Death Toll Doubles in Puerto Rico Hours After Trump's Visit

There is nothing that could more heartbreakingly and rage-makingly underscores Donald Trump's smug indifference to the realities on the ground in Puerto Rico than this, reported by Oliver Laughland at the Guardian:

When Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico this week, he congratulated local officials, the federal government — and himself — for the official response to the disaster.

"It's now acknowledged what a great job we've done," Trump said, and told Governor Ricardo Rosselló he could be "very proud" of the low official death toll. Hours after the president jetted back to Washington, the tally doubled to 34 and is expected to rise further.

Trump has neither said nor tweeted anything about those deaths since his return.

He did, however, find the time to retweet Sean Hannity talking about "how despicable the media and the left are in America today."

So, feast on that, Puerto Rico. I'm sure the fact that your president is publicly signaling his detestation of progressives is better than food and clean water, anyway.

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If you are able and would like to make a donation to Puerto Rican relief, the Hispanic Federation "has launched the UNIDOS Disaster Relief Fund to help meet hurricane and earthquake-related needs and recovery in Puerto Rico and Mexico."

Oxfam has also condemned the Trump administration's response and has announced it will step in to help: "We are outraged at the slow and inadequate response the US Government has mounted. Oxfam rarely responds to humanitarian emergencies in the US and other wealthy countries, but as the situation in Puerto Rico worsens and the federal government’s response continues to falter, we have decided to step in." Donate to Oxfam.

Also see Ayana Byrd at Colorlines: How to Help Residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Recover After Hurricane Maria.