Politics

Trump slams Puerto Rico’s plea for help as a personal attack

The tweets keep coming from the US president.

By now, US president Donald Trump is no stranger to criticism regarding his handling of the devastation that Puerto Rico has faced in the wake of Hurricane Maria, but he may have gone a step too far with his latest flurry of social media posts. 

“The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump,” the president posted on his Twitter account. 

“Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.

“The military and first responders, despite no electric, roads, phones etc., have done an amazing job. Puerto Rico was totally destroyed.” 

The president followed his comments with some reposted videos of relief efforts on the ground in the US territory. 

San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz drew such criticism from the president after making a desperate plea in a news conference. 

“We are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency. I am begging, begging anyone that can hear us, to save us from dying.” 

Since Trump’s tweets, Cruz has reiterated that municipal employees in Puerto Rico are working as hard as they can, and that her statement was a plea for help. Cruz said she will not be “distracted by small comments, by politics, by petty issues”. 

But the president wasn’t finished. After a brief respite, during which the general public began to decry his remarks as being “despicable” and “deplorable”, Trump went on the attack again. 

“Fake News CNN and NB care going out of their way to disparage our great First Responders as a way to ‘get Trump.’ Not fair to FR or effort!

“I will be going to Puerto Rico on Tuesday with Melania. Will hopefully be able to stop at the U.S. Virgin Islands (people working hard). 

“The Fake News Networks are working overtime in Puerto Rico doing their best to take the spirit away from our soldiers and first R’s. Shame!”

 

Trump continues to assert that the “fake news media” is responsible for the way his response to Puerto Rico is being perceived. 

“Despite the Fake News Media in conjunction with the Dems, an amazing job is being done in Puerto Rico. Great people!” the president tweeted later in the day.

In his most recent social media posts, the president is lauding any officials associated with Puerto Rico who aren’t chastising him. 

“The Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, is a great guy and leader who is working hard. Thank you Ricky!

“Just spoke to Governor Kenneth Mapp of the U.S. Virgin Islands who stated that FEMA and Military are doing a GREAT job! Thank you Governor!” 

What do you think of Trump’s Twitter tirade? 

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