Journalists are criticizing President Donald Trump for pledging $1 million of his own money to relief efforts for destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the announcement at a briefing on Thursday.
"I spoke directly with the president earlier and I am happy to tell that he would like to join in the efforts that a lot of the people that we've seen across the country do, and he's pledging a million dollars of personal money to the fund," Sanders said in response to a reporter's question on what Trump and his family had personally donated to Harvey relief.
Social media responses to the president's planned contribution were generally positive. Some journalists and media figures, however, appeared to criticize or cast doubt on Trump's pledge. Those figures included MSNBC host Joy Reid, New York Times Magazine contributor and Wonkette founding editor Ana Marie Cox, Mother Jones editor in chief Clara Jeffery, and an opinion writer for Rolling Stone, among others.
https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/903618444549029888
$4 million less than when he offered Barack Obama $5 million for his birth certificate. https://t.co/sXjM6EdDAp
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) August 31, 2017
ONE TENTH OF ONE PERCENT OF THE CUTS TO DISASTER AID IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET. https://t.co/bYEOuhXtr4
— take care of yourself (@anamariecox) August 31, 2017
Be skeptical of Trump's "pledge" to donate $1 million to victims of Harvey. Give credit when the check is cashed. https://t.co/VTxQoTxCWa pic.twitter.com/6qJlFduvZS
— Tim Steller (@senyorreporter) September 1, 2017
Sandra Bullock and a bunch of other rich people beat him to it. And will probably actually pay it. https://t.co/NqMZsaTKyz
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) August 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/jesseberney/status/903345750175883268
https://twitter.com/jfagone/status/903619447654666241
On Wednesday, a CNN contributor criticized Trump for not donating to Houston relief efforts.
Houston Donations so far:
Sandra Bullock 1 million
Beyoncé 7 mill
JJ Watt efforts 6 mill
Joel Osteen: prayer
Donald Trump: Good Luck!— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) August 30, 2017
The president's pledge to donate $1 million was announced the next day.