Trump: ‘I’m The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Puerto Rico’

Forty-six days before the presidential election, and with a very tight race in battleground state Florida (I’ll get to that), the Trump administration has suddenly announced a new $13 billion aid package to help rebuild Puerto Rico which was decimated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The Hill reports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will award $9.6 billion in grants to help rebuild the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority addressing repairs to electrical substations, power generation systems and transmission lines. Additionally, $2 billion will be targeted to rebuilding the U.S. territory’s school buildings and educational facilities. During a press briefing today, Donald Trump told reporters, “I have to say in a very nice way, very respectful way, I’m the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico. Nobody even close.” Hold the phone… You may recall this is the same man who, in November 2018, told congressional leaders he didn’t want anymore relief funds going to Puerto Rico. He also claimed officials in Puerto Rico inflated Hurrican Maria’s death toll in an effort to make him look bad. In June 2019, when Congress was finally able to pass additional relief funds for Puerto Rico, Trump attempted to take credit for the move even though he’d worked to block such funding. At the press event today, Trump tried to say “Democrats don’t want to see” aid to Puerto Rico passed, but the Democratic-led House passed billions in aid to Puerto Rico in February amid Republican objections. Now, I’d sooner bite my tongue than be cynical, but it’s a fact that thousands of Puerto Ricans migrated to Florida after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. And in a race where every vote counts, the timing of this new funding certainly is convenient. Real Clear Politics average of polls in Florida shows Democrat Joe Biden just 1.6 points ahead of the Donald. If Trump loses the Sunshine State’s 29 electoral votes, his path to winning becomes VERY tight.

After botching the response to Hurricane Maria and repeatedly neglecting and insulting the Americans there, Trump now claims, “I’m the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico.” pic.twitter.com/sAFKb1xdEp

— The American Independent (@AmerIndependent) September 18, 2020

Trump: “Democrats don’t want to see” aid to Puerto Rico passed Reality: In February the Democratic-led House passed billions in aid to Puerto Rico over the objection of Republicans pic.twitter.com/VbeBc4shec

— The American Independent (@AmerIndependent) September 18, 2020

Trump claims: “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to Puerto Rico.” Trump personally blocked disaster aid to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 18, 2020

Trump, touting his admin sending additional federal assistance to Puerto Rico: “I’m the best thing to happen to Puerto Rico.” (he talked about trading the island for Greenland)

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) September 18, 2020

Recall that Trump had wanted to trade Puerto Rico for Greenland — in part, according to former DHS official @MilesTaylorUSA, because the president believed Puerto Rico was “dirty” and the people who lived there were “poor” https://t.co/pgAXx6Jdck

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) September 18, 2020