Biden, Hispanic groups condemn Trump remarks

U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy joined former Vice President Joe Biden and state Hispanic groups in blasting President Trump for comments a former administration official claimed the president made about selling Puerto Rico because it’s “dirty and its people were poor”.

The account of a former top Department of Homeland Security official to MSNBC on Wednesday, stating Trump sought to swap Puerto Rico for Greenland after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, revived deep wounds for some in the Puerto Rican diaspora in Florida.

Miles Taylor, who served as DHS chief of staff to then-Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, told MSNBC that Trump “expressed deep animus towards the Puerto Rican people behind the scenes,” as the residents from the U.S. territory were starting to recover from the Category 4 hurricane.

“One time before we went down (in 2018), he told us not only did he want to purchase Greenland, he actually said he wanted to see if we could sell Puerto Rico,” Taylor said. “Could we swap Puerto Rico for Greenland because in his words, Puerto Rico was ‘dirty’ and the people were ‘poor.‘”

Frances Colón, state director of the group Latino Vote, said the alleged remarks were “one more example of how Trump dehumanizes Puerto Ricans.”

“For him, this group of American citizens is so insignificant that they can be left to die in a hurricane, can be called obscenities such as ‘dirty,’ and can be sold if it’s uncomfortable to provide assistance,” Colón said. “Puerto Ricans are fed up with this despicable treatment and we will vote in November, for our loved ones on the island. Enough.”

Biden, the Democratic candidate for president, slammed Trump on Twitter, citing his actions while visiting a relief center on Oct. 3, 2017.

“When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the President threw paper towels and abandoned the victims,” Biden wrote. “Turns out he even wanted to sell the island. He turned his back on Puerto Ricans, but I promise you this: I never will.”

The Trump campaign did not return a request for comment.

Democratic Congress members from Central Florida, considered the heart of the Puerto Rican community in the state, also condemned the reported remarks.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, DKissimmee, wrote on Twitter, “It’s obvious that President Trump has been trying to sell out Puerto Rico since Day 1, but I never believed it to be literally. That is until today. We lost 3K Americans there due to his disastrous Hurricane Maria response.”

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy released a statement condemning “the President’s ignorant and disrespectful comments toward Puerto Ricans.

An estimated 30,000 to 50,000 hurricane María evacuees relocated to Florida, according to a University of Florida study. The majority fled to Orange County, followed by Miami-Dade and Osceola counties, according to the investigation.