On Sunday morning, President Trump woke up early to grim news out of Texas: a flash flood emergency had been declared in and around Houston after 2 feet of rain fell in 24 hours, with more to come.
In response, he picked up his phone and fired off a series of tweets bragging about the “great response” from his administration:
Great coordination between agencies at all levels of government. Continuing rains and flash floods are being dealt with. Thousands rescued.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Many people are now saying that this is the worst storm/hurricane they have ever seen. Good news is that we have great talent on the ground.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
You can almost visualize him shouting “Our storms are the best. The BEST.” from the podium of one of his stump speeches. It’s a remarkably ignorant response to a situation that has already claimed multiple levels, and threatens to claim more with each passing hour.
Wow – Now experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood! We have an all out effort going, and going well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Twitter users had to respond:
Sounds like you're bragging about it. It's a natural disaster not a fucking rally crowd!
— HopelessHicks (@RicanInBoston) August 27, 2017
It's almost as if you want to make yourself look better by how well the workers cleaning up after the hurricane do. You are NOT responsible
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) August 27, 2017
Trump used this disaster to push through Arpaio's pardon and a banning of transgender troops from the military. Despicable.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) August 27, 2017
That's just a Chinese-Indian-Iranian-German hoax…
— Christiaan Czíria (@CCzria) August 27, 2017
But roughly 20 minutes before Trump’s Harvey-related tweet — which, you should note, makes no mention of the situation in Houston at all — he tweeted this…
A great book by a great guy, highly recommended! https://t.co/3jbDDN8YmJ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Clarke is a controversial figure in the law enforcement community, often getting a mention in the same breath as the former sheriff, Joe Arpaio, whom Trump recently — and controversially — pardoned. As with the pardon, the weather disaster provides Trump with cover as he boosts divisive personalities.
The ever-attentive Twitter users spotted Trump’s pro-Clarke tweet and called out the highly questionable timing.
They're telling people to climb onto their rooftops in Houston and this jackass is tweeting about a book. #houstonflood https://t.co/lDuS0RgTgM
— Justin Yandell (@ShotgunZen) August 27, 2017
😡😤 @realDonaldTrump MSM coverage you diverted with damn pardon crap could have been focused on #houstonflood evac. & prep. This cost lives
— ♻️ Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) August 27, 2017
I seriously can't believe Trump is tweeting a book review when #houstonflood is happening and people are drowning. #SundayMorning pic.twitter.com/PsJlgawjme
— Barbara Ann 🔹 (@TweetingYarnie) August 27, 2017
Someone needs to impress upon this president the importance of comforting the nation when tragedy strikes, because he’s clearly incapable of grasping that on his own.
