The election of President Trump has caused considerable disruption among many elected officials within the territories. However, many territorial advocates are optimistic that relations with the Trump administration may prove to be beneficial in the long run. Governors of American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands are part of a trend of elected territorial officials beginning to side with Trump on key issues.
American Samoa
With the recent Trump signing of an executive order granting greater access to commercial fishing on the island, Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula (R) is in full support of the president. Governor Pula says, “On the 125th anniversary of the Deed of Cession, when our forefathers chose to join the American family, President Trump has reaffirmed that partnership by honoring his commitment to support American industry and stand with small, remote communities like ours.” As a recently elected governor, Pula recently made the decision to join the Republican Party, part of a trend of territorial advocates in favor of the new president. On the whole, the governor and Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen (R) from American Samoa have highlighted the importance of territorial alignment with Trump. Governor Pula has stated, “Respect for God, Country, and Family are Samoan values. The GOP’s commitment to reforming the federal government and growing the economy will benefit American Samoa as we build a stronger future.” Overall, the general view of many American Samoans and advocates of the Trump administration is positive, with the potential for growth and development being the primary ambitions for the next four years.
Northern Mariana Islands
Governor Arnold Palacios (R) is another recent addition to the Republican Party, with the governor recently expressing a positive sentiment regarding territorial relations with Trump and his cabinet appointees. Palacios believes the Trump administration will work well in tandem with territorial governments to further the goals and aspirations of the insular areas. Palacios states, “A lot of his appointees are governors, and I believe that they… would be supportive of the programs for insular areas and the territories.” However, despite his recent move to the Republican Party, Palacios has underscored the importance of working with Democrats and Independents through varied bipartisan efforts to enhance the goals of the territories to increase quality of life for residents of the insular areas.
US Virgin Islands
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (D) has expressed positive sentiments surrounding the Trump administration. He has gone so far as to thank the president for exempting the USVI from proposed port fees for the island on Chinese vessels. Given that life in the USVI is highly dependent on imports from China, Trump’s action will allow the territory to do better economically. However, Bryan has expressed mixed feelings regarding the tariffs being levied by Trump, saying, “The administration’s push to strengthen domestic manufacturing is a direction I fundamentally agree with, but it must be pursued in ways that do not place additional financial pressure on communities like ours. That’s why I’m especially concerned about how these tariffs could add to the inflationary pressures already confronting Virgin Islands families and businesses.” Despite being a Democrat, Bryan has demonstrated positive relations with the Trump administration, proving that territorial goals can be collaboratively reached across party lines.
Even amidst the political upheaval caused by the Trump administration, territorial governors from American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands are displaying a positive outlook about the future of the insular areas under the current president.
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