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September 13, 2018

Trump Attempting to Rewrite History Denying the Deaths of Thousands Means He Is Unfit to Serve

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump’s tweet this morning attempting to rewrite history denying the death of 2,975 in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria under his watch:

“As we learn from news outlets that President Trump has now reached 5,000 lies and misstatements since taking office, he now lashes out on Twitter with his most hideous lie to date: the denial of the deaths of thousands of our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico after the government failed to help them on his watch. This ongoing campaign to attempt to rewrite history can only be described as standard issue propaganda – and we will have none of it."

"One year after the Administration’s blatantly inadequate response to Hurricane Maria, the situation on the island is only improving because of the resiliency of the people of Puerto Rico – and not because the President ‘raised’ anything for them.  The fact that the President will not take responsibility for his Administration’s failures and will not even recognize that thousands have perished shows us, once again, that he is not fit to serve as our President. He should resign at once – and this Republican-led Congress must stop being complacent and finally conduct a comprehensive investigation–as we did after Katrina–into how 2,975 were allowed to die.”

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Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978