President Trump visited the hurricane ravaged United States territory of Puerto Rico on Tuesday, after a weekend spent sniping at San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz on Twitter for having the nerve to ask for federal aid to help save her people. Trump’s visit was every bit the uncomfortable, glorified photo op we’ve come to expect from the 45th president, who “joked” at a press conference that Puerto Rico has “thrown our budget a little out of wack,” and that the crisis wasn’t that big of a deal when compared “a real catastrophe like Katrina.”
During his visit, Trump also swung by an event for survivors of Hurricane Maria at the Calvary Chapel in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, to help hand out supplies to those affected, and of course bizarre photos and video were captured of him awkwardly throwing rolls of paper towels out into the crowd like a shopping mall Santa Claus tossing out candy to kids.
https://twitter.com/calebecarma/status/915281461435092992
https://twitter.com/justinsink/status/915267686074130437
Visiting a Puerto Rico church, Trump threw rolls of paper towels into the crowd like he was taking basketball jump shots, per @justinsink pic.twitter.com/SnXtStfp9M
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 3, 2017
At one point, the president also told another survivor to “have a good time” like someone was out to bust out a frozen margarita machine or something.
Trump to hurricane victim in Puerto Rico: "Have a good time" pic.twitter.com/ri3C8AdG6t
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) October 3, 2017
Predictably, Trump’s visit and paper towel toss was lambasted on Twitter, because this is yet another day in 2017.
https://twitter.com/reptarbarred/status/915291384579489792
What a fucking idiot.
Trump tossing paper towels to flood victims is about the most 2017 thing I've seen all day.https://t.co/uWR5YiiN15
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly 🌸 (@AynRandPaulRyan) October 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/TomNamako/status/915274758396284930
Republicans: Kneeling for the National Anthem is offensive.
Trump: What if I throw paper towels at hurricane survivors? pic.twitter.com/p8aofglDIc— Samantha Bee (@realsambee) October 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/unclesahm/status/915271692737404929
https://twitter.com/KatieMLeach/status/915275743789064192
Trump
-Told PR to be proud “only” 16 dead
-Complained bout recovery cost
-Shot paper towels into crowd
-Told victim to “have a good time"— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 3, 2017
Did Trump throw a roll of toilet paper or towels at hurricane victims? Did he? Is that what it is? No, seriously, can someone confirm this? https://t.co/iaoVyC323I
— Tahar 🇺🇦 (@laseptiemewilay) October 3, 2017
Visiting a Puerto Rico church, Trump threw rolls of paper towels into the crowd like he was taking basketball jump shots, per @justinsink
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) October 3, 2017
Trump tossed paper towels at hurricane victims in a church for the "loaves and fishes” moment of his trip to Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/idP8mZ6PJg
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) October 3, 2017