80% OF ISLAND STILL WITHOUT POWER; TRUMP SAYS FEMA CAN’T STAY ‘FOREVER’

President Trump warned Thursday that FEMA and the U.S. military can’t provide aid to Puerto Rico “forever,” even as the hurricane-battered island struggles to provide power, water and other basic services three weeks after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria.

Trump’s tweets drew a sharp response from San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who referred to the president on Twitter as a “hater-in-chief.”

Trump also tweeted that Congress must decide how much the government will spend and noted that “electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes.”

More than 80% of the island remains without power since the Category 4 storm made landfall Sept. 20 with winds approaching 155 mph. More than 40 people were killed and entire communities were destroyed. Communications were compromised and damage to ports, airports and roads further complicated recovery.

Puerto Rico has been in recession for a decade. Facing more than $70 billion in debt, the island defaulted on its bonds and filed for the equivalent of bankruptcy in May. That has essentially locked Puerto Rico out of the bond market, leaving little room to borrow money for the rebuild.

Cruz and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, DN.Y., led a charge on social media challenging the president’s assertions.

Tweeted Schumer: “There is still devastation, Americans are still dying. FEMA needs to stay until the job is done.”