
People are comparing President Donald Trump to beheaded Queen Consort Marie Antoinette over his handling of the natural disaster in Puerto Rico.
On Friday, the administration was criticised by the Mayor of San Juan for its slow response to the damage done to Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria.
Asking for more federal assistance, Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said she was 'done being polite' and felt 'mad as well'.
In response, President Trump went after the Mayor.
The apparent lack of human empathy coming from the White House was summed up in the sentence:
They want everything to be done for them.
Writer Jess Dweck shared this unfortunate photo of Donald Trump, outside his resort Mar-A-Lago, sitting on a throne, flanked by the resort's domestic staff.
"They want everything to be done for them." https://t.co/SsrVvH6l9s— Jess Dweck (@Jess Dweck) 1506790891
The photo was taken in 2011 as part of a photoshoot at the resort featuring Donald Trump, his wife Melania, and their son Barron.
The opulence, and insinuation that officials in Puerto Rico are unjustly asking for assistance from the federal government, have led many to draw comparisons to the 18th century Queen consort of France Marie Antoinette.
Among the apocrypha of the French Revolution is the anecdote that when greeted by a bread riot, Queen Marie responded 'Let them eat cake'.
Although it is unknown if she ever said this, the unfavourable comparison to Queen Marie has been made whenever a national leader appears out of touch with the suffering of the population.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley was among those comparing the President to Queen Marie.
Trump plays Marie Antoinette: Sits at his golf club while Puerto Rico suffers... then attacks San Juan Mayor for "poor leadership."— Senator Jeff Merkley (@Senator Jeff Merkley) 1506816639
@EdKrassen It's his Marie Antoinette moment. https://t.co/YK9Bb38LzX— alex androvich 🌊 (@alex androvich 🌊) 1506799574
Even Marie Antoinette would be blushing over Trump slamming Mayor of San Juan from his private country club - my ne… https://t.co/sgOJQ0xpcb— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1506783096
I am quite certain @realDonaldTrump is the Marie Antoinette of the 21st Century. #copolitics https://t.co/p60gvZeqRM— Joe Salazar (@Joe Salazar) 1506866150
@NewDay #Trump & his Marie Antoinette cabinet using private jets at extreme cost to taxpayers say to Puerto Rico "Let them eat cake."— Wind Surf (@Wind Surf) 1506857961
@OhNoSheTwitnt I keep imagining Donnie dressed as Marie Antoinette and I can’t get it out of my head #disturbed— Stephen Coppinger (@Stephen Coppinger) 1506866550
Dear @realDonaldTrump, if you are going to proclaim, "Let them eat cake" you have to first send them the cake. https://t.co/Wvvb7Jipmk— Jean Esselink (@Jean Esselink) 1506864746
Marie Antoinnette, “Let them eat cake” Donald Trump, “They want everything done for them” History will remember— ▶️JimONeil (@▶️JimONeil) 1506804038