President Trump phoned Tangier Island Mayor James “Ooker” Eskridge Monday after viewing a CNN report about the Virginia island’s struggle with rising sea levels.
“He said not to worry about sea-level rise,” Eskridge said. “He said, ‘Your island has been there for hundreds of years, and I believe your island will be there for hundreds more.’”
During the CNN interview, Eskridge had said he loved Trump as much as he would a family member. When staffers brought the CNN report to Trump’s attention, “he said, ‘I’ve just got to talk to that guy,’” the mayor said.
In Monday’s call, Eskridge told the president that Tangier Island is “a huge supporter of Donald Trump. … This is a Trump island; we really love you down here.”
The island in the Chesapeake Bay is a Republican stronghold — about 87% of residents voted for Trump in the November 2016 election.
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“He said, ‘Me and my family, we love you and your family and we love the citizens of Tangier Island.’ So, Donald Trump knows about Tangier Island — that’s going to be the peak of my career,” Eskridge said.“The whole time I’m talking to him, it’s just in the back of my mind — I can’t believe Donald Trump’s on the phone with me. I mean, to call a crabber out here. I’m sure he had a busy schedule here on a Monday. I thanked him for that — I said, ‘I appreciate you taking time to call me,’” Eskridge said.
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Yeah, but I understand he has a problem with leaks....