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Donald Trump launches fresh attack on Puerto Rico: 'Electric and infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes' | Donald Trump launches fresh attack on Puerto Rico: 'Electric and infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Puerto Rico, saying he will not keep emergency workers on the devastated island “forever”. | Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Puerto Rico, saying he will not keep emergency workers on the devastated island “forever”. |
The US President, quoting author Sharyl Attkisson, accused Puerto Ricans of creating a looming financial crisis “largely of their own making”. | |
“A total lack of accountability say the Governor,” he said on Twitter. “Electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes. Congress to decide how much to spend. | |
“We cannot keep FEMA, the Military & the First Responders, who have been amazing (under the most difficult circumstances) in P.R. forever!” | |
It is not clear which governor Mr Trump was referring to. | |
Despite the 71-year-old’s claims Puerto Rico has “survived” the hurricane, 84 per cent of the island is still without electricity, while a third of the population lacks clean drinking water. | |
Hurricane Maria devastated the US territory on 20 September, leaving it without any power and homes destroyed. | |
After an underwhelming response by FEMA, the US federal disaster relief agency, the mayor of the island’s capital took to begging Mr Trump for more assistance. | |
“We are dying here,” Carmen Yulin Cruz told reporters at a press conference late last month. “I cannot fathom the thought that the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out the logistics for a small island of 100 miles by 35 miles.” | |
She added: “So, Mr Trump, I am begging you to take charge and save lives.” | |
The President responded, accusing Puerto Rican officials of wanting “everything to be done for them”. | |
"The military and first responders, despite no electric, roads, phones etc., have done an amazing job," he wrote on Twitter. "Puerto Rico was totally destroyed." | |
Last week, Mr Trump suggested the government debt accumulated by Puerto Rico would have to be wiped out to help it recover from the natural disaster. | |
The island is struggling with a long-term debt crisis that led it to declare a form of bankruptcy earlier this year. | |
As of May 2016, it had debt of around $70bn and a $44bn unfunded pension shortfall. |
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