The relationship between the two leaders has soured in recent months. But their message on Wednesday was the same and focused on the victims of this tragic accident.
PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. — President Donald Trump offered kind words to those most impacted by a deadly military plane crash that happened just before noon, Wednesday.
«I have been briefed on the U. S. C-130 ‘Hercules’ cargo plane from the Puerto Rico National Guard that crashed near Savannah Hilton Head International Airport,» he tweeted. «Please join me in thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard.»
I have been briefed on the U. S. C-130 “Hercules” cargo plane from the Puerto Rico National Guard that crashed near Savannah Hilton Head International Airport. Please join me in thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard.
The message was in response to the plane crash just outside of Savannah, Georgia that killed at least five people. Authorities aren’t offering many details on the cause or the number of people aboard.
However, they have confirmed that the aircraft was from the Air National Guard’s 156th Airlift Wing which is based in Puerto Rico. The crew was on a training mission from Savannah to Arizona when the aircraft crashed on a highway in Savannah, Georgia.
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Earlier in the afternoon, Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rossello also offered words to the families of the victims as well.
Tanto @BeatrizRossello como yo estamos consternados con el accidente aéreo ocurrido hoy en Georgia. Nuestras oraciones con las familias de los puertorriqueños tripulantes.
«@BeatrizRossello as much as I am dismayed by the plane crash that took place today in Georgia. Our prayers with the families of the Puerto Rican crew,» he wrote in Spanish on his own Twitter account.
The words from both leaders come at a time when relations between the U. S. government and its island territory have been strained.
Months later, Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria which devastated many there in 2017. Initially, both Rossello and the Trump administration appeared to be in lock-step with each other.
However, as recovery continues to lag, that relationship has soured. An indirect war of words between Rossello and Republicans over a bill the governor believed would hurt companies in Puerto Rico by raising taxes signaled a significant shift in tone.
NBC reports that during a 30-minute speech, Rossello accused Washington of turning its back on the island. He had previously vowed to make Florida Republicans pay for supporting the tax bill. He also called out Marco Rubio for supporting it.
Relations between the two appeared to reach a tipping point after Trump allegedly made a derogatory comment about Haiti and African countries during a discussion over immigration.
«The presidency should be a presidency that accepts everybody, that lets everybody in,» Rossello said. «It needs to be a presidency for everybody — not just for some folks.»
