Posted on 10/03/2017 3:46:09 PM PDT by markomalley
President Trump on Tuesday heaped praise on federal and local officials for their response to Hurricane Maria in his first remarks after landing on the storm-ravaged island — but pointedly left out the mayor of San Juan, with whom he's been embroiled in a Twitter feud.
A jovial Trump, seated at a table between Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and first lady Melania Trump, repeatedly singled out elected officials and military leaders both for their efforts and for their praise of his administration.
In his remarks on Rosselló, Trump appeared to be taking a veiled shot at San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, whom the president attacked over the weekend for her criticism of the federal response efforts.
“He’s not even from my party, but he started right from the beginning appreciating what we did,” Trump said of Rosselló in remarks at a National Guard base. “This governor did not play politics. He didn’t play it all. He was saying it like it was and he was giving us the highest grades.”
Cruz attended the briefing, but sat far away from the president. Trump did not mention her during his remarks, even as he cast praise widely on other federal and territory officials for their work, including the island’s representative in Congress, Jennifer González-Colón (R). The two leaders did shake hands upon Trump’s arrival in Puerto Rico.
Speaking at the White House earlier Tuesday, Trump signaled he wanted to move past the spat.
“I think she’s come back a long way. I think it’s now acknowledged what a great job we’ve done, and people are looking at that,” he told reporters.
Trump’s Puerto Rico visit is a test of his ability to play the role of consoler in chief.
The president has been deeply critical of people who have questioned the federal response efforts, calling them “politically motivated ingrates” who aren’t doing enough to help their communities.
He also blasted the “poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help.”
On Tuesday, however, Trump came face-to-face with survivors of the Category 4 storm. A majority of the U.S. island territory’s 3.4 million citizens remain without power, adequate food and clean drinking water. Many citizens on the island have complained authorities have been slow to deliver relief supplies.
The president showed he will stick with his freewheeling style, even in a place facing a humanitarian crisis.
After making remarks, he walked around a neighborhood damaged by the storm and shook hands with local residents.
“We’re going to work it out, have a good time,” the president told one resident, having posed for a photo.
Beforehand, he made reference to the island’s $74 billion in debt, saying it might complicate federal budget requests for disaster relief.
“I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack because we spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico, and that's fine,” Trump said. “We saved a lot of lives.”
The president also compared the fatality count from Hurricane Maria to that of Hurricane Katrina, which killed thousands in 2005.
“If you looked — every death is a horror, but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died, and you look at what happened here with really a storm that was just totally overbearing, nobody has seen anything like this,” Trump said.
“What is your death count as of this morning, 17?" Trump asked.
“Sixteen people certified,” Rosselló responded.
“Sixteen people certified versus in the thousands,” Trump said. “You can be very proud of all of your people, all of our people working together. Sixteen versus literally thousands of people. You can be very proud.”
The official death toll, however, has not been updated in nearly a week. Media reports estimate the number is higher than 16.
Good, that stupid Hillary hag deserves no mention. She is a crook and a fraud.
She started it and President Trump will finish it.
The bimbo is playing with everyone.
GOOD!!!!!
I like that in this situation, Trump is speaking very bluntly about the important things. Generosity, but with both eyes wide open. “I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you’ve thrown our budget a little out of whack.”
I cannot think of any other American President who would have had the courage to break decorum and say what everyone knows to be the truth. Can you? They need to hear that. This will not become a matter of the ‘Money Faucet’ being turned on full blast until Kingdom Come. No! The politicians of that island will be expected to do their jobs in a competent and professional manner.
It’s shocking how many people think the government should trot in water and food within 12 hours after a major event.
Whose responsibility is their own safety? Themselves!!!!
If they didn’t care enough to stock up on water and food for a few weeks ahead, why should the government get blamed for it.
Most folks I know have some food in the home, canned goods or other stock that will last for a month or so.
Why didn’t these folks think of that?
The government simply cannot respond to 3.4 million people with a problem overnight. It takes days, weeks, and months...
All you panty-waist Leftist out there, go to school on this event.
Praise those that deserve it.
Don’t mention those that do not.
Very Presidential.
And what, there’s a reason he should sing her praises. She does interviews, surrounded by supplies, and tells the world that there are none.
Oh wait....I figured it out. She’s Puerto Rican. Someone ESLE is supposed to do all that handing out supplies, helping your neighbors, making sure the supplies are handed out in an orderly fashion. Someone ELSE is supposed to show some leadership. She’s just there for the corner office and doesn’t think she has to do anything.
Totally agree. Some people expect the government to take care of everything, and don’t believe in personal responsibility.
PR is a great place, and I think if Trump gets in there and helps (not through handouts, but through economic incentives) it can rise to its potential. They’re good hardworking people, but they have had a passive, federal teat-sucking, civil service union controlled government for years - remember, most Puerto Ricans learned their model of government from New York City. Need I say more?
She tried to Katrina him but Trump squelched it. They still aren’t used to a Republican who fights back.
You’re welcome. :D
Ooo, Trump said this, and then so-and-so said that....
Sheesh! These “reporters” are like a bunch of gossipy 13-year-old girls.
THWACK!!!! That’s gonna leave a mark!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.