President Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday evening that his trip to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria was “really lovely.”
“That was a great, great visit. Really lovely,” Trump said, according to NBC News.
“We only heard thank-yous from the people of Puerto Rico,” Trump said of the response to his administration’s hurricane relief efforts.
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The president made the comments as he departed the island after a full day of meeting with local officials and residents in the wake of the Category 4 storm that devastated the island nearly two weeks ago.
Trump met with Puerto Rico officials for an update on recovery efforts, but noticeably left out San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz as he praised other leaders by name.
The president went after Cruz in tweets over the weekend for her “poor leadership” after the storm following Cruz’s emotional plea for more help from the administration.
Cruz praised White House staffers in a pair of tweets Tuesday, saying a meeting with them had been “productive.”
“They REALLY understood the disconnect between how things are supposed to happen and how they really happen,” she tweeted. “Hopefully the newly open channels of communication with WH staff will put in motion what is needed to accomplish our goal: save lives.”
Trump also distributed supplies to hurricane victims, tossing paper towels like a basketball into a crowd and handing out flashlights.
“Flashlights? You don’t need ’em,” Trump remarked, despite only 7 percent of the island having power.