looking at gas prices I'm sure are will be thrilled if Congress gives him the money.

    But if Trump does not get the money then Trump is publicly humiliated and it becomes official Trump just lost a war in the shortest amount of time we America has ever lost a war in history.

    Trump's Presidency will be over then he won't be out of office just a lame duck with no influence it would be a good start. :)

    Voters care about gas prices it effects them directly

    • Reply by MDGluon16.

      So really what he wants is 10x that number $880 billion so he gets his 20% off the top grift crime kickback.

      That number is going to go up and up and up while producing nothing except death, cost and an ever lowering reputation of the USA. And yes it can always go lower.

    • Reply by Things Come Undone.

      The war started in February its 5 months later so every 5 months Trump will ask for more money Iran has more population than Afghanistan or Iraq and has been quite impressive in their ability to fight back.

      We need to start saying Forever War more

    • Reply by Dillonfence.

      This is one area where winning back one or both houses of Congress is critical. A Dem House would tell him to take a flying leap and there isn’t a damn thing he can do about it.

      Trump isn’t worried about being impeached, he’s worried about the congressional funding of all his grifts.

    • Reply by Dan K.

      Oh, he worries about being impeached too. He'll never get convicted, but he HATES the idea that history will record him as being impeached twice, three times, four times. He's already trying to get the first two impeachments expunged from history.

    • Reply by ccaissie.

      War with Iran was always seen as a really stupid idea. See why? It took a self interested criminal who was afraid Netanyahu/Mossad/Epstein was going to expose him and end his show. Netnayahu won, everyone else lost. But the final tally will tell.

    • Reply by Things Come Undone.

      If Israel gives us proof Trump was blackmailed by Bibi and was involved with Epstein then gives Palestine a state I think Israel will deserve some aid money they will need it after this war.

    • Reply by Things Come Undone.

      The Dems cut off Trump's war funding we got this election :)

    • Reply by Things Come Undone.

      Well not with the current Congress unless the Epstein files show he is guilty. I think the fear is Vance would just pardon Trump.

      But after Trump leaves office just the tax stuff alone I think could put him in prison for life but the way he looks now he might not last the year.

    • Reply by Dan K.

      Pardons are not applicable to impeachment.

  16. Comment by annieli.

    It's not the End Times, but we can see it from here.

    • Reply by thanxamillion.

      It’s that “light at the end of the tunnel”. 🚂

    • Reply by exlrrp.

      It's not the End Times but it'll do til they come along

    • Reply by Things Come Undone.

      "The Second Coming

      Play Audio

      BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

      Turning and turning in the widening gyre

      The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

      Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

      Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

      The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

      The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

      The best lack all conviction, while the worst

      Are full of passionate intensity.

      Surely some revelation is at hand;

      Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

      The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

      When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

      Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert

      A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

      A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

      Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

      Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.

      The darkness drops again; but now I know

      That twenty centuries of stony sleep

      Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

      And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

      Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

      https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43290/the-second-coming

      A rough beast who was a draft dodger who would have thought still he abuses Women roughly maybe girls, his friends do however we know that for sure.

  17. Comment by Milwrob.

    Orange Caligula doesn't care...well he isn't alone. Name the members of the GQP that are doing something to help those of us not in the Trump-Epstein class improve our lives. They are doing nothing! It will cost us twice for most of his vanity projects, the implementation and remediation of all he is doing. Tank bottom for the strategic reserve is a real possibility...but we need a new helipad! F-him, F-the GQP & F-everyone who voted for him!

  18. Comment by ProfessorAlbee.

    Considering the fact that I was born in the United States, the only thing that I will ever be able to do is to bow my head in profound shame.

    • Reply by citixen.

      Same here. Son of naturalized citizens, I always had other nations to compare the US to, for the perspective. And, while knowing the US was a work-in-progress, always believed in its historical potential to lead humanity to better places by example. Yes, even its struggles with itself. But the GOP, after 2010, was the first time I began to realize that desire to ‘believe’ could be ephemeral. What happened in 2010? The GOP leadership was pressured?, convinced? (to this day it’s unclear) to dispense with voter Persuasion to win elections, and begin to engage in a program of voter Cheating to do so, with the mega-donor authored election strategy (the first of it’s kind at this scale) called REDMAP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REDMAP), spawning the political Extremism we see today, in the form of the ‘Freedom Caucus’, an illegitimate cohort doing profound damage to the American Experiment.

      That’s when this student of history and politics truly understood: What the US claimed it stood for was not on a path of Certainty, even if that path was a crooked one. Our history is not remembered or properly understood by majorities of voters, and that willful Ignorance could become America’s undoing of centuries of aspiration toward a politics of transcendent proportions for humankind. But for some nameless, faceless, oligarchs that refuse to let their Greed get out of the way.

    • Reply by ProfessorAlbee.


 

 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)