So I agree it's not cool that he's golfing, but I am wondering what he could be doing instead.
Granted even if all he could do amounts to very little, it would be more than what he's actually done.
At a time like this, POTUS should physically be at a place where secure communications from an operational SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) can take place with as many experts on the region, officials and heads of relief efforts on the ground, appropriate military representation and others either on hand or standing by to join the conversation.
Secure communications at this level usually means POTUS being in the White House Situation Room and definitely Washington DC. It definitely does not mean a private golf course.
Sensitive conversations such as whether or not to shoot down an airplane full of civilians that is headed toward the White House down need to happen quickly and privately.
Obviously this is an extreme example, but a more realistic one in this case might be the suggestion to use a private contractor over a government resource by an individual with known ties to the contractor. The suggestion might be a crass one to "help out" a political contributor or based on shoddy work by the government agency in the past versus great performance by the contractor in the particular situation. That type of discussion is vital but easily politicized.
Also, the military is often deployed to take care of logistical and security issues. Those discussions should not be overheard by anyone who isn't pertinent to them.
POTUS usually plays two important roles in situations like these:
1.
Facilitate coordination of relief efforts: this is a broad responsibility because it depends on the nature of what's needed.
Whether it's getting the right people in a room or on the phone together, deployment of resources under executive control, twisting arms or mashing the right bruises (a colorful Texan political phrase), no one potentially helpful in such a situation refuses a call from POTUS.
A relevant example:
If someone like a structural engineer says "this dam might fail any second now" and tens of thousands Puerto Ricans need to evacuate now" then there are two problems.
One is where these people should go and the second is to evaluate the dam for immediate stabilization if possible and structural damage that might cause failure at any given time.
To deal with the structural damage, POTUS can make sure that the Army Corps of Engineers, for example, is dealing with the problem. If a team of structural engineers are at a facility nearby, POTUS can say "make sure they get transported to the safest location and are updated on what is known". This might seem trivial and irrelevant, but ask anyone who has done disaster relief work what the hardest part is. Coordination in some form will be the most frequent reply, guaranteed.
Where do tens of thousands of go safely without straining that location's resources far beyond capacity? It takes a lot of coordination to answer that question, particularly on an island without a lot of infrastructure right now. Food, water, and shelter are a must. Safety is also a concern.
POTUS can greatly help coordinate those large-scale efforts just by being present.
2.
Reassurance: POTUS is traditionally a source of comfort and stability during times of great crisis in the US.
The lack of this type of presence from Trump until the criticism piles up ridiculously high illustrates how important this role is.
POTUS usually cares about US citizens, regardless of color or ethnic identity. POTUS speaks to the American people as well as to those directly affected to say "if misfortune befalls you, your country will be there for you."
Some might say it's unimportant, but the backlash that occurred when Trump first visited Houston belies this viewpoint. It was so bad that he had to return and actually interact with individuals directly impacted by the hurricane, including black people.
Trump should have been doing all these things in Washington DC, particularly since important issues were not being addressed in Puerto Rico.
I'm almost okay with Trump resigning and dealing with the Pence/Ryan team. It's that disgusting.
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")