Donald Trump’s initial reaction to the devastation in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 was to consider selling the island, his former DHS acting secretary. Elaine Duke told the New York Times.
“The president’s initial ideas were more of as a businessman, you know: Can we outsource the electricity? Can we sell the island? You know, or divest of that asset?”
Duke said the idea of selling Puerto Rico was never seriously considered or discussed after Trump raised it.
Hurricane Maria ravaged the island in 2017, resulting in billions of dollars in damages and killed 2,975 people.
Despite this, Trump praised himself for his handling of Hurricane Maria, calling his response “an incredible, unsung success” even though he accused the island’s officials of mismanaging relief money and using it for other reasons other than hurricane clean up.
Photo: Jonathan Ernst / Reuters file
