San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz implored President Trump to be quiet and not tweet about Puerto Rico if he has nothing nice to say as the island braces for Hurricane Dorian to make landfall.
Trump said “Puerto Rico is one of the most corrupt places on earth” and how he was “the best thing that’s ever happened to Puerto Rico” in two tweets Wednesday morning.
He also sent a tweet directly aimed at Cruz, with whom he has feuded since the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Cruz criticized the federal government’s response, while Trump maintains the mainland provided more than enough support but the local government’s corruption and incompetence led to the problems.
We are tracking closely tropical storm Dorian as it heads, as usual, to Puerto Rico. FEMA and all others are ready, and will do a great job. When they do, let them know it, and give them a big Thank You – Not like last time. That includes from the incompetent Mayor of San Juan!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2019
….And by the way, I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to Puerto Rico!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2019
“We know how bad it is to have somebody try to kick you down in the midst of your worst nightmare and darkest moment,” Cruz told MSNBC. “So we’ll continue to push on. We’ll continue to fight him and call him on his lies, and then again, you know, he thinks this is about him. This is not about him. This is about people’s lives.”
“This is the kind of man that would fight and scold people that were caught inside a burning building and blaming them for not getting out there fast enough. Well, you know, again, if he can’t be supportive, let those that are willing to be supportive take on the task of saving lives,” she said.
