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Trump melts down after New York Times exposes his corruption

Trump melts down after New York Times exposes his corruption 

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/12/800037573/whitehouse/trump-melts-down-after-new-york-times-exposes-his-corruption/ 

Trump melts down after New York Times exposes his corruption 

President Donald Trump speaks before signing a proclamation in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Washington.
Attribution: APTrump speaks before signing a proclamation in the Oval Office at the White House, on, May 5, in Washington.

President Donald Trump had another online meltdown at six in the morning on Tuesday. This time it was posting a lengthy diatribe complaining about a New York Times report that exposed millions in unaccountable spending by his administration on controversial renovations to the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial.

Trump started his rant by lying once again that he had won the 2024 election in a “landslide,” when in fact he won the popular vote by a miniscule 1.5% while Biden won it by over 5% in 2020.

Attribution: By permission of Mike Luckovich and Creators SyndicateCartoon by Mike Luckovich

He then complained that the Times “are now trying to justify Obama and Biden’s expensively botched attempt at fixing the long broken, unsightly, and unsanitary Reflecting Pool that NOW sits majestically between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.”

Trump claimed that his ongoing renovations to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool are occurring at a “tiny” fraction of the cost of previous projects and that “we could construct a far superior Reflecting Pool for 5 or 6 Million Dollars.”

The trigger for Trump’s whining is a New York Times report published on Monday revealing several details about the Trump-initiated project.

The Times noted that Trump initially claimed the project would cost $1.8 million but that a review of federal records from the Interior Department shows that taxpayers are now on the hook for $13.1 million for the project—627% higher than what Trump said.


Related | Another DC landmark falls victim to Trump’s tacky trickery


The contract was awarded without a bidding process to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, who Trump said he picked because they worked on swimming pools for his Virginia golf course. According to the filing, the company is set to make a 20% profit margin financed by taxpayers. Traditionally, an open bidding process would ensure that the government gets a fairer price for projects like this—but that was circumvented by Trump.

Trump also fumed in his post about one of the writers on the piece, David Fahrenthold. Trump has a longstanding dislike for the writer, who previously worked at the Washington Post. In 2016, it was Fahrenthold who uncovered the fact that Trump commissioned a painting of himself with $20,000 that was supposed to be going toward “charity” efforts.

In addition to the Times expose of his administration’s activities, Trump is also now being sued over the project.

On Monday, the Cultural Landscape Foundation sued the administration, alleging that the project is in violation of federal law. The group said in a release that the change to the color of the pool, from grey to blue, is “a key character-defining feature of the site, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, should be subject to reviews pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and other laws.”

Charles A. Birnbaum, president and CEO of the foundation, was blunt in his assessment of Trump’s proposed color change: “A blue-tinted basin is more appropriate to a resort or theme park.”

Trump has a long and detailed history of presiding over scams, bribery, and other deceptive practices and actions. It’s one thing when these shady behaviors involve his companies or other private enterprises, but now his actions are affecting a treasured American landmark in the capital city of the United States.

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  1. Comment by 1BQ.

    I don't know how it is now but when I was working on software for contractors including government ones, they often worked on "cost-plus" contracts, in which costs were marked up by a pre-negotiated profit margin of about 8%. The contractor would recoup all expenses, including "soft costs" like "overhead" and "general and administrative costs," and then tack on the EIGHT percent for profit. A no-bid contract that includes a 20% profit margin is obscene, or would have been under any other "president."

    In addition, there was often a not-to-exceed (NTE) amount, which capped the amount that the contractor could bill so the taxpayers wouldn't be on the hook for unlimited "cost overruns."

    Huh, I just remembered all the voters who elected trump to "run the government like a business" 🤮 Such an astute businessman should know all the ways that contractors can bilk a client and guard against them, right? Right???

  2. Comment by Sarkazein.

    You clearly don't know how to do trumprithmetic. 1.8 million to 13.1 million is only around an 87% increase.

  3. Comment by LeMoJoust.

    The Trump-Epstein design for the reflecting pool.

    Pool
  4. Comment by healejd.

    The grift is a fkng nasty distraction. The willingness to abuse our nations most precious symbols with disrespect, garish and cheapening appearance changes that we did not ask for to line his and his favorite vendors pockets with OUR fucking money is a slap in the face to our nation, the people and our history. His actions must be erased no matter the cost. That would be money well spent and I will not complain that my tax dollars are used. It is necessary for us to heal from this attack on us. The damage is unilateral and the public facing symbols of his abuse must be wiped clean for the nations conscious to recover. His children's abuses must also be answered for. HIs R enablers and the P2025 actors along with the SCOTUS are legitimate targets for actionable consequences. We cannot leave any stone unturned to find and remove his scent, effluviem and every single poisonous thing he opened his bowels to dump on. In other words, everything he touches. His impact on our country and the people he so callously abused in every way he could, must be wiped clean to sanitize our country and heal the disease that is him and his right wing billionaires. They can live free when all is said and done. They cannot do any further harm if we are to have justice.

