Donald Trump Rejects Puerto Rico’s Storm Death Toll, Says Numbers Made up by Democrats
U.S. President Donald Trump is disputing the official findings that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of last year's Hurricane Maria.
The Washington Post has been keeping track of the number of falsehoods or rather incorrect facts that U.S. President Donald Trump has uttered since entering office. It was at 4713 lies on September 4. But apart from uttering incorrect facts, Trump is now refusing to accept stated facts. Trump today disputed the official findings that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of last year's Hurricane Maria.
"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," Trump wrote on Twitter, without offering evidence for the claim. He accused Democrats of inflating the official death toll to "make me look as bad as possible".
The Republican president suggested the hurricane death toll was artificially boosted by adding those who had passed away from natural causes such as old age. "Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!" he tweeted.
According to a study conducted by researchers at the George Washington University, 2,975 died due to Hurricane Maria. Earlier this month Puerto Rico’s governor formally raised the death toll from 64 to an estimated 2,975 following the release of this study’s findings.
Trump’s refusal to accept this death toll comes in the backdrop of his administration being criticised for the handling of last year’s natural disasters. Many are questioning his ability to manage relief work as the U.S. coast is facing a massive storm – Hurricane Florence. Florence is projected to hit the coasts of North and South Carolina with intense winds and rain causing massive storm surges resulting in severe flooding.
Almost 1.7 million people are under mandatory evacuation orders from the Carolinas as Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall some time Friday. Trump says his administration has already sent help and effort but that can only be judged after the storm hits.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2018 04:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).