Hurricane Maria is home video disabled sexthe largest storm to hit Puerto Rico in modern history, but President Trump was just a little too busy this week to gave the island his full attention.
A new report by The Washington Postbreaks down how the President spent the last 10 days as the island's devastation deepened. When the storm first hit, Trump responded by issuing an emergency declaration and reaching out to local officials on the island. As the week went on, however, Trump retreated from the crisis by spending time at his golf club and campaigning for Luther Strange in Alabama.
SEE ALSO: Rabbi in Puerto Rico pleads for help as congregation suffers on eve of Yom KippurThe situation has since developed to a full blown humanitarian crisis. Only half the island has potable water and power isn't expected to run for over six months. Though Trump actually bragged about the number of lives lost, officials believe that the number may be higher than the number being currently reported (around 16) because communication is so poor across the island.
Eight days after the storm's landfall, Puerto Rico had just 4,400 service members participating in federal service operations to help the island of 3.5 million. Compare that to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, when the United States sent 22,000 troops.
Here's where President Trump spent his week as Puerto Rico crumbled.
1. Flying to his golf club
Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock Trump flew to his golf club last Thursday night in Bedminster, New Jersey for a long vacation weekend. At the time of his trip, there was no power anywhere on the island. Cell service had been largely wiped out. The island was reporting record levels of rain and flooding.
2. Having dinner at the club to talk about an immigration ban
Trump met with Homeland Security secretary Elaine Duke and other cabinet officials Friday night to talk about his upcoming immigration ban, not Puerto Rico.
3. Campaigning for Luther Strange in Alabama
Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock Trump campaigned for his candidate last weekend at a rally at Alabama, using the opportunity to call football players "sons-of-bitches."
4. Tweeting at the club about the NFL
Democrats are laughingly saying that McCain had a "moment of courage." Tell that to the people of Arizona who were deceived. 116% increase!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Roger Goodell of NFL just put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country.Tell them to stand!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
Trump spent last weekend tweeting about the NFL #TakeAKnee protests, John McCain's unwillingness to sign Graham-Cassidy, and North Korea's "Little Rocket Man." Right around the time of his tweets, federal officials were preparing to evacuate upwards of 70,000 people living near a cracking dam. 10 people were reported dead.
"Hysteria is starting to spread," Mayor Jose Sanchez Gonzalez of Manati said then.
5. At the White House, complaining about John McCain
Helicopter footage of a destroyed farm in Toa Boja, Puerto Rico Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock Trump reportedly continued haranguing McCain for resisting him at a Monday night White House dinner. Trump finished off the evening by having an outburst on Twitter defending his response to Puerto Rico.
That day, the Governor of the island warned that Puerto Rico was approaching a humanitarian crisis.
5. Campaigning for tax cuts for the 1% in Indiana
Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock Trump traveled to Indiana on Wednesday to tout his new tax reform, which would provide a significant boost to upper income earners.
He refused to waive the Jones Act at that time, which would have made it easier for ships to dock in Puerto Rico. 97 percent of Puerto Rico did not have electricity at the time of the President's trip.
As of now, President is at the Bedminster Golf Course in New Jersey. This is his 66th trip to a golf course as President.
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