Hits ground joking on devastated isle

Less than half of Puerto Rico’s 3.4 million citizens have running water, and food and supplies remain scarce for homes and hospitals alike. Nearly one-third of its 1,100 gas stations are closed, as are almost half of its 456 grocery stores. Only 50% of the major roadways have been cleared.

Present at Trump’s initial briefing was San Juan’s mayor — and presidential Twitter target — Carmen Yulín Cruz.

Cruz, who’d disputed the administration’s assertion that relief efforts have been a “good news” story, was then savaged by Trump for her “poor leadership” during the island’s crisis. He also tweeted that she had been “told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.”

The two shook hands after Trump touched down on the island, and she was heard telling him over airplane jets, “It’s not about politics.” He appeared not to respond.

Cruz sounded more optimistic after the meeting with Trump and cabinet officials.

“Meeting with WH staff productive. They REALLY understood the disconnect between how things are supposed to happen and how they really happen,” Cruz tweeted. “Hopefully the newly open channels of communication with WH staff will put in motion what is needed to accomplish our goal: save lives.” At the briefing, Trump singled out Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello for praise, noting he’d been saying positive things about the government’s response. “Right from the beginning, this governor did not play politics,” Trump said. Later in the day, Trump visited a church in San Juan, where he posed for pictures with people seeking relief supplies, and hurled paper towel rolls into a crowd of outstretched arms, as if shooting T-shirts from a cannon in a sports arena. He also handed out flashlights, maintaining, “You don’t need ’em anymore” — despite