Puerto Rico Mayor Announces Plans To Crash Trump’s State Of The Union Like A Boss

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Donald Trump does not like Puerto Rico, because its leaders are outspoken and have criticized his lack of attention to the disaster Hurricane Maria brought upon the U.S. island territory. He went down for a few hours and threw paper towels at the crowd — ironic given that so many of the people had no water. Fortunately, the president is going to get his comeuppance in a most unusual way.

The man in the Oval Office will be giving his first State of the Union address. He will probably claim that everything is fabulous, wonderful, and better than since the country was founded. How will he react when he sees a vivid reminder of his failure in Puerto Rico?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced she has decided to invite San Juan (Puerto Rico) Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz as her guest to Trump’s State of the Union Address, according NBC New York.

Cruz did not mince words as she told reporters how her people have been dealing with a lack of potable water, no electricity, and in many cases, no roof over their heads since Hurricane Maria struck in September.

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There are places in Puerto Rico that still have those problems, so the TV cameras are certain to pan from 45 to the mayor and Gillibrand. That will certainly dim the president’s star.

U.S. recovery efforts have been ranging from slow to absent. For example, a Navy hospital ship sat waiting to serve victims of the hurricane. They had seven patients. It took weeks before the ship was ordered closer to shore so that the injured could reach it.

ABC News reported on the situation 100 days after the hurricane hit, December 29. In one of her news conferences, Cruze accused the federal government:

‘Where he needed to be a commander-in-chief, he was a disaster-in-chief. President Trump does not embody the values of the good-hearted American people that have make sure that we are not forgotten.’

Cruz said that the official number of deaths after the storm, 64, has been botched, too. ABC News reported that the mayor had questions about that number:

‘When you do not have a clear and precise view of what has gone on, then you know something is wrong.’

The Department of Public Safety released that number, but others report that the number of deaths could be in the high hundreds.

Senator Gillibrand tweeted a reminder of the need to help Puerto Ricans:

‘I hope Mayor Cruz’s presence at #SOTU will remind the president and my colleagues in Congress of our urgent responsibility to help Puerto Rico fully recover and rebuild.’

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Gillibrand admires Cruz, according to NBC New York, and said she has:

‘Shown extraordinary leadership and fearless advocacy for her city.’

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During one of her news conferences after Hurricane Maria, Cruz said the U.S. government was:

‘Killing us with the inefficiency and the bureaucracy.’

Never one to miss an opportunity to hit back 10 times harder than he is hit, Trump tweeted accusing Cruz of “poor leadership ability.”

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After the senator released her announcement about Cruz, the mayor tweeted:

‘(It is) an honor to represent thousands in San Juan and more in Puerto Rico who still have no electricity and fight everyday for a better today.’

Featured Image via Getty Images/Astrid Stawairz.