In case you missed it earlier on Tuesday, MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson had White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley on her show. At one point, Jackson asked Gidley about President Trump’s latest (ridiculous) tweets about Puerto Rico and why it shouldn’t deserve disaster relief aid.
See how many lies you can spot?
In case you need a quick summary, here you go (from our founder):
Ok here we go.
1. Trump's "trip" was a few hours to San Juan and Guaynabo City.
2. Puerto Rico has gotten a TINY FRACTION of the $ it needs. And most of it in (wait for it) loans.
3. No, there is no food "rotting" in the ports.
4. @hogangidley45 just proved colonialism. https://t.co/ImazMT6DkI— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) April 2, 2019
The most recent story of “rotting” food last year was not in a port. And it had nothing to do with PR gov’t. It was nonprofit donations and it was handled by (wait for it) the National Guard.https://t.co/kBLYM2PdYR
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) April 2, 2019
But in case you need actual facts, we will share that the Governor of Puerto Rico shared about Trump’s tweets last night:
Mr. President, 558 days have passed since #HurricaneMaria made landfall in #PuertoRico. Yet @FEMA has only approved $300M (not $91 billion) in permanent work projects. @realdonaldtrump, evidently you’re being badly misled by your advisors… https://t.co/od5PBJOFr9
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) April 2, 2019
After #Katrina Louisiana had received $120 billion in federal support while #PuertoRico has not been able to spend a single dollar of the money already appropriated by Congress.
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) April 2, 2019
For context, this means that by the same date, for every permanent work project approved in Puerto Rico, there were 28.70 in Texas and 32.75 in Louisiana #558days #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/guTSIKpKU7
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) April 2, 2019
Mr. President, this “place” you refer to, #PuertoRico, is home to over three million proud Americans that are still recovering from the storm and in need of federal assistance. We are not your adversaries, we are your citizens.
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) April 2, 2019
I urge all Senators to support H.R. 268 as it provides essential support for the recovery and reconstruction needs, including nutritional assistance and infrastructure provisions of the US Citizens in Puerto Rico.
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) April 2, 2019
Although, let’s be real for a minute. Some of what Gidley said (like the obsession from some in media who called him out for calling Puerto Rico “a country”) is true, but it could have gone deeper:
#PuertoRico is a country. It is also a territory. And it's a colony too. Congress owns this country/territory/colony. It is a possession of the United States. The US can do whatever it wants to do with it. That is called colonialism. And continue to witness it each and every day.
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) April 2, 2019
I urge all Senators to support H.R. 268 as it provides essential support for the recovery and reconstruction needs, including nutritional assistance and infrastructure provisions of the US Citizens in Puerto Rico.
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) April 2, 2019
Why are people outraged now when there was no outrage under previous admins?
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) April 2, 2019
Please stop simplifying my colony’s identity.
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) April 2, 2019
This is all about colonialism, familia.
