There are areas of Puerto Rico where people are reduced to eating dog food because they have nothing else. This is because the Trump administration has been incredibly slow in its response, particularly to the interior areas of the island which are difficult to reach by car.
In response to the crisis, Trump sat on his hands, played golf, started a Twitter war with San Juan's mayor, and paid a visit to the safer areas of the island today.
One of the photo ops was at Calvary Chapel, where he handed out a few cans of food before deciding to play Paper Towel Football with the people in the room. Of everything those folks need right now, paper towels are probably NOT at the top of the list but that didn't stop some genius in the White House from thinking it would be great for Trump to throw them at people like he might throw stale bread at ducks.
Not on the video, but equally ridiculous: The moment where he handed out flashlights while telling the people they won't need them anymore, apparently unaware that most of Puerto Rico still has no power.
Meanwhile, there are actual people doing actual good work on the ground there. The AFL-CIO is sending relief flights down, with nearly 200 doctors, nurses and other professionals to assist with the relief effort.
Tesla is sending solar panels down to get some power up and running right away.
The USNS Comfort has arrived, too. It's about 10 days too late, but it has arrived. Hopefully this means they'll be getting to those hard-to-reach areas where people are suffering most and get some food, water, medicine and help for them.
Tossing paper towels is hardly an expression of empathy or relief. It would have been better if Trump had stayed in Washington, DC.
