Political analyst Ángel Rosa said on NotiUno 630 that Puerto Rico’s political status will dominate debate over the next two years following the midterm elections held on Tuesday, November 3. Speaking with attorney José Javier Lama on the program Profesor Ángel Rosa en el 630, Rosa said Democrats have "an overwhelming majority" and the opportunity to block Donald Trump for the rest of his presidency.
Lama agreed the result reflected a rejection of Trump and Trumpism, the war in Iran and the high cost of living in the United States. Rosa said Governor Jenniffer González, who traveled to Florida to campaign for Republican candidates, asked Democrats on Thursday to push legislation making Puerto Rico a state, to ensure fair treatment in Medicaid and to advance the transition to the nutrition assistance program.
Rosa said he was told Trump has said in private groups that he would sign a statehood bill under the conditions applied to New Mexico and Arizona; Rosa did not identify his sources. He said the government would have to speak English, with school instruction in English rather than bilingual, and an immediate economic transition.
Rosa read a Washington Examiner article published on Friday titled, in his translation, "Trump must give Puerto Rico independence before Democrats add five members to Congress," which says 40% of island residents remain below the poverty level and labor participation is between 44% and 45%. Asked whether Trump could grant independence by decree, a participant said constitutional theory holds that Congress grants statehood or independence because the territorial clause gives it plenary powers over territories.
Rosa said Democratic politicians from New York’s socialist wing meet in San Juan on Friday with Juan Dalmau as a panelist, creating a space to advance independence that independistas are using.