Blasts ‘ingrates’ amid our ‘great job’
President Trump lashed out at “politically motivated ingrates” on Sunday, ramping up his feud with the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and what he continued to call the “Fake News” media for their criticism of his administration’s response to the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
“We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico. Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates, people are now starting to recognize the amazing work that has been done by FEMA and our great Military,” the president wrote in a pair of tweets.
In earlier tweets, Trump claimed the news media were in cahoots with Democrats to downplay his relief efforts.
On Saturday, he lashed out at San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and claimed she had been complimentary about his efforts until Democrats approached her and told her she “must be nasty to Trump.”
Cruz on Sunday said the priority should be “saving lives” not name-calling as Puerto Rico struggles to recover from Maria and Hurricane Irma before that.
“There’s only one goal and it’s saving lives. So any dialogue that goes on just has to be able to produce results,” she told ABC’s “This Week.”
Trump, who spent the weekend at his golf resort in Bedminster, NJ, said his administration was making a difference on the island.
“All buildings now inspected for safety,” he tweeted.
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló told The New York Times that he “was not aware of such inspection.”
After sending out his tweets, Trump headed to Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City to preside over the trophy presentation at the end of the President’s Cup Golf Tournament.
The team of American professional golfers defeated a combined team from countries around the world, excluding Europe, to take its seventh title. The team included top US pros, such as Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson.
Trump dedicated the team’s trophy to the people in storm-dam- aged regions, including Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico.
“I want to just remember them, and we’re going to dedicate this trophy to all those people who went through so much, that we love, that are part of our great state, really a part of our great nation,” Trump said while patting the shining cup.
Flanked by golfers and greeted by cheers, Trump acknowledged the “horrible” situation in Puerto Rico but stated, “We have it under really great control.”
The 14th-green ceremony Sunday was largely a rowdy affair, with chants of “USA” and the singing of “God Bless America,” according to pool reports.
But at least one attendee wasn’t impressed with Trump dedicating a trophy to people who still need food, fuel and basic commodities.
“You don’t give a s--t about Puerto Rico!” that person yelled.
Trump later returned to the White House and again addressed the topic of Puerto Rico, lauding his administration’s response once more.
“We’re doing really well on Puerto Rico,” Trump told pool reporters Sunday night before entering the residence. “I’ll be going there on Tuesday. Tremendous progress being made. We’re getting the roads open, we’re getting a lot of things done — really at a record clip. So we’re very happy with that. And I’ll be going there on Tuesday.”