Donald Trump also said the country hadn't been hit by 'a real catastrophe like Katrina' during his visit to the hurricane-ravaged country on Tuesday, October 3.
- October 4, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Donald Trump really knows how to express his sympathy to the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and we mean it in a sarcastic way. During his visit to the hurricane-ravaged country on Tuesday, October 3, the U.S. president made a metaphorical remark about how the disaster in the country affected the U.S.
During a press conference where he sat between his wife Melania Trump and the island's Gov. Ricardo Rossello, Trump expressed his love for the country. He said their weather is "second to none, but every once in a while you get hit. And you got hit."
He then added, "I hate to tell you Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack." After asking the death count that was caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, he said that they hadn't been hit by "a real catastrophe like Katrina."
Trump also suggested that the government debt accumulated by bankrupt Puerto Rico would need to be wiped clean to help the island recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. "We are going to work something out. We have to look at their whole debt structure," he told Fox News.
"You know they owe a lot of money to your friends on Wall Street. We're gonna have to wipe that out. That's gonna have to be -- you know, you can say goodbye to that. I don’t know if it's Goldman Sachs but whoever it is, you can wave good-bye to that," he continued.
During his visit to Puerto Rico, President Trump met local officials and helped distribute supplies to those in need. He was caught on camera throwing rolls of paper towels into a crowd of residents. People soon mocked him on Twitter.
An official Twitter account of "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" suggested that what Trump did was disrespectful.
Republicans: Kneeling for the National Anthem is offensive.
Trump: What if I throw paper towels at hurricane survivors? pic.twitter.com/p8aofglDIc
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) October 3, 2017
Stephen Colbert later took to his show on Tuesday night to comment on the president's visit to Puerto Rico. The "Late Show" host played a clip of Trump informing the residents, "Flashlights. You don't need them anymore!" when he passed out flashlights. In fact, about 90|percent| of the island still does not have electricity, so they do need flashlights.
Trump also seemed to be unconvinced that the residents would use water purification tablets. "Would you drink it?" he asked a local. When she said yes, he asked in doubt, "Really?" Colbert snarked, "Yes! She'd drink it, because it's the only water she has! Just like she's only talking to you because you're the only president we've got."
