SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Puerto Rico’s Governor blasted President Trump this week for alleged “insults” and demanded statehood instead of “colony” status.
Reportedly, President Donald Trump said at a recent meeting that Puerto Rico – recently devastated by hurricanes – has received too much aid, even as the Caribbean island home to 3.7 million people struggles to rebuild from disaster. In response to the President’s alleged statements, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello unleashed a scathing letter Tuesday:
The comments attributed to Donald Trump today by senators from his own party are below the dignity of a sitting President of the United States. They continue to lack empathy, are irresponsible, regrettable and, above all, unjustified.
“I want to be very clear. Not a single federal dollar has been used to make debt payments. This has been the most transparent recovery in the history of the United States, providing unprecedented access and collaboration with federal agencies. In fact, just yesterday we reached an agreement with FEMA on the transition of responsibilities for the reimbursement of recovery funds. An agreement predicated on the acknowledgment by the federal government that appropriate fiscal controls are in fact established.
“I can only assume that Trump is receiving misleading information from his own staff. I have now made several requests to meet with the President to discuss Puerto Rico’s recovery and reconstruction, but up to this day we haven’t received a confirmation or a date, even though Trump told me we would meet after his visit to Vietnam earlier this year.
“I invite the President to stop listening to ignorant and completely wrong advice. Instead he should come to Puerto Rico to hear firsthand from the people on the ground. I invite him to put all of the resources at his disposal to help Americans in Puerto Rico, like he did for Texas and Alabama. No more, no less.
Of course, today the world knows the unpleasant truth that Puerto Rico is a colonial territory of the United States and are well aware of the democratic deficiencies we endure: We are not allowed to vote for our President nor have voting representation in Congress. Even as we have asked democratically for statehood twice in the past seven years, the federal government has delayed their responsibility to act.
People from all over the nation, and the world, have witnessed the inequalities Americans face on the island. The federal response and its treatment during these past months in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria is clear evidence of our second-class citizenship.
“Mr. President: Enough with the insults and demeaning mischaracterizations. We are not your political adversaries: we are your citizens.
Puerto Ricans ARE American! Just as we are
Wally Bonespurs threw out lifesaving paper towels to the entire island. What more do they need?
Why don’t we start taking care of America first, instead of these other areas, i.e. Africa, israel, middle east countries who have the money but choose to live off US welfare? All of the funds that could be used to fight disease, rebuild areas that are damaged by natural disasters, fund education, and in so many ways help our society. When I was taught to handle money, I was told when I rec’d my paycheck, put some money in the bank first, and force myself to live off the rest. Why doesn’t America help America first, and then whatever’s left, save the rest of the world?
Puerto Rico has a history of taking funds and diverting them elsewhere. Pres Trump is dead on correct.
He mismanaged the island and then wants us to bail him out. Bullshit.
Sometimes I think the matt guy has smollet on his mind.
Idiot – well educated and has common sense – I really thought you would say racist – RUSSIA – or maybe the new GREEN DEAL . MORON BAG !
Americans t face inequality on that island, it’s not America and they aren’t American citizens. We own you, doesn’t mean we have to indulge you. Puerto Rico’s president should try being a leader instead of trying to beg crumbs off of America and tap extra resources that could be spent on real Americans with real problems, Nebraska got washed out, to hell with Puerto Ricans and their problems!
You realize that Puerto Rico doesn’t have a president, right?
The people of Puerto Rico ARE American citizens, dumbass.
Typical of you blowing smoke out of your ass, without knowing what the hell you are talking about.
So, what is it about this website that prevents posts from being posted? Is it length? Is it you o not get one swear word in a paragraph? Is it just random censorship? In any case we don’t need Dr a state of liberals to our problems. Those people to help themselves before we even think about it. They shouldn’t voting rights for the first 12 years after being taken in if we do make the mistake of taking them on. I don’t see the point, why do we want a welfare state? That’s all they will be.
Maybe because you can’t form a complete sentence?
“I can only assume that Trump is receiving misleading information from his own staff”. It must be the fake news that he is talking about.
America first! – We still have floods that we can’t afford to pay for in Texas and Florida – shut the hell up or talk to the democraps – maybe your included in their new green weienie deal that we can’t afford either !
You’re an idiot.
Ha, ha, Pot calling the kettle black.