From 8AM to 9PM today, I journeyed through Puerto Rico, looking over the damage still put in place by Hurricane Maria. The photo that is attached to this diary is simple — and a preview of something much longer I will write tomorrow, about where things actually stand here, despite Trump’s assertions tonight.
As we all moved in to watch the State of the Union, however, it was a young woman from Finland, not Puerto Rico, who asked a key question in our gathering: “Is America safe for tourists anymore?” Her concern came after a segment on MS-13, which, frankly, she had never heard of but came across as the greatest threat since ISIS, combined with what seemed to be a dismissal of real American problems.
Local residents also felt the same: Trump’s calls for infrastructure spending met with disbelief, as Puerto Rico still faces destroyed roads, water systems, and an electrical grid where nearly 40% still don’t have power.
“Where is that spending here, President Trump!’” There would be no answer to the screen, but the questions remain. If Infrastructure spending is critical and can help build new jobs as President Trump advocates, why was Puerto Rico not and easy target for early spending to help kick start this effort?
Trump’s State of the Union was a speech made to create fear of others, to give Americans a reason to hate the world rather than understand the role it has in it, and how it could lead rather than isolate itself.
Over the next few days and hours there will be numerous fact checks regarding things that Trump clearly got wrong. But providing moral leadership is a test you can only pass or fail, and on this matter, Trump failed spectacularly.
Trump’s dark speech and continued attempt to get Americans to feel fear for those who are different then them will be overlooked by Pundits who will rush for the second, third, or in the case of Chris Cillizza, probably the 12th+ time to say Trump is presidential.
Trump offered to do everything possible to all sorts of imaginary bullies, but when faced repeatedly with real crisis, the president has run away.
We will sit here in San Juan knowing the truth — having seen it first hand — and wonder how far, exactly, the President will go to divide us to hide the reality that his fearmongering continues to enable.