    Sickening.

  5. Comment by Things Come Undone.

    Trump is unpopular bad news about Trump sells more, gets more views plus the rich people who own the media are unhappy oil prices are so high.

    Either Trump declares victory and leaves Iran or more stories like this will follow.

    Its nice to see the billionaires who own the media do good work for a change.

  6. Comment by CalPoolidge.

    He picked that group to redo the pool because he can grift off of it that way.

    More of our money in his account.

  7. Comment by kamachanda.

    Trump will probably claim a 92 million value so he can claim a 600% discount.

  8. Comment by I love dogs.

    laws schmaws, he doesn't think any law applies to him and he proves that every day.

  9. Comment by OrdinaryIowan.

    This taxpayer-financed debasement of a public monument needs to come to a halt, right now, without another nickel of public money pissed away on it. If the contractor gets stiffed, well, too bad so sad - that’s the price of doing business with Trump, and this company should have known this was a scam at the get-go. If they feel like somebody owes them money, let them get it from Trump - personally.

 

Monday, May 11, 2026

the 40 days of trumpmas - a surreal serial poem

the 40 days of trumpmas - a surreal serial poem


Remember, remember! The fifth of trumpvember

 the 40 days of trumpmas - a serial poem

 

for 40 days the trumpeter reigns,

his lies and hate on whom he disdains,

but election day will come so soon,

we'll no longer hear the orange baboon;

 

in 39 days full of world wide problems.

we could elect him to get rid of the muslims,

but as he'll rant on trivialities of his presidential life,

what could be worse? - you could be his wife;

 

in 38 days just what will you do?

the donald has said he likes lgbtq,

but as he bullies his women and all his men too,

if youre questioning, what stops him from bullying you?

 

in just 37 days, some people are saying,

(or pleading or hoping or some even praying)

the duke of prunes will dye his forelock purple my friend,

and thus make america grape again,

 

our days are down to just 36,

before our problems the don will fix,

he will on day one do what hes said - true,

he'll wall out our enemies - and fat women too!

 

on the 35th day of trumpmas

yes just seven weeks remain!

will the polls and tallies deliver us

donald with his golden mane?

 

34 days and the vice-pipers have piped,

though pence didnt say why donalds suit shouldnt be striped,

he wouldnt defend his master's string pulling,

to make america great? - who do they think they're fooling?

 

just 33 days till the macho tornado,

unless its blown away by hurricane machado,

with women and voters he has so much to loose.

keep your mouth shut donald (unless youre changing your shoes)

 

32 days and we’ve been hit by the big blowhard,

donald spoke here in fla (oh, we had a hurricane too)

this administration gives us playing the race card, a weak economy, and unemployment

but if you want a job you could be donald’s campaign manager (unless youre a jew)

 

31 days, just a month, remains;

will the donald say hes sorry, and his baser impulses restrain?

or keep blaming bill clinton for our moral demise;

when trump speaks to us, our NO votes must be our replies!

 

election comes this time (in 30 days) each 4 years,

time for praise and tears and fears;

as polls will open in many states,

vote early, please dont vote late!

 

down to 29, just a leap february,

and theres still the donald quite

contrary;

donald donald, how does your garden grow?

quoth the master debater, "with pretty maids groped in a row"

 

just 28 days - later or soon,

and the zombies will rise, led by the big goon;

unless everyone gets a reality inoculation,

i might have to move to canada for a well deserved vacation; 

 

now just 27, less than 4 weeks,

no time for you to say 'yikes!' or 'eeeks!'

obama wants to go to mars and colonize it for man,

lets send trump tomorrow! and colonize it for orangutan!

 

26 days are all that remain,

will our democracy and economy go down the drain?

if we all keep listening to the blustering oaf,

will he give jobs and prosperity? - or just half a loaf

 

25 days - will more women speak?,

of the antics of donald who the presidency seeks,

dating 14 year old girls or groping their mothers,

how did the gop pick him over the others?,

 

24 days - were down to two dozen,

the next woman who speaks just might be your cousin,

or mother or sister, aunt, niece, even daughter,

describing the circumstance in which donald caught her,

 

23 days left and trump doesnt yet have as many accusers,

as cosby, but he assures us that they are all really losers,

sent by bankers or hillary with secret agendas,

to disrupt our election of him - our defender!,

 

22 days and we know charity begins at home,

but donalds attention is so prone to roam,

his gift that disappeared to 911 survivors from his foundation?,

oops! maybe donald spent it on a vacation,

 

