Hispanics and others are shaking their heads in disbelief and anger over President Donald Trump's comments in which he suggested the federal government cannot remain in Puerto Rico "forever" to help the island rebuild after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria.
Puerto Rico's Gov. Ricardo Rosselló tweeted this Thursday morning:
Nancy Santiago Negrón, who worked in the Departments of Labor and Education under former President Barack Obama, said this to NBC News:
"If I'm being told to do everything to fix this, but if I also hear I really don't want it fixed, it's their fault, then you're not going to be willing to stand on that cliff and take that leap. Hesitation can cost us lives. When did we stop being America?"
The reactions were in reference to Trump's tweets earlier Thursday:
Trump and San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz have engaged in a public spat for several weeks regarding the administration's response to the hurricane. Cruz ripped the president on Thursday, saying "Shame on you!"
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., serves as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and told NBC that Trump's "suggestion that we will cut and run on our fellow Americans is disgraceful."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., got into the fray as well, saying this on Twitter:
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.