Authorized statement of the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló:

(September 24, 2018 – La Fortaleza, San Juan) “Today, President Donald Trump made an unfortunate statement regarding the unequal and colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico.

The president said he is not in favor of statehood for the people of Puerto Rico based on a personal feud with a local mayor. This is an insensitive, disrespectful comment to over 3 million Americans who live in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Equality for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico is the biggest civil rights issue in the United States. Americans in the island cannot vote for their president and do not have voting representation in Congress yet are subject to federal laws. This undemocratic relationship has gone on for over 100 years.

Since World War I, Puerto Rican soldiers have fought hand in hand in all major military conflicts on behalf of our nation, the United States, yet our servicemen and women have no say in the government that sends them to war and cannot elect their commander in chief.

How can the United States make the case for democracy at the United Nations this week, when they have under their flag the most populous colony in the world? I urge all political leaders in the nation to define their views towards our quest for equal treatment for the U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico.

While a presidential candidate, Trump said that the will of the Puerto Rican people in any status referendum should be considered as Congress follows through on any desired change in status for Puerto Rico, including statehood. Moreover, the GOP 2016’s political platform explicitly recognized Puerto Rico’s 2012 status referendum and supported statehood.

Twice in the last 10 years, Puerto Ricans have supported, with their vote, equality through statehood. In democracies, the will of the people is not subject to the whims of one person.

I am confident that in the months ahead that we will get the support of members of Congress and the White House to achieve full equality through statehood for Puerto Rico.”