Trump: The Fake News Is Lying, Puerto Rico Loves Me

The Washington Examiner reports:

President Trump told residents of Puerto Rico not to believe the “fake news” media regarding the federal response to Hurricane Maria, and said the administration is “getting great marks” for its recovery efforts. Trump has been criticized for his response to the crisis in Puerto Rico, and Democrats accused the president of paying more attention to NFL athletes who kneel for the national anthem than to the people of Puerto Rico.

Earlier in the day Saturday, the president attacked San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and said she demonstrated poor leadership as the island tries to recover. But Trump had high praise for the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, and Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, two people he was scheduled to speak with over the phone Saturday from his golf resort in Bedminster, N.J.

More from Salon:



Following President Donald Trump’s latest Twitter attack, this time on San Juan mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz, the White House suggested she may be doing too many television appearances to be part of the aid assistance efforts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency command center.

The president is scheduled to make a visit to Puerto Rico on Tuesday, and when asked if he would meet with Cruz after his derogatory and baseless claims, a White House official said, “not sure,” according to ABC News.

The official added the Cruz “has been invited to FEMA command center several times to see operations and be part of efforts but so far has refused to come, maybe too busy doing TV?”