Donald Trump has been copping it even more than usual today for a series of Tweets concerning the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, and even Kim Kardashian, who has pledged her support for the people of the troubled U.S. territory, has joined the chorus of those criticising him.
Hurricane Maria devastated power and communications systems when it blew over the Caribbean island ten days ago, leaving many of the country’s 3.4 million residents without access to drinking water and electricity, and scrambling to recover.
In an early morning Twitter blast from his golf club in New Jersey, Trump lashed out at San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz for showing “poor leadership ability” in the past week, criticising her and other local leaders for “wanting everything done for them” and failing to mobilise workers.
He also singled out Cruz for being “nasty” to him, because that’s definitely the kind of concern that a grown-ass adult in his position should be raising at this time.
The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
…Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
…want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
Mayor Cruz, who has been living in a hurricane shelter since her home was destroyed in the storm, had previously accused the U.S. of “killing” Puerto Rico with inefficiency, and asked Trump to “make sure somebody is in charge that is up to the task of saving lives.”
Trump later complained that “my people are not getting the credit they deserve for doing a great job” in the disaster relief effort in Puerto Rico, and urged citizens not to believe the “FAKE NEWS” that the U.S. has not done enough for the crisis in its own territory.
Kim Kardashian was one of many high-profile twitter users to condemn Trump, asking him to “please stop tweeting and golfing while people are dying” and “please step up and help.”
They don’t have power to watch the news!!! Please stop tweeting & golfing while people are dying! Please step up & help! https://t.co/AP8PnapWaO
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) September 30, 2017
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who was born in Puerto Rico, was one of many to condemn the President in official capacity, saying:
“The tweets this morning are despicable, are deplorable, are not statesman-like at all. He needs to be in charge, he needs to take control, he needs to demonstrate some level of empathy over what is happening.”
Numerous others have been scathing in their criticism, pointing out that the “workers” Trump addressed are U.S. citizens who are struggling to rebuild after a crisis with limited food, water and electricity supplies.
Her “workers” are people w/o water, food & electricity, you twit. They are ALL victims of a hurricane. They are AMERICAN CITIZENS. #HelpThem https://t.co/yPrHfIeJ94
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 30, 2017
People could be dying as a direct result of you flippantly deciding to be an asshole about this. Step up, then step down. https://t.co/mltK1v7FeZ
— Adam Scott (@mradamscott) September 30, 2017
Trump continues to dominate the shittiest president ever competition https://t.co/mUOiLfpfLT
— John Legend (@johnlegend) September 30, 2017
“Give Trump a chance!” they said. Well, Maria was his chance, to help millions of our citizens. Instead, he tweeted and sneered. Disgusted.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 30, 2017
Hamilton creator Lin Manuel-Miranda was one of the more florid and specific in his criticism, telling Trump to go “straight to hell” in the “fastest golf cart you ever took”:
She has been working 24/7.
You have been GOLFING.
You’re going straight to hell.
Fastest golf cart you ever took. https://t.co/5hOY23MBvQ— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 30, 2017
Trump has said that the results of the U.S. recovery effort in Puerto Rico will “speak much louder than complaints” by Mayor Cruz, and has said that he will be on the ground there on Tuesday.
Results of recovery efforts will speak much louder than complaints by San Juan Mayor. Doing everything we can to help great people of PR!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
In the meantime, he he has gone back to the important task of ordering NFL players to “STAND” during the national anthem.
