President Trump opened a news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Tuesday by offering “America’s hearts and prayers” to those in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after Democrats criticized the president for ignoring the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.
“I’d like to take a moment to send America’s hearts and prayers to the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” Trump said at the beginning of the news conference. “Both have been devastated, and I mean absolutely devastated, by Hurricane Maria. We’re doing everything in our power to help the hard-hit people of both places, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.”
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm last week, knocking out power for the island’s 3.5 million residents. Food, water, and fuel have been increasingly scarce on the U.S. territory, and government officials say Puerto Rico could be without power for four to six months.
Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as first responders and the military, are being deployed to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to “save lives, protect families, and begin a long and very, very difficult restoration process.”
The president plans to visit the islands next week, and White House officials including Tom Bossert, the president’s homeland security adviser, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday.
“Over the last several weeks, our nation has been tested by the destructive force of mother nature, but we will respond to it with an even mightier force: The resolve of the American spirit. Texas, Louisiana, Florida are in really good shape and moving along well,” Trump said. “We thank all of the first responders and volunteers who have risked their lives. That’s what they did, they risked their lives. All of those impacted by the trouble and these horrible hurricanes and storms that have affected and impacted our country, I thank you. The recovery process will be a very, very difficult one. We will get through this, and we will get through it together.”
Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, have accused the president of paying too little attention to the devastation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and has instead opted to focus on the NFL and players who kneel during the national anthem.
The president has tweeted several times over the last few days about the NFL and athletes who have taken a knee during the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and called the players who kneel to be fired.
But Trump bucked any suggestion he has been preoccupied with the NFL and said he has been focused on recovery efforts in the U.S. territories.
