People Are Not Happy With Donald Trump’s Tweets About The Disaster In Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has been suffering for a week since Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico. In the wake of the devastation, President Trump has remained silent about the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the Caribbean island. Instead he’s focused on attacking athletes as they choose to kneel during the national anthem in response to police brutality, racial injustice and the president referring to those who kneel as “sons of bitches” during a rally. Trump has finally responded to the crisis in Puerto Rico, but his tweets have left many people angry.
President Trump began his mini address on Puerto Rico via Twitter mentioning their infrastructure problems and debt.
Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory meaning that they pay all kinds of taxes, excluding personal income tax. In total, the tax revenue generated by Puerto Rico is more than $3 billion, according to The New York Times.
And continued to talk about their “old electrical grid” as a result of the infrastructure.
…It's old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017
*its
He wrapped by talking about Puerto Rico’s debt to Wall Street.
…owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities – and doing well. #FEMA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017
Quick question: Why is owing Wall Street money a necessary thing to mention when considering emergency relief funds?
People immediately went after the president for his tone deaf remarks.
Wow, this is exactly the kind of Presidential message millions of Americans facing an extreme crisis needed. You are a joke.
— Calvin (@calvinstowell) September 26, 2017
Nothing like being told your home is subpar and should have been better prepared after a natural disaster.
People are seriously pissed that the president would talk this way about American citizens suffering major losses.
It is disgusting that you just took a shot at Puerto Rico for their debt in the midst of a horrible tragedy!
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TaIbertSwan) September 26, 2017
Rather than talk about the infrastructure, it might be good to try and get some federal relief funds in order for the struggling island.
The Wall Street comment really angered people.
So now – we PUNISH Puerto Rico for their debt to Wall Street (which you ragged Hillary on during the election) INSTEAD OF HELPING THEM?!
— Royce Christyn (@ChristynRoyce) September 26, 2017
One of the ways the U.S. could significantly help Puerto Rico is to remove the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, a.k.a. the Jones Act. The law, which has been around since World War I, effectively limits the ships that are allowed to go to Puerto Rico with goods through a series of tariffs, fees and taxes unless they are American owned, American built, and crewed by Americans. These extra fees get passed down to the consumers in Puerto Rico unless the ships dock in the U.S., unload the goods, reload them onto American ships and then delivered to Puerto Rico, which also accrues fees paid by Puerto Rican consumers.
A couple people are impressed that Trump finally learned that Puerto Rico is part of the U.S.
Glad to see someone finally told you that Puerto Rico was part of the United States. Give that person a raise.
— Brad Batt (@bradbatt) September 26, 2017
If they are part of the U.S. then that means they are American citizens and the federal government should be focused on helping American citizens.
Though others think Hillary Clinton slamming his lack of a response as the only reason he said something.
Hillary Clinton slams Trump for not mentioning Puerto Rico, and 20 minutes later he finally tweets about it. So predictable. Sad!
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) September 26, 2017
“At the same time that he was doing all of that, we had American citizens in Puerto Rico who are in a desperate condition,” Hillary Clinton said in a radio interview before Trump’s tweets, according to The Washington Post. “He has not said one word about them, about other American citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands. I’m not sure he knows that Puerto Ricans are American citizens.”
People have already started calling Hurricane Maria Trump’s Katrina.
When will you visit PR? 3 million Americans are in need of food, supplies and electricity and you blame them. #TrumpsKatrina
— Elaine Mills (@ElaineCMills) September 26, 2017
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. In the aftermath, people criticized then-president George W. Bush’s administration for not responding appropriately to the disaster, prolonging relief and aid for thousands of residents, according to The Times-Picayune. Trump’s current focus on NFL protests instead of the disaster in Puerto Rico echoes that situation.
Perhaps now that he has tweeted about it, Trump will finally focus on recovery efforts in Puerto Rico rather than demonizing athletes protesting racial injustice.
So #HelpPuertoRico already. This will be your Katrina.
— Sylvia Harrington (@sylviatx) September 26, 2017
Trump is scheduled to make a trip to Puerto Rico next Tuesday, Oct. 3, to survey the damage. At the time of his visit, it will be 13 days since Hurricane Maria first made landfall in the country.
