WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump touched down in Puerto Rico on Tuesday and highlighted what he describes as the federal government’s effective response to the storm despite criticism of a sluggish effort since Hurricane Maria devastated the island nearly two weeks ago.
“You can be very proud” of relief and live-saving efforts, Trump told local officials and emergency responders on the ground in San Juan.
Trump, who is accompanied on the trip by first lady Melania Trump, attended a briefing with with San Juan Mayor Yulin Cruz, who has been sharply critical of Trump, and other local officials. The president shook the mayor’s hand at the briefing.
In a brief exchange Cruz, who Trump has accused of playing politics, the mayor told the president, “It’s not about politics.”
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At that briefing, Trump praised Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo A. Rosselló for speaking positively about the federal government’s efforts on the island.
The governor is “not even from my party,” Trump said. “Right from the beginning, this governor did not play politics. He didn’t play it at all.” Instead, the president said, the governor’s praise was a sign that he was “saying it like it was.”
Trump compared the 16 people who died in Puerto Rico as a result of the storm to the “thousands” that perished after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.
The relief efforts have come at a cost, Trump pointed out to local officials at the briefing, saying that the disaster has “thrown our budget a little out of whack” but adding that it’s worth it for all of the lives saved.
The president also called out FEMA Administrator Brock Long, grading him “A+” for recent relief efforts in Texas and Florida. “Brock has been unbelievable,” Trump said.
But, Trump added, Puerto Rico’s recovery “has been the toughest one.”
Trump pointed out the strength of the hurricane that hit the island — “a Category Five, which few people have ever even heard of” that he said “hit land and, boy, did it hit land.”
Residents, many of whom have been without water, electricity, housing and basic necessities, told NBC News ahead of Trump’s arrival that he has been late in coming and that the federal government’s response has been slow.
While the president has lauded first responders in Puerto Rico throughout the crisis, he has also lashed out at local leaders, including Cruz, who has criticized the government’s response and made public pleas to Trump to send more help.
Over the weekend, Trump accused Cruz of “such poor leadership” and partisan-motivated attacks against him as he charged that some in Puerto Rico want “everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort.” In later tweets, he accused “politically motivated ingrates” and “fake news” of not recognizing the “amazing work” that the federal government has done so far in Puerto Rico.
Departing the White House earlier Tuesday, the president insisted recovery efforts were as good as those in Florida and Texas despite the “tougher situation.”
While the administration has mobilized federal efforts to help, there has been widespread criticism about the speed and execution of government recovery efforts in Puerto Rico — with some even likening the situation to New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina under President George W. Bush.