Puerto Rico's governor should not stoop to Trump's level | By Raul A. Reyes for CNNOpinion
Raul A. Reyes is an attorney and member of the USA Today board of contributors. Follow him on Twitter @RaulAReyes. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. View more opinions on CNN.
A showdown is brewing between President Donald Trump and Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló -- and it is starting to get ugly. Raul ReyesThe President and the governor are at odds over the ongoing recovery efforts on the island in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. In a CNN interview, the governor vented his frustration over not being able to get a meeting with Trump. Speaking with Jim Acosta, Rosselló said that he refused to be cowed by Trump. "If the bully gets close, I'll punch him in the mouth," the governor said. "It would be a mistake to confuse courtesy with courage.
San Juan mayor: Trump made devastating situation worse 01:27If anyone doubts the low regard Trump has for Puerto Rico, consider his response to a string of tornadoes in Alabama earlier this year. He told FEMA to give the state"the A+ treatment." That's a far cry from what Puerto Rico heard . Rosselló has at least 4,600 reasons to be furious at the President; that is only one estimate of the death toll from Hurricane Maria.
Trump takes swipe at Puerto Rico relief aid 01:57Rosselló seems to understand this: In the same interview where he threatened to"punch the bully in the mouth," the governor said,"I don't think getting into a kicking and screaming match with the President does any good." Here, Rosselló is right: No rational adult should want to engage this petty President in this way. Once you've done that, you've lost. Rosselló has a huge challenge before him.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump complains to senators that Puerto Rico is getting too much hurricane relief fundingAid for Puerto Rico has long been a fixation for Trump, who has asked advisers how to reduce money for the island and signaled that he won’t support any more assistance beyond food stamp funds.
Read more »
Trump again swipes at Puerto Rico in closed door lunch with RepublicansPresident Donald Trump, in a closed door meeting Tuesday with Senate Republicans, again took a swipe at Puerto Rico's fiscal management and the size of its disaster relief in the wake of damaging storms last week -- and he brought a visual aid to try and back up his point, according to senators in the room.
Read more »
Opinion | The Trump administration has turned bigotry into policy in Puerto RicoFrom The Post's Editorial Board: The Trump administration has turned bigotry into policy in Puerto Rico
Read more »
Trump complains to senators that Puerto Rico gets too much hurricane relief moneyPresident Trump complained in a private lunch about the amount of disaster aid designated for Puerto Rico as lawmakers prepare for a standoff over funds for the island that is still struggling to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, according to officials familiar with the meeting.
Read more »
Trump opposes further disaster aid for battered Puerto RicoWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's opposition to further disaster aid for hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico hardened on Tuesday as he told GOP allies at a Capitol Hill meeting that the U.S. island territory has gotten too much rebuilding money compared with mainland states like Florida and
Read more »
Disaster aid bill hits snag after Trump tells GOP Puerto Rico gets too much storm assistanceA massive disaster aid bill is in doubt in the Senate, caught between Senate Democrats pushing for more assistance for Puerto Rico and President Donald Trump’s criticism that the U.S. territory is already receiving too much hurricane aid
Read more »
Trump administration doubles down on opposition to Puerto Rico funding, drawing criticism'President Trump does not value the lives of millions of American citizens who reside there,' said Rep. Nydia Velázquez.
Read more »
Analysis | Here’s why Trump says Puerto Rico is getting $91 billion in disaster reliefThe federal government has spent relatively little of what has been committed to repair the island. But bigger bills could be coming due.
Read more »
While in Puerto Rico, Trump talked about using nuclear football on North KoreaTrump was consumed by his feud with Kim Jong Un & made nuclear threats as he toured storm damage in Puerto Rico in 2017, sources say. Acosta reports that at one point, Trump pointed to the 'nuclear football' & said he could use it on Kim whenever he felt.
Read more »