Trump on Puerto Rico's debt: 'We're going to have to wipe that out'

[highplainsdem]

Source: Fox News

President Trump told Fox News Tuesday that "you can say goodbye" to Puerto Rico's debt as the island struggles to recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Maria.

Trump spoke to Fox News' Geraldo Rivera in an interview that aired exclusively on "Hannity" Tuesday evening. The president spend the day touring the damage left by Maria, the strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in nearly a century.

"They owe a lot of money to your friends on Wall Street and we're going to have to wipe that out," Trump told Rivera. "You can say goodbye to that."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/03/trump-on-puerto-ricos-debt-were-going-to-have-to-wipe-that-out.html

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NOT The Onion.

It's going to be interesting hearing from Trump admin staffers and Cabinet officials, finding out what they think of this and if Trump discussed this with any of them.

No details at all so far, even hints of details, as to how Trump plans to do this. (And yeah, with Trump there's rarely anything that could be called a "plan"...)


____


Editing to add some excerpts from the BuzzFeed article about this:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/salvadorhernandez/trump-wants-to-wipe-out-puerto-rico-debt

Some economists have called on the US to either forgive the debt or significantly reduce the island's burden to help it bounce back. But on Tuesday, Trump didn't detail how he would go about doing just that.

"I don't know if it's Goldman Sachs, but whoever it is, you can wave goodbye to that," he told Rivera.

[applegrove]

1. I hope it is true. An economy/territory cannot rebuild with so much debt.

Last edited Wed Oct 4, 2017, 12:46 AM - Edit history (1)

[highplainsdem]

2. I'd like to think it's true as well, but considering the people around Trump & the GOP leadership...

[highplainsdem]

3. Judging by the comments on the Fox News site, Trump's base doesn't like this idea.

They seem more in favor of granting PR independence to get away from having to do anything to help it.

[sharedvalues]

5. The GOP media demonizes PR

Because they are afraid PR will become a state. And since PR is not a hot bed of GOP-donor hate, it will bring 2 D Senators and A D congressman.

PS did you know DC has more people than Montana? Both PR and DC should be states with senators.

[7962]

21. They're not going to like a lot of things Trump does. They forget he told them he's a "dealmaker"

And he's gonna make deals! He already did once with "Chuck & Nancy", I bet he does it several more times. Hell, he may even go for a gun bill. He's supported some gun control many times over the years; Shumer reminded everyone about that a day ago
He told them who he was, and now they're pissed that he told the truth for once!

[agincourt]

4. I'm afraid that will get walked back but it shouldn't

One can only hope, the embargo on Cuba and the sanctions on Venuzuela should be lifted as well.

[highplainsdem]

6. Tweet from BuzzFeed's Brandon Wall with video from interview:

Link to tweet

[Petrushka]

20. Here's a link I I just found containing the complete geraldo rivera interview of Trump ---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=YRW3x1TTWoQ

[TeamPooka]

7. If there's anyone who doesn't believe in paying debts it's Donald Trump.

[highplainsdem]

8. True.

[Nay]

23. Yeah, but it's only HIM who shouldn't have to pay. Other ppl need to pony up pronto.

Especially poor ppl, since they're so shiftless.

[Crash2Parties]

9. I think that, like with the Pope, people read too much into Trumps vague words.

It is likely someone has been talking around or near him about getting rid of Puerto Rico's debt. It's also extremely like, given the crowd that he has chosen to surround himself with, that what they were actually talking about was privatization of the entire island economy. With the twist of course, that they (the Capitalists) would get the profit while the Puerto Rico government & thus the citizens, would get the liability.

[briv1016]

10. I think he may be referring to the $33M he owes Puerto Rico.

[angrychair]

15. This

This is why we need a “finger touching side of nose” emoji 👃👈

[KY_EnviroGuy]

11. Massive privatization is my guess.

Handled cleverly by Golden Sacks (with zillions in fees). Perhaps like the EU "rescued" Greece?

Capitalism always comes with conditions and little charity.

Hope someone here with knowledge of Puerto Rico's assets and debt can shed some light on this.

[Granny M]

12. Exactly.

Disaster capitalism poised to strike again.

[DFW]

13. Like the bad guy said to Dirty Harry......

Who's "we," sucker?

What's Trump going to do, write them a check?

I wonder what Trump thinks he would do, even if he COULD wipe out PR's debt with a wave of his magic wand? What will he tell Sam Brownback when he comes calling, and says, "Hey, you know what you just did with Puerto Rico's debt? Well, we sorta have the same problem in Kansas, and I was wondering if I might get us some kind of similar deal here...."

[Petrushka]

19. + 1

[C Moon]

14. With Trump, there's always strings attached to an evil puppet.

[Skittles]

16. is Donald Fucking Trump REALLY going to complain about DEBT being wiped out

what a fucking hypocrite

[Ilsa]

17. How about a student loan jubilee while we're at it? nt

[Vinca]

22. #9,999 of "tell the people what they want to hear so they love me."

[Javaman]

24. now watch has his handlers scramble to explain with the trumpster fire really meant. nt