Trump Blames Puerto Rico Devastation Caused by Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico
Laments ‘Massive Debt’ but Not a Word About the Human Suffering or All the Lives Lost
President Donald Trump Monday night finally remembered that Puerto Rico had taken a direct hit from Hurricane Maria, after suffering the effects of Hurricane Irma just days earlier. The island U.S. territory is not expected to regain electricity for four to six months, and is currently in the middle of a heat wave.Â
“The devastation is vast,” Governor Ricardo Rosselló told reporters Monday, calling it an “unprecedented disaster.” The Governor is calling for more assistance from the federal government, and fears people will forget about the island of 3.4 million people – more than 21 other states – in the coming days.Â
One of those people who appeared to have forgotten was President Trump, who spent much of his weekend, starting Friday, attacking NFL players who silently protest racial inequality and the killing of Black people by police.
Number of Trump tweets about pro sports since Friday: 20
Number of Trump tweets about Puerto Rico since Friday: 0 pic.twitter.com/8QyLaf8lI5
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 25, 2017
That led Grammy Award winning singer Marc Antony to post this tweet:
Mr. President shut the fuck up about NFL. Do something about our people in need in #PuertoRico. We are American citizens too.
— Marc Anthony (@MarcAnthony) September 25, 2017
Trump had not tweeted one word about Puerto Rico since last Wednesday – until now.
The President commended Florida and Texas for doing a great job recovering from their hurricanes, while apparently blaming Puerto Rico for the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.
Puerto Rico, “which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble,” Trump tweeted.
“It’s [sic] old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with,” he said.
“Food, water and medical are top priorities – and doing well,” he concluded, oddly, adding the hashtag #FEMA at the end.
Not one word about the lives lost – estimates currently go as high as 30 but likely could be even higher, and that doesn’t take into account that there’s no power.
This is how Trump thinks. He laments the loss of infrastructure, the billions of dollars “owed to Wall Street and the banks,” noting that that “must be dealt with.”
The lives lost, the homes, towns, cities, personal belongings, and so much more – in short, the human costs – those merit not a word. Just the buildings and electric grid and money, those are what he is sad about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY2PNLnQlZc
Not one word either mentioning that the Senate has not acted to appropriate the billions of dollars Puerto Rico desperately needs to help them rebuild. Not a word about what he will do to help ensure the people who live in Puerto Rico are helped, are feeing supported – are supported.
In fact, Congress is not expected to even take up a relief bill until the first or second week in October.
Senior Hill aide says WH expected to send disaster aid request to Congress in 1st/2nd week of Oct for Puerto Rico. That gets ball rolling.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) September 25, 2017
Which elicited this tweet from “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda:
Hey @realDonaldTrump you can’t wait that long. There will be a lot of American deaths on your watch if you wait that long. https://t.co/lwvtbcdtHU
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 25, 2017
On Twitter, many were furious, many were curious.
Former Obama-era U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, posted this tweet:
Is the President of the United States saying that the mammoth hurricane damage is Puerto Rico’s fault? https://t.co/HHjdne94o9
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) September 26, 2017
The Daily Beast’s national editor had a similar reaction:
oh you wanted him to tweet about Puerto Rico? Well he did — and blamed Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/74BK3Smfhv
— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) September 26, 2017
As did Esquire’s Charles Pierce:
Master of empathy finally emerges from off his golden commode. Message: It’s your fault, Puerto Rico. https://t.co/Fu2QUFM3tX
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 26, 2017
They were not alone:
Really not sure how to read this other than Trump taking this opportunity to blame Puerto Rico for its misfortune… pic.twitter.com/KgpIPaYIk1
— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) September 26, 2017
The POTUS – POS that he is – is in fact blaming Puerto Ricans for their troubles – and for “troubling” Wall Street banks.
FUUUUCK YOU https://t.co/gZga8z4Vf8
— Elliott Lusztig (@ezlusztig) September 26, 2017
So Trump finally tweets about Puerto Rico and then blames them for their own suffering after a natural disaster? He is literally the worst.
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) September 26, 2017
Donald Trump to Puerto Rico: You did this to yourself https://t.co/FEArFu1G6V
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 26, 2017
More responses to Trump’s strange, rambling, nonsensical tweets:
Former Senior Advisor to President Obama, Dan Pfeiffer:
If Puerto Rico had electoral votes, help would already be on the way, but it doesn’t so Trump and Republicans are in no rush https://t.co/mVNeExi1xm
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) September 26, 2017
MSNBC’s Chris hayes:
INSANE for the president talking about PR’s debts to “Wall Street” while 60% of ppl have *no safe drinking water*!!!
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 26, 2017
Actor and comedian Andy Richter:
DONALD FUCKING TRUMP IS MAKING SNIDE COMMENTS ABOUT PUERTO RICO NOT PAYING BANK LOANS. THE FUCKING GALL pic.twitter.com/yXnQ9Vml0s
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) September 26, 2017
More:
(•_•)
<) )╯ARE
/ \( •_•)
\( (> YOU
/ \(•_•)
<) )╯ HIGH?
/ \#PuertoRico is not doing well @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/lObOB17LAJ— ᖇ૯ძ á‘à¸„É¿Õˆà©®à«¯Õ ðŸŽ¨ (@Redpainter1) September 26, 2017
Just so you know where we’re going: Trump is setting the stage to blame Americans in Puerto Rico for him not being capable of doing his job.
— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) September 26, 2017
As Puerto Rico faces a humanitarian crisis, Trump reassures Wall Street that it can still collect on the island’s debts. Oof. pic.twitter.com/y538bX48IN
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) September 26, 2017
Trump’s message on Puerto Rico – things were bad there before the hurricane – is quite different from his prior words on Florida and Texas. pic.twitter.com/QxIqHv2SJu
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 26, 2017
Trump managed to victim blame Puerto Rico for the hurricane. https://t.co/raYIR5VFAT
— Calvin (@calvinstowell) September 26, 2017
Trump’s tweet when Puerto Rico is in crisis is to say they suck. Bush didn’t even pull that w New Orleans and Katrina
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) September 26, 2017
To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.
Image by U.S. Customs and Border Protection via Flickr
If you find NCRM valuable, would you please consider making a donation to support our independent journalism?
Â

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |