(KGTV) - President Donald Trump lashed out at the media and Puerto Rico leaders on Twitter over their accounts of the country's continuing recovery effort following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria.
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In a series of tweets, President Trump attacked San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz's "poor leadership" and said the mayor and other Puerto Rico officials "want everything to be done for them."
The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
...Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
...want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
Cruz has called the administration's response to Puerto Rico "not a good news story."
"This is a 'people are dying' story," Cruz said in response to comments by Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke that the U.S. response, "is really a good news story in terms of our ability to reach people and the limited number of deaths that have taken place in such a devastating hurricane."
Part of the difficulties in administering relief has been Puerto Rico's infrastructure, according to the president. First responders and the military have been dealing with blocked roads and lack of electricity in their response.
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Members of Congress, however, including Sen. Marco Rubio, and FEMA Administrator Brock Long have expressed a different tone in the U.S. effort. Long told CNN Thursday he is "not satisfied" with the response.
"I'm not satisfied because the fact is that we will not be satisfied until we stabilize the situation," Long said.
On the same day as Long's response, Trump did acknowledge the situation was difficult saying, "[Puerto Rico] was just destroyed. That's not a question of, gee, let's dry up the water, let's do this or that. I mean, that place was flattened. That is a really tough situation."
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Saturday, Trump went on to claim the negative response from Puerto Rico has been in part orchestrated by the media saying, "Fake News CNN and NBC are going out of their way to disparage our great First Responders as a way to 'get Trump.' Not fair to FR or effort!."
Fake News CNN and NBC are going out of their way to disparage our great First Responders as a way to "get Trump." Not fair to FR or effort!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
I will be going to Puerto Rico on Tuesday with Melania. Will hopefully be able to stop at the U.S. Virgin Islands (people working hard).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
The Fake News Networks are working overtime in Puerto Rico doing their best to take the spirit away from our soldiers and first R's. Shame!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
President Trump is set to visit Puerto Rico Tuesday with First Lady Melania Trump.
