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Donald Trump wanted to sell Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria: Report

US President Donald Trump considered selling Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the destructive Hurricane Maria in 2017, former acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke has told the New York Times

Donald Trump wanted to sell Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria: Report

Dallas : In this June 11, 2020 photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable discussion about Transition to Greatness: Restoring, Rebuilding, and Renewing, at Gateway Church Dallas in Dallas | AP/PTI

IANS Washington

US President Donald Trump considered selling Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the destructive Hurricane Maria in 2017, former acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke has told the New York Times.

In an interview with the newspaper on Friday, Duke said that "the president's initial ideas were more of as a businessman", Xinhua news agency reported.

"Can we outsource the electricity? Can we sell the island? You know, or divest of that asset?" Trump reportedly said, according to the New York Times interview.

Nonetheless, the idea of selling the US territory was never seriously considered or discussed after it was raised, Duke said.

 

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017 and caused an estimated 2,982 fatalities and US $90 billion in damage, according to official data.

Trump has criticized Puerto Rican officials for their management of the relief fund that his administration provided for the island's recovery. In November 2018, White House officials told Congress that Trump didn't want any additional relief funding to the island.

--IANS

rt/

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First Published: Jul 13 2020 | 9:35 AM IST

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