President Trump took to Twitter this morning to respond to the Mayor of San Juan’s recent plea for help in the wake of Hurricane Maria’s destruction, immediately drawing criticism as word of his harsh commentary continues to spread.
Yesterday (Sept. 29) Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz held an emotional news conference, during which she pleaded for help from the U.S., putting “political correctness” aside to help further put it into perspective just how drastic the situation is.
“We are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency and the bureaucracy,” Cruz said Friday at a news conference, surrounded by some donated supplies. “This is what we got last night: four pallets of water, three pallets of meals and 12 pallets of infant food — which I gave them to the people of Comerio, where people are drinking off a creek. So I am done being polite. I am done being politically correct. I am mad as hell.”
Trump’s response arrived a day later, taking to Twitter Saturday morning to criticize the mayor for “poor leadership ability,” resulting in an onslaught of outraged commentary, including from the likes of Lady Gaga, John Legend, Moby and Lin-Manual Miranda, among others, who have each been utilizing their platforms to tirelessly advocate for hurricane relief efforts.
“Such poor leadership aility by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help,” Trump stated in a series of tweets. “They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort.”
He also exclaimed that Cruz had been told “by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump,” pointing out that the mayor was previously “very complimentary only a few days ago.”
In response, Trump’s remarks have been met with tons of backlash, with many posting photos of Cruz on the ground helping residents and pointing out that the president is currently at his golf course.
Take a look at some of the ongoing commentary below.