DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – Puerto Ricans living in the Metroplex are reacting to President Trump’s visit to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island last month.
While speaking to officials there, Trump made a joke about the federal budget that was met with some backlash. “Now, I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you’ve thrown our budget a little out of whack because we’ve spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico. Which is fine,” said the President.
Trump also met with San Jan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who he had previously criticized for “poor leadership” after she called on his administration to ramp up relief efforts.
Cruz told reporters that the briefing with the President was productive but also criticized his tone about the situation.
Many Puerto Ricans in Dallas said although they were happy that Trump was there, they were frustrated about what they said was a slow response.
Jose Medrano said he doesn’t understand why it took Trump weeks to visit the U.S. Territory when his response to Texas and Florida was much quicker.
“Puerto Rico is not a state but it’s part of the United States…I don’t know why he took so long to respond,” he said.
During Trump’s visit to Puerto Rico, the President told local officials that they should be proud of the fact that only 16 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria, compared to the thousands in Hurricane Katrina.
Medrano said despite those numbers he doesn’t want people to lose sight of the fact that the U.S. territory was devastated by the storm.
“People are suffering. People are dying…needing food…needing supplies. They don’t have water. It’s a mess. Right now, Puerto Rico needs help from everybody,” he said.
The island is still without power and many residents are stranded in areas that prove difficult for relief operators to get to.
Medrano said that his native home deserves all the help that it can get.
“Because when something happens to a different country Puerto Rico is always there saying we’re present for anything that you guys need,” he said.
According to CNN, 45 % of the island does not have clean water, 7% of the island has cell service and less than a quarter of the ATMs are working.
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