Earthquake-Recovering Mexico Offers Aid to Puerto Rico After Trump’s Disastrous Visit John Haltiwanger - Newsweek
go to original October 5, 2017

Donald Trump Finally Visits Puerto Rico (HuffPost)

Update: US Says It Welcomes Mexico's Aid to Puerto Rico (Associated Press)

Mexico said Wednesday it will send aid to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico — the day after President Donald Trump's disastrous visit to the U.S. territory during which he complained to victims that catastrophic damage to their island had thrown his budget "out of whack."

The Mexican government said it would send 30 tons of bottled water and mosquito repellent, plus experts in power generation, transmission and distribution, Reuters reports.



Hurricane Maria killed dozens in Puerto Rico, left more than half of the island's 3.4 million residents without clean drinking water and 95 percent without power.

Critics say Trump's overall response to this crisis has been inadequate and even inappropriate at times — especially in relation to his tweets attacking San Juan's mayor.



The president's visit to Puerto Rico on Tuesday included not only his comment about the cost of repairing the destroyed island, but a casual reference to Hurricane Maria not being "a real catastrophe like Katrina" because of what he considers a low overall death toll, which actually doubled in the hours after he left. At one point, the president awkwardly tossed paper towels at people in the crowd as if performing at a carnival.



And after families showed Trump the damage Hurricane Maria inflicted on their homes, the president said, "Have a good time," as he departed.

Back on the U.S. mainland, the response to Trump's visit wasn't much better...



Tell President Trump and Congress to get a special aid bill passed for the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands now.

Read the rest at Newsweek

Related: After Donald Trump’s Short Visit, Hurricane Death Toll in Puerto Rico Raised to 34 (Associated Press)

Related: San Juan Mayor Blasts Trump as “Miscommunicator in Chief” Following President’s Puerto Rico Visit (Mic)

Related: Trump to Puerto Rico: Your Hurricane Isn’t a “Real Catastrophe” Like Katrina (Vox)

Related: Trump Treating Us Like 'Dogs,' Say Puerto Ricans (Newsweek)

Related: Despite Desperate Shortages, US Fails to Mount Robust Response in Puerto Rico (Oxfam)

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