Trump warns Puerto Rico over aid

US president Donald Trump lashed out at hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico yesterday, insisting in tweets that the federal government could not keep sending help “forever” and suggesting the US territory was to blame for its financial struggles.

His broadsides triggered an outcry from Democrats in Washington and officials on the island, which has been reeling since Hurricane Maria struck three weeks ago, leaving death and destruction.

San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, with whom Mr Trump has had a running war of words, tweeted that the president’s comments were “unbecoming” to a commander in chief and “seem more to come from a ’Hater in Chief ’”.

“Mr President, you seem to want to disregard the moral imperative that your administration has been unable to fulfil,” the mayor said in a statement.

The debate played out as the House headed toward passage of a $36.5 billion disaster aid package, including assistance for Puerto Rico.