U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz saying that she wants the federal government to do everything for them following hurricane Maria attack on the area.
Trump’s criticism comes on the heels of criticism of Trump’s effort to get supplies, electricity and other relief to the U.S. Island after the hurricane devastation.
The U.S. president said: “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,” Trump said in a series of tweets.
It would be recalled on Friday that Trump pledged to spare no effort to help Puerto Ricans recover from Hurricane Maria’s ruinous aftermath even as Cruz accused the administration of “killing us with the inefficiency.”
Cruz said she wanted to “make sure somebody is in charge that is up to the task of saving lives,” while the president asserted that U.S. officials and emergency personnel are working all-out against daunting odds, with “incredible” results.
Trump also tweeted Saturday: “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.”
And he tweeted: “The military and first responders, despite no electric, roads, phones etc., have done an amazing job.
“Puerto Rico was totally destroyed,” and, “Fake News CNN and NBC are going out of their way to disparage our great First Responders as a way to “get Trump.” Not fair to FR or effort!”
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, a Democrat, has said the administration is being responsive to the island’s needs and on Saturday appeared to try to deflect questions about Cruz’s comments.
He suggested the Trump-Cruz issue was to his “side” and said his message is that he’s “here to help” and collaborate with the federal government on resources.
On Friday, Rossello said Trump has responded to his requests after the island was clipped by Hurricane Irma, then struck by Maria.
He also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and its dirctor, Brock Little, have essentially been in cotact with him “all of the time.
Trump’s acting homeland security secretary, Elaine Duke, visited the island Friday, surveying the landscape by helicopter in an hour-long tour, driving past still-flooded streets, twisted billboards and roofs with gaping holes, and offering encouragement to some of the 10,000 emergency personnel she says the U.S. government has on the ground.
Read more: Fox News
