On October 3, 2017, President Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico to assess the damage following Hurricane Maria, one of the most devastating storms in the island’s history. The hurricane had left Puerto Rico in a state of crisis, with widespread destruction, power outages, and a humanitarian emergency.
During his visit, Trump met with local officials and toured some of the affected areas. However, one particular moment from this trip drew significant attention and controversy. While at a relief center in San Juan, Trump handed out supplies to a crowd of people. At one point, he began tossing paper towels into the audience as if they were souvenirs at a sporting event. This act sparked outrage and criticism, with many seeing it as insensitive and out of touch with the severity of the disaster. Critics argued that it trivialized the suffering of the Puerto Rican people, who were dealing with a lack of basic necessities like clean water, food, and electricity.
The incident became symbolic for many of what they perceived as the Trump administration’s inadequate response to the hurricane. Supporters of the president, however, defended the gesture, framing it as a light-hearted attempt to connect with those in attendance. Despite these differing perspectives, the image of Trump throwing paper towels remains one of the most memorable and controversial moments of his visit to Puerto Rico. It highlighted the tension surrounding the U.S. government’s response to the crisis on the island.
