Trump’s better-known adversaries were expecting payback, but more intense vengeance is being felt by civil servants

Summary

Donald Trump’s return to the presidency has triggered sweeping purges and retributions against officials he deems disloyal.

He revoked Secret Service protection for former national security figures, fired Department of Justice lawyers investigating him, dismissed 30 inspectors general without notice, and reassigned career officials.

Federal employees face pressure to demonstrate loyalty or face removal.

An executive order mandates reviewing agencies involved in Trump-related investigations, fueling concerns of systemic retaliation.

Insiders describe the atmosphere as “shell-shocked” and worse than expected.

  • @ilinamorato
    53•9 hours ago

    Trump 2016: “When I’m elected, I’m going to be 100% bad.”

    MAGAs 2016: “Nuh-uh, what he means is that he’s going to be -100% bad!”

    Me 2016: “Actually I think he means he’s going to be 100% bad.”

    MAGAs 2016: “LOL TRIGGERED MUCH STUPID LIB OWNED TDS TDS TDS TDS”

    Trump 2016-2020: <is 95% bad (the other 5% is ineptitude)>

    MAGAs 2016-2020: “We didn’t think it would be that bad!”

    Me 2016-2020: “I mean, he told you he would.”

    MAGAs 2016-2020: “Well yeah but you said he was going to be 100% bad so you were wrong too! LOL TRIGGERED MUCH STUPID LIB OWNED TDS TDS TDS TDS”

    Trump 2024: “When I’m re-elected, I’m going to be 125% bad.”

    MAGAs 2024: “Nuh-uh, what he means is that he’s going to be -200% bad, just like he was in his first term!”

    Me 2024: “…your blindness to history you actually lived through aside, actually I think he means he’s going to be 150% bad.”

    MAGAs 2024: “That doesn’t even make mathematical sense! LOL TRIGGERED MUCH STUPID LIB OWNED TDS TDS TDS TDS”

    Trump 2025: <is 125% bad (the ineptitude has also somehow grown)>

    MAGAs 2025: “We didn’t think it would be that bad!”

    Are we doomed to this stupid, stupid dance until Trump finally succumbs to his arteries?

    • @UnderpantsWeevilEnglish
      18•8 hours ago

      He’ll be replaced by JD Vance who will pick up the stupid, stupid dance right where Trump left off.

      And Vance is 40. You’re going to be eating applesauce out of a straw before you see natural causes catch up with him.

      • @ZoopZeZoop
        9•6 hours ago

        If I promise to start the apple sauce-straw thing now, can we skip all the intervening stuff?