News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. October 30, 2024: Prominent Puerto Rican Republican Zoraida Buxó Santiago has made headlines by endorsing Donald Trump amid backlash over a comment at a rally in New York that described Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, a speaker at Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden two days earlier, made the inflammatory comment, prompting widespread condemnation.
While many Puerto Rican public figures and celebrities, including Ricky Martin, Bad Bunny, Mark Anthony, Don Omar and Jennifer Lopez, have expressed support for Trump’s Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris, shadow U.S. Senator Buxó expressed confidence in Trump’s leadership , supporting him publicly. at a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania on October 29. Her decision, she said, centers on Trump’s commitment to resolving Puerto Rico’s status and supporting statehood.
“[Donald Trump] is the strong leader PR needs to pull us out of territorial oblivion and do justice,” Buxó wrote on social media, emphasizing her confidence in Trump’s stance. She cited his 2016 pledge to honor the results of Puerto Rico’s referendum on status, a commitment she says he reaffirmed in 2023.
The endorsement comes amid memories of Trump’s controversial visit to Puerto Rico in 2017, after Hurricane Maria, when he threw paper towels into a crowd — a gesture many saw as insensitive. Additionally, a federal investigation later found that his administration had delayed releasing billions in congressional disaster aid to the island, with reports of unprecedented procedural delays attributed to new review protocols put in place by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 2018.
Born and educated in Puerto Rico, Buxó has a legal background and previously served as the island’s Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She has held the role of shadow Senator since 2021, advocating for the US Congress to support Puerto Rico’s 2020 statehood referendum vote. Her current term will end in December 2024.
Puerto Rico’s shadow delegation to the US Senate consists of two delegates who are tasked with advocating for Puerto Rico’s statehood. Shadow delegates are unable to vote on legislation. The other shadow senator is Melinda Romero Donnelly. The shadow delegation of Puerto Rico is distinct from the Permanent Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
Buxó’s endorsement marks a divergence from many Puerto Ricans calling for greater support of Harris, who has promised to prioritize economic equality for Puerto Ricans.
In her plan for the island titled “Building an Economy of Opportunity for Puerto Rico” posted on her website, Harris outlines that she plans to work with “the private sector, the Puerto Rican government, municipalities and other stakeholders interested” to “strengthen the energy”. network, make Puerto Rico a center for the industries of the future and to elevate the island’s role as a vibrant economic and cultural center.”
Harris detailed that she plans to launch a federal task force on Puerto Rico’s economy focused on “investing in the industries of the future, fostering small business growth, strengthening the health care system,” expanding access to clean energy , providing lower cost housing and building more affordable housing, advancing health care services in Puerto Rico and more.
