Trump Blasts ‘Fake News’ Accounts of His Puerto Rico Visit – Puerto Ricans Compared It to ‘Playing Go Fetch With Dogs’

‘Why Is He Throwing Things to Puerto Ricans Like We’re Animals?’

President Donald Trump, the First Lady, and several Cabinet members boarded Air Force One Tuesday morning and landed in Puerto Rico at 11:40 AM EDT. And while he cut short his trip to the island territory devastated by two back-to-back hurricanes, for five hours Trump talked with the governor, first responders, and even to a few survivors.

Before even leaving the White House grounds, President Trump set the stage for his visit, once again blaming the people of Puerto Rico form their plight, this time complaining they aren’t working hard enough. “They have to give us more help,” Trump cried to reporters.

During those five hours he was on the ground in Puerto Rico Trump managed to scold Puerto Ricans for throwing the federal budget “a little out of whack“ – something he did not say to the people of Texas or Florida, who already have had billions approved for hurricane relief.

The president also told them to be “proud” they only had 16 people die in the hurricane (it’s now 34) because in a “real catastrophe like Katrina” the death toll would be much higher. (Sadly, it’s likely the Puerto Rico death toll will be too.)

He also met with one survivor and on-camera told the man to “have a good time.” 95% of the island is without electricity and only 44% have drinking water. 

And then, before leaving, Trump – who according to reports spent the day smiling – literally threw rolls of paper towels at survivors who had lined up at a church now being used as a food distribution center.

Above, a photo, below, the video:

Daniel Dale, a reporter for the Toronto Star who has been covering Trump since he announced he was running for the White House, talked to Puerto Ricans about President Trump’s visit.

“He takes two weeks to visit a disaster zone where 3.5 million American citizens live. He arrives with a smile on his face, makes fun of the situation, shows no empathy, lies and lies on camera as he does 24-7. And then throws paper towel rolls to people in need as if he was playing Go Fetch with dogs,” said Joel Isaac, 27, a New York actor who moved from Puerto Rico three years ago. 

Most of Isaac’s family is still on the island. He said he had never felt humiliated as a Puerto Rican until he watched Trump’s visit.

“It’s the whole scene where the privileged white man comes to save the brown peasants after they’ve been begging, thirsty and hungry. It’s super disgusting to see, honestly,” he said.

Isaac was not the only one who was offended.

“Does he think this is a show? A game? The first reaction that I had: why is he throwing things to Puerto Ricans like we’re animals?” said Frances Alvarado, 55, a Puerto Rican in North Carolina whose husband has spent three decades in the navy. Of Trump’s performance as a whole, she said, “It’s shameful. It’s degrading. It’s insulting.”

And yet, right on schedule, at 6:25 AM Wednesday morning President Trump blasted the media for its supposed “Fake” reporting, insisting it was a “great day in Puerto Rico:

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