Today, in response to the growing discrepancy between President Donald J. Trump’s claims and presentations by Reality, the President escalated his ongoing feud with Reality.
In a string of early morning tweets, President Trump claimed he had achieved much more than Reality suggested, complained that he wasn’t getting the full credit for what he’d already done, and that he deserved better.
In addition, President Trump excoriated the news media for continuing to report on Reality, and for putting Reality on the same footing as the President and his representatives. Trump also complained that Reality was disheartening for first responders:
The Fake News Networks are working overtime in Puerto Rico doing their best to take the spirit away from our soldiers and first R’s. Shame!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
When asked for comment, Reality had no direct response, but it did continue to issue facts at the usual pace.
President Trump later tweeted:
My Administration, Governor @RicardoRossello, and many others are working together to help the people of Puerto Rico in every way…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017……#FakeNews critics are working overtime, but we’re getting great marks from the people that truly matter! #PRStrong????????
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
The President insisted that FEMA and the military continued to do an excellent job, the Puerto Rico representatives had complimented him repeatedly about it, and that the criticism was a plot by Democrats and other partisan sources.
To the people of Puerto Rico:
Do not believe the #FakeNews!#PRStrong????????
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
As before, Reality didn’t respond to President Trump’s accusations, but did allow quotes from local officials, along with photographs, videos, and other facts and evidence that appears to dispute most of the President’s claims.
In related news, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) continued their own disagreements with Arithmetic about the status of the Ryan-McConnell Tax Reform Plan, insisting that numbers and their totals aren’t as concrete as many people assume.
