WATCH: WH Deputy Spox Hogan Gidley Refers to Puerto Rico as ‘That Country’ in Contentious MSNBC Interview
MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson put the screws to Hogan Gidley Tuesday — grilling the White House deputy press secretary on President Donald Trump‘s latest disparaging remarks about Puerto Rico.
In the last 24 hours, Trump used his Twitter account to grumble about ongoing federal aid to Puerto Rico as the island continues to recover from the devastation cause by Hurricane Maria. He accused Puerto Rican politicians of incompetence and corruption amid the recovery efforts, and remarked that they “only take from USA” despite the fact that they are a U.S. territory full of American citizens.
Puerto Rico got 91 Billion Dollars for the hurricane, more money than has ever been gotten for a hurricane before, & all their local politicians do is complain & ask for more money. The pols are grossly incompetent, spend the money foolishly or corruptly, & only take from USA….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2019
….The best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico is President Donald J. Trump. So many wonderful people, but with such bad Island leadership and with so much money wasted. Cannot continue to hurt our Farmers and States with these massive payments, and so little appreciation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2019
Jackson conducted a broad-range interview with Gidley — starting with Puerto Rico on which she pressed him about Trump’s misleading statement regarding the $91 billion long-term recovery estimates. When Gidley insisted Puerto Rico is receiving more aid than any U.S. natural disaster rebuilding endeavor than ever before, Jackson retorted “that’s not true” and brought up Hurricane Katrina’s recovery price tag.
Gidley soon diverted to the “systematic mismanagement” of aid taking place in “that country,” slamming Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló for critiquing Trump to “take the blame off of [himself].” Jackson constantly called him out for “things that are not true,” and she also honed in on Trump’s insinuation that Puerto Rico “takes” from the U.S. as if they weren’t a part of it.
“Does he believe they are not equal U.S. citizens?” Jackson asked. “Why would he say they’re taking from the U.S. when they are part of the U.S.?”
Gidley called that idea “absolutely ridiculous” as he defended Trump’s approach to Puerto Rico, but Jackson pressed onward and asked why Gidley why he was rolling his eyes over questions on how Trump views Puerto Rico.
Later on, Jackson revisited the topic by asking Gidley what he meant when he referred to Puerto Rico as “that country.” Gidley said it was a mistake and he meant to say “territory,” which prompted Jackson to ask if there’s a “concern” that someone in the White House could have a slip of the tongue like that.
Watch above, via MSNBC.
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