(RNN) - President Donald Trump has responded to San Juan, Puerto Rico's, mayor regarding Hurricane Maria relief efforts, and said Democrats are directing her statements.
Carmen Yulin Cruz has done multiple live interviews with TV news outlets regarding the damage the island has sustained, and has been vocal about not receiving the aid needed.
"We are dying" Cruz told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Friday night.
In a statement delivered from a relief center, Cruz said, "I cannot fathom the thought that the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out the logistics for a small island."
Cruz called on Trump to make sure the effort is being led by someone "up to the task of saving lives."
Earlier Friday, Cruz responded to Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke who called the Puerto Rico relief effort a "good news story." Cruz said, "this is not a good news story - this is a people are dying story."
San Juan mayor: "I cannot fathom the thought that the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out the logistics for a small island..." pic.twitter.com/R1N0xDT0fz
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 29, 2017
But according to the president, Cruz need look no further than herself for the problems.
Saturday morning, Trump tweeted from his golf resort in Bedminster, NJ, "Such poor leadership ability from the mayor of San Juan and others who are not able to get their workers to help. They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort."
That followed a tweet where he said she had been complimentary a few days ago but "has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump." He also praised the effort of the military and retweeted several accounts about their relief work.
The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
...Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
...want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
Trump has repeatedly responded to questions about Puerto Rico by saying it is an island. He is scheduled to visit Tuesday and said he would also like to visit the Virgin Islands, which also suffered severe damage from Maria.
The media outlets who have interviewed Cruz were not spared from the president's criticism. He added, "Fake News CNN and NBC are going out of their way to disparage our great First Responders as a way to 'get Trump.' Not fair to FR or effort."
FR was likely a typo intended to be "PR" meaning Puerto Rico.
Trump said the media reporting from Puerto Rico were "doing their best to take the spirit away from our soldiers and first R's."
Fake News CNN and NBC are going out of their way to disparage our great First Responders as a way to "get Trump." Not fair to FR or effort!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
The Fake News Networks are working overtime in Puerto Rico doing their best to take the spirit away from our soldiers and first R's. Shame!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
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