Trump Attacks Critics Of Puerto Rico Aid Effort: ‘Politically Motivated Ingrates’

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to board Air Force One for a trip to Florida to meet with first responders and people impacted by Hurricane Irma, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump responds to a reporters question as he boards Air Force One with first lady Melania Trump, not shown, for a trip to Florida to meet with first responders and people impacted by Hurricane Irma, ... President Donald Trump responds to a reporters question as he boards Air Force One with first lady Melania Trump, not shown, for a trip to Florida to meet with first responders and people impacted by Hurricane Irma, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his attacks on “politically motivated ingrates” he claimed failed to recognize the United States’ relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

“Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates,” Trump tweeted, “people are now starting to recognize the amazing work that has been done by FEMA and our great Military.”

He called the situation on the island, which suffered widespread devastation after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, “almost impossible.”

“We have done a great job,” Trump tweeted. “Thank you to the Governor of P.R. and to all of those who are working so closely with our First Responders.”

Trump on Saturday blasted San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, whom he accused of “poor leadership ability,” as well as “others in Puerto Rico” who Trump claimed “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,” he tweeted.

Cruz on Friday pushed back on Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke’s characterization of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico as a “good news story.”

“Maybe from where she’s standing it’s a good news story,” Cruz said. “When you are drinking from a creek, it’s not a good news story. When you don’t have food for a baby, it’s not a good news story. When you have to pull people down from their buildings — I’m sorry, but that really upsets me and frustrates me.”

On Saturday, she tweeted, “The goal is one: saving lives. This is the time to show our “true colors”. We cannot be distracted by anything else.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for new10 new10 says:

    Trump is an completely unfit human being, let alone an unfit President. Meanwhile, the Republicans in congress continue to say and do nothing about Trump being unfit for his office because they are unfit for their office.

  2. Trump: Can someone explain what is ingrates? I just repeated what FOX claimed.

  3. …people are now starting to recognize the amazing work that has been done by FEMA and our great Military and Frederick Douglas. "Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job
    and is getting recognized more and more, I notice,” the president said. According to the President, many people have said that Douglas personally inspected all of the building in Puerto Rico.

  4. Avatar for sanni sanni says:

    Politically Motivated Ingrates. Hmmmm. Let’s consider:

    Spends Tax payer dollars on himself (traveling to - and then enriching his company at his resorts for a start) at a faster pace than anyone else ever to hold the position - even after adjusting for inflation.

    Has people who work long hours on his and his presidencies behalf - who he publicly demeans and who know that at any minute they could be fired.

    Rallies people on (fake/ginned up) images of Flag, Patriotism, and the Military - but still gives no inkling of understanding or even having had glanced at the contents of the Constitution, despite taking an oath of office to uphold it.

    The list can go on and on and on. Who is the biggest “Politically Motivated Ingrate?”

    Monumental example of Trump’s tendency to Project his flaws upon others.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

206 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for jootjoint Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clemmers Avatar for becca656 Avatar for randyabraham Avatar for yskov Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lastroth Avatar for sanni Avatar for schmed Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for darrtown Avatar for tribalogical Avatar for tena Avatar for jinnj Avatar for susanintheoc Avatar for centralasiaexpat Avatar for socalista Avatar for justruss Avatar for outsidertrading618

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: