Florida Republicans Break With Trump On Puerto Rico

September 13, 2018 Idiocracy, Infighting Is Funny

Florida lawmakers are publicly disagreeing with President Trump’s claim that the death toll in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria is not accurate.

With just two months before the election — and with an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 Puerto Ricans who may have permanently settled in Florida since the hurricane — they know they can’t stay silent on an issue that affects a significant portion of Florida’s electorate.

Republicans Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis have never openly disagreed with Trump before. In fact, they’ve benefitted from his endorsements and DeSantis even released an entire ad mirroring himself after Trump.

I disagree with @POTUS– an independent study said thousands were lost and Gov. Rosselló agreed. I’ve been to Puerto Rico 7 times & saw devastation firsthand. The loss of any life is tragic; the extent of lives lost as a result of Maria is heart wrenching. I’ll continue to help PR

— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) September 13, 2018

In #FLSEN Scott says he disagrees with POTUS on Puerto Rico death toll count. And on the #FLGOV side @RonDeSantisFL spox tells me DeSantis “doesn’t believe any loss of life has been inflated.” So now both Republicans in top Florida races have come out against Trump’s tweet. https://t.co/nnvOR9QHE1

— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) September 13, 2018