President Trump Slams Puerto Rico, Talks Of Federal Withdrawal

WASHINGTON, DC — President Trump didn't mention Thursday that fewer than 20 percent of Puerto Ricans have electricity or that many are expected to go without power for months. He didn't mention that the death toll from Hurricane Maria has risen from 16 — a number Trump said Puerto Rico should be proud of — to at least 45.

Instead, he tweeted Thursday morning that Puerto Rico is to blame for its own looming financial crisis, that its infrastructure was a "disaster" before the storm and that federal agencies can't stay on the island "forever."

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

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FEMA itself quickly appeared to distance itself from the president's tweets. Eileen Lainez, a spokeswoman for FEMA, said on Twitter that the agency will "be w/Puerto Rico, USVI, every state, territory impacted by a disaster every day, supporting throughout their response & recovery."

Since the hurricane, many critics have argued that the administration's response was not as quick or extensive as was necessary. Though Trump has boasted about the "amazing" relief efforts, and Gov. Ricardo Rosselló has praised the administration efforts, reporting from on-the-ground journalists has shown residents with inadequate access to water, power, food, diesel and medical care, many of whom felt abandoned by the government.

Also See: Pelosi, Ryan Back Puerto Rico Aid

Trump earlier lashed out at San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, who said administration had not done enough. On Twitter, Trump suggested that locals were not doing enough to help themselves and said that some affected by the storm "wanted everything done for them."

After Trump's tweets Thursday, Cruz told the president in a statement: "Your tweets and comments just show desperation and underscore the inadequacy of your [government's] response."

About 85 percent of Puerto Rico residents still lack electricity and the government says it hopes to have electricity restored completely by March.

However, some reports suggest that the official death count of 45 may not be accurate. Many more people likely perished in the storm than the government is saying, according to a report from Eliza Barclay and Alexia Fernández Campbell of Vox.

They found:

• 81 reports of deaths "linked directly or indirectly to the hurricane"
• 450 reported deaths of unknown causes
• 69 reported missing persons

When Trump visited Puerto Rico on Oct. 3, he cited that low death toll compared to Hurricane Katrina, which killed about 1,800 people, as though it should be a source of pride.

“Sixteen people certified,” he said, citing the official toll at the time — a number which rose shortly after he left the island. "Everybody watching can really be very proud of what's taken place in Puerto Rico."

Democrats said Trump's attacks were "shameful," given that the 3 million-plus U.S. citizens on Puerto Rico are confronting the kind of hardships that would draw howls of outrage if they affected a state. One-third of the island lacks clean running water and just 8 percent of its roads are passable, according to government statistics.

"It is shameful that President Trump is threatening to abandon these Americans when they most need the federal government's help," said Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking House Democrat.

After years of economic challenges, Puerto Rico was already in the process of restructuring much of its $74 billion in debt before the hurricane struck. The financial situation is more complicated than Trump's tweets suggest.

Puerto Rico lost population and jobs after Congress eliminated special tax breaks in 2006, making it more difficult to repay its debts. Yet lenders continued to extend credit to Puerto Rico despite its economic struggles, while pension costs strained Puerto Rico's government and its infrastructure deteriorated.

Trump's comments Thursday and the backlash played out as the House headed toward passage of a $36.5 billion disaster aid package, including assistance for Puerto Rico. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, said the government needs to ensure that Puerto Rico can "begin to stand on its own two feet" and said the U.S. has "got to do more to help Puerto Rico rebuild its own economy."

The legislative aid package sticks close to a White House request. For now, it ignores huge demands from the powerful Florida and Texas delegations, which together pressed for some $40 billion more.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images