On Tuesday morning, Donald Trump arrived in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, but took time to blast the island for running up the United States' debt, while bragging about the low body count. In response, critics on social media wasted no time speaking out.
Trump gets roasted
Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico last month, causing damage that experts believe will take decades to recover from. The majority of the island lost all power, as food and water became a major problem, with CNN reporting on Tuesday that victims in local hospitals were forced to eat dog food as a replacement.
In the aftermath of the storm, it took Donald Trump close to week to address the crisis, with many critics lashing out at the president for prioritizing his feud with the National Football League over the hurricane. In response, Trump was quick to bring up the debt owed back to the United States by Puerto Rico, before insulting the mayor of San Juan on Twitter by questioning her leadership. Trump and his team arrived in Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning, and once again came under fire, as reported by NBC News on October 3.
Trump compares Puerto Rico death toll to "a real catastrophe like Katrina" https://t.co/Wa6q8i87eq pic.twitter.com/SPh3NKLXqr
— The Hill (@thehill) October 3, 2017
While speaking to the press at the local airport, Donald Trump insulted the people of Puerto Rico by taking time to vent about the cost of the hurricane recovery.
"I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack," Trump said. Minutes later and the president went on to brag about the body count of 16 people on the island due to the storm, saying that it wasn't that bad compared to Hurricane Katrina.
President Trump: "Now I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack" https://t.co/3DSMX2ysAx
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 3, 2017
Twitter reacts
In response to Donald Trump's remarks in Puerto Rico, Twitter quickly went viral.
"Trump keeps bragging about the low death toll, but the current death toll is almost certainly way way below the actual total," MSNBC host Chris Hayes tweeted out.
Donald Trump is now requiring local officials in Puerto Rico to praise his administration’s relief efforts. This is not how democracies work
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) October 3, 2017
Pretty stunning moment: blaming Puerto Rico storm recovery for the deficit? Also thanked every politician in sight except San Juan Mayor https://t.co/jeZJGunUo4
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) October 3, 2017
We. Have. No. President. https://t.co/gkIQTQiZTW
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) October 3, 2017
"Trump is congratulating himself for (only) 16 confirmed deaths.
I heard many stories of desperate/cut-off people burying spouses in the mud," CNN's Bill Weir posted. "This feels a lot like Trump's cabinet secretary meeting over the summer," Katy Tur of MSNBC noted.
This is essentially a praise-fest by Trump before he's even seen any of the damage in Puerto Rico firsthand
— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylor) October 3, 2017
I'm in utter disbelief at the obnoxious,self-congratulatory, press briefing Trump had in #puertorico. He compared death counts w/Katrina!!!
— Tara Setmayer (@TaraSetmayer) October 3, 2017
Trump keeps bragging about the low death toll, but the current death toll is almost certainly way way below the actual total.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) October 3, 2017
"Pretty stunning moment: blaming Puerto Rico storm recovery for the deficit?
Also thanked every politician in sight except San Juan Mayor," reporter Andrea Mitchell tweeted. "A bad guy saying this in a movie script wouldn't work because it would be too on-the-nose," actor Kumail Nanjiani added. The backlash continued as Donald Trump's behavior continues to stun the nation.
