President Donald Trump is facing a backlash after blaming the Atlantic Ocean for the federal government’s failed response to Hurricane Maria’s devastation of the American territory of Puerto Rico.
“This is a thing called the Atlantic Ocean. This is tough stuff,” President Trump stated in a Rose Garden press conference with Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy.
President Trump on hurricane response challenges in Puerto Rico: “This is a thing called the Atlantic Ocean. This is tough stuff.” pic.twitter.com/03UUPklJ4i
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 26, 2017
The press conference marked the second time Tuesday that Trump blamed the ocean for the humanitarian crisis. Earlier, Trump stated, “it’s an island, sitting in the middle of an ocean.”
Twitter was appalled that President Trump blamed geography for FEMA’s failed disaster response in Puerto Rico.
Here are some of the response:
There’s this thing we have called THE US NAVY @realDonaldTrump they handle that big blue wobbly thing called The Atlantic all the time.
— ZachsMind (@ZachsMind) September 26, 2017
I haven't studied the Atlantic Ocean since 3rd grade, but I'm googling it today as if there's something important I've forgotten about it.
— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) September 26, 2017
The Atlantic Ocean is gonna get a “TOUGH STUFF” tattoo now
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) September 26, 2017
The Atlantic Ocean, that's one tough hombre. North Korea, no problem. The Atlantic? It's not pacific, if you know what I mean. Tough, tough.
— (((JonathanWeisman))) (@jonathanweisman) September 26, 2017
"This is a thing called the Atlantic Ocean" is my favorite Trumpism in months and I don't know why. https://t.co/ri7AFJTX1K
— Adrian Carrasquillo (@Carrasquillo) September 26, 2017
He can’t get timely humanitarian aid to Puerto Rico because of the Atlantic Ocean? Does he understand we have ships in the United States?
— ellenish (@ellenish1) September 26, 2017
Damn Obama left The Atlantic Ocean problem for Trump to deal with.
— Brandon Finn (@Beef319) September 26, 2017
I see how that would be hard since Puerto Rico is on the Caribbean Sea, not the Atlantic Ocean.
— maria ocasio (@hpangie) September 26, 2017
The Atlantic Ocean didn’t seem to be a problem when he built a Golf course there and, as usual, bankrupted it…https://t.co/JqX2NyDthr
— Liberal Cynic (@Liberal_Cynic) September 26, 2017
"Huge ocean. Many are even calling it an Atlantic Ocean. Billions & billions of fish live in it folks. We're going to bring their jobs back" https://t.co/J1rLHI6Yzr
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) September 26, 2017
There’s this thing called the Atlantic Ocean. Also this thing called the United States Navy.
Also watch him compliment himself. It’s sick. https://t.co/gIn6KQqMpw
— digby (@digby56) September 26, 2017
We are meticulously searching the Atlantic Ocean to locate Puerto Rico, but it is very difficult and will take time. https://t.co/JqUaq98KZp
— Sarah H. Slanders (@SHSlanders45) September 26, 2017
He also noted the the Atlantic Ocean was “big”. It’s this kind of incisive analysis of an ongoing disaster that comforts us.
— Mitra Gh (@MitraMir11) September 26, 2017
You realize Trump just learned PR was an Island and it is in the Atlantic Ocean. He keeps repeating it to teach others. Asshole.
— donaldtrumpnewstoday (@irishrygirl) September 26, 2017
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