U.S.

Trump Tells Puerto Rico It's 'Thrown Our Budget A Little Out Of Whack'

After arriving in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, President Donald Trump appeared to joke about the cost of Hurricane Maria's devastation to the territory.

Trump Tells Puerto Rico It's 'Thrown Our Budget A Little Out Of Whack'
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Article by Briana Koeneman
SMS
October 3, 2017

"Now, I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack," Trump said.

After arriving in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, President Donald Trump appeared to joke about the cost of Hurricane Maria's devastation to the territory.

But he also praised local and federal officials for their response to the storm, which left 16 people dead and caused significant damage across the island.

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Getting Aid To Puerto Rico Is One Thing; Distributing It Is Another

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"You can be very proud of all of your people and all of our people working together," Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly defended the federal government's response to the hurricane.

But critics, including San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, condemned the sluggish relief efforts and begged for additional aid.

"We are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency and the bureaucracy," Cruz said during a press conference.

The situation in much of Puerto Rico remains dire. The U.S. Energy Department said Tuesday only about 5 percent of the island's customers had their power restored. And many residents are still scrambling for food, water and fuel.