Donald Trump finally signed the $19.1 billion disaster relief package that passed the House on Monday.
And he had something to tell the people of Puerto Rico.
“Just signed Disaster Aid Bill to help Americans who have been hit by recent catastrophic storms. So important for our GREAT American farmers and ranchers. Help for GA, FL, IA, NE, NC, and CA. Puerto Rico should love President Trump. Without me, they would have been shut out!” he tweeted Thursday afternoon.
Trump agreed to support the legislation — aimed at providing funding to recovery efforts in areas affected wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding — ahead of Congress’ Memorial Day recess despite the Senate opting not to comply with the administration’s request to include $4.5 billion in border funding.
Just signed Disaster Aid Bill to help Americans who have been hit by recent catastrophic storms. So important for our GREAT American farmers and ranchers. Help for GA, FL, IA, NE, NC, and CA. Puerto Rico should love President Trump. Without me, they would have been shut out! pic.twitter.com/HXvYYdcNW5 [1]
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2019 [2]
Democrats also gained a significant win with the bill including $900 million — $600 million in food stamp money and an additional $300 million in Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants — for Puerto Rico, a provision initially opposed by Trump, who argued the amount was excessive and alleged the island previously mismanaged the aid sent following Hurricane Maria.
The long-stalled disaster aid bill passed the upper chamber on May 23 after GOP senators struck a deal with Trump to drop certain provisions from the legislation.
Twitter had some thoughts:
Nearly 3,000 American citizens died in Puerto Rico due in part to your botched response.
The people of Puerto Rico owe you nothing. https://t.co/D1JVcFGCPS [3]
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) June 6, 2019 [4]
Regarding Puerto Rico: the reason the bill was held up for most of six months was because Trump opposed aid for the island being included https://t.co/MUTHJ8RCDY [5]
— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) June 6, 2019 [6]
Trump repeatedly demanded Puerto Rico get less aid, stalling negotiations for months. https://t.co/i3wcRSNKrh [7]
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) June 6, 2019 [8]
Christ, man, can't you do *anything* without including an "I just want to be loved" subtext and at least one – but often more than one – outright lie?! Puerto Rico would not have been shut out of anything, disaster-aid-wise. Reminder: THEY'RE AN AMERICAN TERRITORY!!! https://t.co/KCTFiJftTW [9]
— Will Harris (@NonStopPop) June 6, 2019 [10]
Trump says Puerto Rico "should love" him for signing a Disaster Aid Bill.
A study funded by the Puerto Rican govt determined roughly 3,000 people died from Hurricane Maria. The deaths were, in part, linked to the govt's unpreparedness. Trump rejected that number/death toll. https://t.co/J3V0ZaPXYY [11]
— John Haltiwanger (@jchaltiwanger) June 6, 2019 [12]