Report: Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign amid protests


Days after announcing he would not seek re-election but would stay in office, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is reportedly about to step aside after all.
Rosselló, who has been facing calls to step down after the publication of leaked text messages in which he and his aides make sexist and homophobic comments and mock Hurricane Maria victims, is expected to announce his resignation on Wednesday, CNN reports. Secretary of Justice Wanda Vazquez would take over as governor.
This comes as hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Puerto Rico to demand the resignation of Rosselló, who in addition to the leaked chats also came under fire after two former members of his administration were arrested by the FBI for alleged corruption. President Trump in recent days has blasted Rosselló as a "terrible governor," Fox News reports.
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.
On Sunday, Rosselló announced that he would not run for re-election and would step down as New Progressive Party president, but he did not resign as protesters have demanded. "I have committed errors and I have apologized," he said. "I am a good man that has a grand love for my island and for all."
CNN's report follows previous reporting from two local media outlets in Puerto Rico that Rosselló is to resign, reports the Miami Herald, which prompted celebration from protesters. One outlet, El Nuevo Día, reported that Rosselló will make his announcement before noon.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Zohran Mamdani: the young progressive likely to be New York City's next mayor
In The Spotlight The policies and experience that led to his meteoric rise
-
The best film reboots of all time
The Week Recommends Creativity and imagination are often required to breathe fresh life into old material
-
'More must be done'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders