Puerto Rico governor to Trump: Stop the 'insults' and visit the island

Source: The Hill



BY JOHN BOWDEN - 03/27/19 12:58 PM EDT

Puerto Rico's governor issued a statement Wednesday slamming President Trump and demanding an end to "insults" aimed at Puerto Rico from the president and members of his administration.

In the lengthy statement accusing the Trump administration of withholding federal money from the island's storm recovery efforts following massive hurricanes that struck last year, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said that the president's recent comments about the island "lack empathy, are irresponsible, regrettable and, above all, [are] unjustified."

His remarks come after the president reportedly said during a February meeting on Department of Housing and Urban Development grants that he didn't want "another single dollar" from the federal government to go to Puerto Rico's storm cleanup efforts. Thousands of people died when Hurricane Maria struck the island last year and left most of its residents without power or utilities.

“I invite the President to stop listening to ignorant and completely wrong advice. Instead he should come to Puerto Rico to hear firsthand from the people on the ground. I invite him to put all of the resources at his disposal to help Americans in Puerto Rico, like he did for Texas and Alabama. No more, no less," Rosselló said Wednesday.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/436058-puerto-rico-governor-to-trump-stop-the-insults-and-visit-the-island