The governor of Puerto Rico reacted to President Donald Trump's insistence the island's hurricane cleanup was a success by calling the U.S. territory a "colony" that does not have the same rights states have.
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló released a statement, which CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller posted to Twitter.
"No relationship between a colony and the federal government can ever be called 'successful' because Puerto Ricans lack certain inalienable rights enjoyed by our fellow Americans in the states," Rosselló said.
"The historical relationship between Puerto Rico and Washington is unfair and unAmerican. It is certainly not a successful relationship.
"This was the worst natural disaster in our modern history. Our basic infrastructure was devastated, thousands of our people lost their lives, and many others still struggle."
Rosselló was referring to Hurricane Maria, which slammed into the island one year ago and left the island without power and in shambles. Nearly 3,000 people were killed.
Trump spoke Tuesday about the prep for Hurricane Florence, which is expected to make landfall in North Carolina later this week, referencing the federal response to Puerto Rico by calling it "an incredible, unsung success."
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