21 days and trump says the election may be rig-ly,

if hes not the winner and his total's not big-ly,

tremendously higher than hillary gets,

he warns his supporters may all lose their wits,

 

20 days left and while george zimmerman still walks free,

the man who shot at HIM got 20 years - while trayvon got eternity,

trump wants us to support our cops and maintain law and order,

he'll put all the inner city dwellers in jail, and send the immigrant criminals far across the border,

 

19 days left till we all go to pretend,

to elect someone to lead us, as if on it our lives depend,

but wise man, donald trump, already really knows,

who we really voted for - a wolf in president's clothes?,

 

18 days and we bad hombres demand a rebate,

on the ill feelings left since the comments of one candidate,

the debaters have met in their final grudge match,

but only donald can say from whose hands victory will be snatched,

 

17 days and our government is corrupt with quid pro quo,

did you take latin at wharton? is that how you know?,

donald wants us to fire at them all - the bureaucrats lined up in rows,

and believe me, corruption is a subject. that donald really knows,

 

16 days - lets set term limits on all our office holders,

and put all our women in binders - or maybe in folders,

donalds endless complaints are becoming a sour whine,

have a little cheese with that, from wisconsin, where 

hillary's doing fine,

 

15 days and on stocking covered thighs did linger,

two miniature hands with two thumbs and eight tiny fingers,

they belonged to the donald who believed that he owned,

any thing that he wanted - or anyone he got alone,

 

14 days yes only two weeks,

till the duke of orange assends to the throne he seeks?,

to rule all americans, the strong and the weak?,

and dominate the globe with power that's peak?,

 

the 13th day to go - does that seem unlucky?,

not for donald whos lately been appearing quite plucky,

claiming media, polls, and parties are against him,

and rallying his multitudes with wit waxing dim,

 

on the 12th day of trumpmas donald awoke with a jerk,

promptly fired his latest campaign manager (who considered that a perk),

if youre "AAAfroAAAmurikan" and unemployed i can put you to work,

barked donald the businessman from behind his sly smirk,

 

it's the 11th and engineer casey trump is in the caboose,

i hear some of you saying oh no! what's the use,

our campaign will probably just go off the tracks,

but donald says its ok - cause he's got "the blacks",

 

just ten days left yes only one-zero,

til donald is hoping that he'll be your hero,

as new hillary emails come under investigation,

donald hopes to rename camp david to camp donald for

his vacations,

 

like a cat has nine lives we're left with only 9 days,

till we're subject to donald? and his old wicked ways,

on foreign affairs he says he'll save us from isis,

but his domestic affairs are misogyny and crisis,

 

our days are numbered - yes only eight,

till once again we make america great,

by getting rid of candidates who have nothing to add,

goodbye donald you wont make america sad,

 

just one week to go - its day minus seven,

till america's lifted above - to trumpty dump heaven?,

where for rich folks like donald opportunity abounds,

and we keep the working poor with a wall that surrounds,

 

how the time it does fly its already day 6,

till americans problems the donald will fix,

his solutions begin on trumpday number one,

dont you like them? they'll come at the barrel of a gun,

 

Five days to go, baby, One in five,

No one here gets out alive, now,

david dukes not opposed to all jews,

he backs trump - who are you going to choose?,

 

only 4 days left till the armaged-don,

he'll seize power by the horns once he has won,

and donnie will be what he longs for - a winner,

using the FBI to wreak havoc on hillary the sinner,

 

only three left, just a triad of days,

and the donald his supporters continues to amaze,

with hoopla and folderoll made up in his head,

his winning temperament will leave us all dead,

 

just a pair of days - 2 - till trump paradise,

since these words you're reading please heed my advice,

the creatures that surround us are beginning to bite,

'blacks for trump' fear the Illuminati so lets turn out their light,

 

just a single day left till our thanksgiving,

deliver us from donald and preserve the living,

forget sanity and disgard your misgivings,

but pray hard to your gods that they'll be forgiving,

since we've got the nukes why can't we use'em?,

on the road to 2016 why couldn't we lose HIM?,

 

and trumpmas now has finally come,

the tallies will count up to a winning sum,

unless the earth is struck soon by a cataclysmic comet,

to elect a candidate who just makes you want to vomit?,

we wish you a merry trumpmas at this time each 4 years,

if you have'nt voted you've lost the chance to mitigate your fears,

cause donald duck is ready to lead, forget your crocodile tears,

so you'd better get the vaseline and lubricate your rears!


stay informed 4

stay informed 4

 https://www.youtube.com/@SenatorChrisMurphy/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@RepRoKhanna/videos 

https://www.politico.com/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@ForbesBreakingNews/videos 

https://www.nbcnews.com/ 

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