The public feud between San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and President Donald Trump reached peak “nasty” this week when the Democratic mayor accused Trump of being guilty of “genocide” because of his supposed lack of adequate response to the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
In the aftermath of the devastating hurricane that tore through Puerto Rico a few weeks ago, Yulin accused Trump of failing to respond effectively with hurricane relief, an accusation refuted by some of Cruz’s fellow leaders in Puerto Rico. Trump responded by chiding her for being “nasty” to him like the rest of her Democratic colleagues, a description she now literally wears proudly.
This week, Cruz took her hyperbolic claims even further, accusing Trump of heartlessly overseeing the “genocide” of Puerto Ricans. Cruz leveled the accusation in a statement she sent to Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez (who has gotten himself arrested for pro-illegal immigrant protests a few times this year), who read her statement on Capitol Hill.
“I ask every American that has love, and not hate in their hearts, to stand with Puerto Rico and let this President know we WILL NOT BE LEFT TO DIE,” the statement reads. “I ask the United Nations, UNICEF and the world to stand with the people of Puerto Rico and stop the genocide that will result from the lack of appropriate action of a President that just does not get it because he has been incapable of looking in our eyes and seeing the pride that burns fiercely in our hearts and souls.”
Cruz’s comments came after Trump slammed Puerto Rico for its massive financial failures and mismanagement, adding that federal emergency workers can’t stay on the island “forever.”
“‘Puerto Rico survived the Hurricanes, now a financial crisis looms largely of their own making.’ says Sharyl Attkisson. A total lack of……..accountability say the Governor. Electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes,” Trump said in a series of tweets on Thursday. “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!”
On Thursday, by a vote of 353-69, the House passed a measure to allow an additional $36.5 billion in disaster relief for the various areas impacted by hurricanes, including Puerto Rico.
The House overcame a conservative rebellion Thursday to pass a new round of disaster relief, saying the $36.5 billion is needed to replenish funds that are quickly depleting in the wake of hurricanes that have battered Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The overwhelming 353-69 vote came even as President Trump suggested federal emergency workers cannot remain in Puerto Rico “forever” — and Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, accused Mr. Trump of “genocide” for what she said was an antipathy toward her island territory.
Though Cruz told Trump when he visited the island that her actions were not about “politics,” she has repeatedly focused her criticism on Trump, even as her colleagues praised his response. She has also taken up his “nasty” comment and run with it, wearing a t-shirt for interviews with “NASTY” written in bold letters across the front.
FEMA, meanwhile, has said they are now “filtering out” Cruz as they continue to provide the aid so desperately needed on the island.
H/T Washington Times