Paul Ryan says high casualty count in Puerto Rico doesn't make Trump 'look bad'


Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has said that he secretly works to prevent President Trump-induced "tragedies," but apparently the hurricane relief effort for Puerto Rico was not one of them.
Ryan on Thursday said that the nearly 3,000 deaths following Hurricane Maria's devastating impact on Puerto Rico were "really no one's fault," reports USA Today. Trump baselessly claimed Thursday morning that Democrats had inflated the death toll in Puerto Rico "to make me look bad," falsely declaring that the estimated 2,975 people "did not die" as a result of an inadequate response. A government report found "excess mortality" from power outages and water shortages over several months following the storm, and local officials criticized the at-times botched federal efforts.
Asked about Trump's statements, Ryan said he had "no reason to dispute those numbers" from the report, pointing out that "roads were washed out, power was gone, and the casualties mounted for a long time," but he stopped short of placing any blame on Trump. "Casualties don't make a person look bad," he said, defending the Trump administration's response to the hurricane by saying the high death count was a mere "function of this devastating storm that hit an isolated island." Read more at USA Today.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein