Trump Criticizes Struggling Puerto Rico Again, And Other Trump News From Monday
Monday, October 16th. Day 270.
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Trump Criticizes Struggling Puerto Rico In Press Conference
At a press conference, President Trump once again criticized the US territory of Puerto Rico, which has struggled to recover from devastating Hurricane Maria. Trump said the federal government has been providing food and other relief, but any slow response has been due to Puerto Rico's failure to deliver the aid. "We now actually have military distributing food — something that, really, they shouldn't have to be doing," Trump said.
Trump also caused controversy at the press conference when he said that former presidents failed to call the families of dead soldiers in response to questions about his failure to reach out to families of US soldiers killed in Niger on October 7th.
During the press conference, Trump also commented on the attacks on American diplomats in Cuba, telling reporters that he believes that Cuba knew that the attacks were going to occur.
Trump Campaign Pays $238,000 To Firm Representing Son In Russia Investigation
Bloomberg reports that President Trump's re-election campaign paid Alan S. Futerfas $230,000 in the third quarter. Futerfas is representing President Trump's son in the investigation into the Trump campaigns relationship with Russia election interference. Campaigns are legally allowed to pay for representation as long as it pertains to campaign work.
According to Politico, the campaign raised $11.6 million during the last quarter and spent over $1 million on legal fees.
Jeff Sessions Deploys Hate Crime Lawyer To Help Prosecute Iowa Transgender Murder Case
In an unusual move, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has deployed an experienced hate crime attorney to help prosecute a man accused of murdering a transgender high school student in Iowa, according to The New York Times. It is rare for an Attorney General to deploy top-level prosecutors for local cases. The move seems to run counter to Sessions' typical politics, which have been staunchly conservative.
Trump Tangles With Chuck Schumer On Twitter
President Trump started his morning predictably Monday, tweeting insults and jabs at top Democrats. After tweeting that Democrats want to "increase taxes and obstruct," New York Senator Chuck Schumer said President Trump's tax plan relies on "fake math," and would end up hurting the middle class in the end.
Trump retorted by pointing out Schumer's recent switch on the Iran deal, which he opposed under Obama, but has recently come to support as Trump moves against it.
Trump went on to highlight increases in the stock market, arguing that they're proof that his policies work. Schumer replied that while the stock market has been growing, wages for average Americans have remained flat.
