In a series of tweets Thursday night and Friday morning, President Donald Trump touted his administration’s response to the devastation in Puerto Rico after two hurricanes tore through the island and bashed the media coverage of the federal government’s recovery effort so far.
Trump claimed that the media was not covering his administration’s efforts “fairly” and boasted that Puerto Rico’s governor told him he was pleased with the federal government’s response so far.
FEMA & First Responders are doing a GREAT job in Puerto Rico. Massive food & water delivered. Docks & electric grid dead. Locals trying….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 28, 2017
…really hard to help but many have lost their homes. Military is now on site and I will be there Tuesday. Wish press would treat fairly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 28, 2017
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello just stated: "The Administration and the President, every time we've spoken, they've delivered……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2017
…The fact is that Puerto Rico has been destroyed by two hurricanes. Big decisions will have to be made as to the cost of its rebuilding!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2017
The administration has come under fire for the way federal officials have described the recovery efforts given that nearly the entire island is without power and residents there have struggled to get food.
Trump has consistently boasted about the administration’s efforts and acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke described the situation as a “good news story.” The San Juan mayor also blasted Trump for tweets mentioning Puerto Rico’s debt instead of focusing solely on recovery efforts.
Some lawmakers in Congress criticized Trump for initially declining to waive a law that restricts shipping between American ports to American ships, though the administration waived the law Thursday.
It’ll be funny if (when?) it turns out the governor hasn’t spoken to anyone in the administration and was being facetious.
He has actually spoken to the press and was being… generous to the admin. not gushing, but generous - which I don’t blame him as he/they NEED fed gov. help (not biting the hand, and all that.)
Easy to criticize a response that seemed primarily focused on the NFL. Here’s an idea: push for the complete removal of the Jones Act. And put a few people on figuring out how to rebuild the power infrastructure to the benefit of the residents, not just your billionaire donors.
Dear Dotard J Trump,
Don’t blame the media for your decision to ignore the Cat 5 landfall of Maria on Puerto Rico, and instead spend all weekend escalating your tweeting about the NFL. No mention of Puerto Rico, by you, for DAYS afterwards. You couldn’t even be bothered to consider lifting the Jones act until after the press raised the critical issue with you - and then you blamed the lack of action, that was taken for Harvey and Irma, on shipping companies - not your inattention and indifference.
We know you don’t own mistakes, because in your warped little mind you are incapable of mistakes (or you just erase them like your Luther Strange Tweets), but to much of the country, and the world - You Own This Lethally slow response.
As a human being, let alone as a president, your actions and inaction are indecent.
You can help Puertorriquenos by contributing to the (PR) First Lady’s relief fund or via Hispanic Federation.org.
The First Lady’s fund works thru Paypal or an electronic transfer to the bank. Hispanic Federation takes credit cards online.
Might want to bookmark the Hispanic Federation site. They have a list of causes and issues you can direct your donation to: Puerto Rico relief, Mexican earthquake relief, DACA legal defense, Immigrants…