The mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz, blasted President Trump Tuesday after Trump claimed that the U.S.’ response to Hurricane Maria last fall in Puerto Rico was “incredibly successful.”
“Success? Federal response according to Trump in Puerto Rico a success?” Cruz tweeted on Tuesday. “If he thinks the death of 3,000 people os (sic) a success God help us all.”
Success? Federal response according to Trump in Puerto Rico a success? If he thinks the death of 3,000 people os a success God help us all.
— Carmen Yulín Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) September 11, 2018
Trump and Cruz sparred on Twitter after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico and left much of the island without power. At the time, Trump attacked Cruz for demonstrating “poor leadership” after she requested additional help from the administration. Democrats also criticized the administration for not acting swiftly enough.
Puerto Rico’s government updated the death toll from Hurricane Maria late last month, and now believes that 2,975 people died because of the hurricane and its aftermath.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also criticized Trump’s comments, claiming that the remarks were “offensive” and “hurtful.”
“This is an offensive, hurtful and blatantly false comment from the president,” Schumer said, per NBC. “Nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens died in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. That is the complete opposite of ‘success.’”
[More: Trump says feds succeeded in Puerto Rico despite ‘totally incompetent’ San Juan mayor]
During a briefing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and FEMA Administrator Brock Long on Tuesday, Trump praised his administration for how they handled the catastrophe.
“The job that FEMA and law enforcement and everybody did working along with the governor in Puerto Rico I think was tremendous,” Trump said. “I think that Puerto Rico was an incredible, unsung success.”
Trump also said the U.S. was prepared to handle the “tremendously big and tremendously wet” Hurricane Florence, which is poised to strike states including North and South Carolina later this week.
“We are totally prepared. We’re ready,” Trump said. “We’re as ready as anybody has ever been.”
