Donald Trump Jr. Blasted Over Tubbataha Reef Tweet

Posted on January 31st, 2013. Written by Rico.

The son of US real-estate developer Donald Trump may become the latest object of ire for many Filipinos online and off, as he tweeted criticism on the cleanup efforts in the wake of the USS Guardian running aground on local ecotourism landmark Tubbataha Reef.

The tweet was posted earlier this morning, in response to a Drudge Report article detailing how the Guardian, a US Navy Minesweeper, would have to be effectively dismantled “to prevent harming the ocean’s ecosystem, according to the Navy and other reports.”

This is how stupid we are! $1/4 bil+ ho hum “@drudge_report: Navy to scrap $277 million ship to avoid scraping reef… drudge.tw/XSG79T”

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 30, 2013

The statement was a criticism of US President Obama’s administration, as indicated by Trump Jr.’s reply to an offended Twitter user:

@sk1mpy @drudge_report yes because very the small section of reef that has Already been run over is is worth 1/4bil Obamanomics much?

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 30, 2013

Regardless of intent, Trump Jr.’s Tweet was blasted for its apparent insensitivity:

@donaldjtrumpjr @drudge_report we only have one nature you destructive fuck.

— Skimpy (@SK1MPY) January 30, 2013

@donaldjtrumpjr A boat is more important than a coral reef?

— Adam Quirk (@adamq112) January 30, 2013

Since Tubbataha Reef is a world-famous marine sanctuary, some Filipinos expressed their outrage as well

@donaldjtrumpjr @drudge_report This is our natural resources. US should spend more than 277 million to repair damage. Jeez. Asshole much?

— carlosceldran (@carlosceldran) January 31, 2013

@donaldjtrumpjr @brianrad5 from latest dive, an estimated 1000 square meters of reef already damaged and continues to grow as ship stays.

— Paolo Cabrera (@undertheseen) January 31, 2013

In any case, Trump Jr. is sticking to his guns as of this writing, replying to most of those who’ve called him out over the Tweet:

@mateoimmanuel @adamq112 but that damage is done unfortunately. Months of disassembly & other boats will do more damage than pulling it off

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 31, 2013

@undertheseen too late. That’s my point they could have done it right away and it would have been les than what’s happened since

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 31, 2013

The point of the US citizen and star of “The Apprentice” (along with his father) is clear: why is the US government wasting so much to dismantle a warship, when they’re cutting military spending to save money? Through his interaction with other Twitter users, it’s also clear that Donald Trump Jr. thinks that simply pulling off the boat would be the most cost-effective solution and actually cause less damage in the long run. What do you think, dear readers? Jose Mar. Lorenzo Tan, the CEO of World Worldlife Fund Philippines, said this about Trump:

“This discussion is a fait accompli. The ship is scrap. Cracking, leaking, flooded. That guy obviously doesn’t read, doesn’t care. And someone should tell Mark Cojuangco that the same fines apply to all ships, regardless of country of origin. All other groundings have been charged the same fine, as set by law. And they have all paid.”