Trump Talks Territories

Donald Trump, photo by Gage Skidmore

Presidential hopeful and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump published an op-ed in the Marianas Variety this morning concerning the citizens of American territories and commonwealths.

He starts by praising the residents of the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands for enrolling in the U.S. Armed Servies as a rate that exceeds the 50 states of the union. “All Americans should stand in awe of this commitment to the service of our nation.”

Trump also emphasizes that these islands “are vitally important to our national security as the outer most line of defense against potential encroachment by foreign powers.”

And he commits to considering the interests of these islands if “honored to earn the votes of the people of the United States, territories and commonwealths during the presidential primary process and am elected to serve.”

Trump promises to “appoint a Territory and Commonwealth Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The TCAC will be integrated into my presidential transition team, and be tasked with performing a holistic review of all federal regulations affecting the Territories and Commonwealths.”

And he promises to “appoint a special assistant to the president responsible for day-to-day interaction with the Territories and Commonwealths. This position would be the direct connection for the Office of Insular Affairs and the citizens in the territories and commonwealths.”

-KitJ