Joe Henderson: Donald Trump’s missed opportunity in State of the Union

FEMA is not stopping shipments of food and water to Puerto Rico, after all.

Your opinion of President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union speech probably hinges on whether you like him or not. This isn’t about that. It’s about something much more basic — the chance to change the narrative about his presidency.

He had an opportunity to make a splash about what’s happening with Puerto Rico, and he didn’t take advantage.

After all, did anyone else find it curious that he pledged his love and support for the people of Puerto Rico on the same day NPR reported that FEMA will end hurricane food and water shipments to that American island?

This is a direct quote from the president’s speech: “To everyone still recovering in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, California, and everywhere else — we are with you, we love you, and we will pull through together.”

Nice words. Now, tell that to the estimated 20 percent of the island that is without fresh water.

Both of Florida’s U.S. senators denounced the decision.

Democrat Bill Nelson said he was “absolutely shocked” and called it a “travesty.”

Republican Marco Rubio added, “At the end of the day, here’s the bottom line: Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. It is the responsibility of the United States. These are United States citizens.”

Many Florida congressional members signed a bipartisan letter asking that aid be continued.

So, about that whole thing the president said to Puerto Rico about how “we love you” and we’ll be there with you, what’s the deal?

You know what would have been a real headline-grabbing moment for the president?

He could have taken that stage to announce, “You know, I saw that today about FEMA and Puerto Rico. That was a bad decision. People are still suffering, and I am hereby issuing a presidential executive order that the aid be immediately restored and continued until the island is back to 100 percent.”

I have to believe that would have brought everyone in the house to their feet and Trump would have been praised from all sources this morning.

He may indeed do that, eventually. Given the backlash, it’s hard to believe FEMA’s edict will stand.

I’m just saying that if the president wanted to make his speech one that would have been talked about forever, there was his chance. Chalk it up to a giant missed opportunity.