House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., slammed President Trump for stating 3,000 people did not die in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria, calling the president’s tweet “demoralizing” and “incomprehensible.”
As Hurricane Florence approached the coast of the Carolinas Thursday, Trump falsely tweeted that Democrats made up the 3,000-person death toll to “make me look as bad as possible.” The number is widely accepted, including by the island’s governor, and confirms reporting by a number of news outlets.
“President Trump tweeted yesterday that the death toll of 3,000 people, 3,000 Americans, was made up to discredit his presidency,” said Pelosi, taking a long pause. “Think about that, pray over that. Think of the people who are affected by that.”
Pelosi added that the attitude from Trump and Congress toward Puerto Rico is “unacceptable.”
[Opinion: Trump ducks as Hurricane Florence dunks the Atlantic coast]
Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., a native of Puerto Rico, criticized Trump for the “shameful” tweet.
“Despite the president’s effort to gaslight our nation and deflect blame, the people of Puerto Rico know the truth,” said Velazquez.
Pressed on whether representatives from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands should be more forceful with the president on recovery efforts, Virgin Islands Del. Stacey Plaskett said she let’s Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello play the good parent while she plays the bad parent.
“We’re dealing with a sensitive instrument in the White House,” said Pelosi of Trump, referencing his disposition to fire off tweets when upset or threatened.
