Donald Trump mocks Spanish accent as he talks about Puerto Rico crisis during Hispanic heritage week
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Donald Trump failed to placate his critics on his visit to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico so his attempt at a Spanish accent won't win him any supporters.
The President appeared to mock the accent as he discussed the island's
In an exaggerated Spanish accent, Trump said: "We are also praying for the people of Puerto Rico. We love Puerto Rico.
"We also love Puerto Rico . And we are martialing every federal resource at our disposal. Earlier this week, I traveled to Puerto Rico to oversee federal response to the two devastating hurricanes.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
"Remember, it was two. It was one and then it was another and that second one was brutal. They struck that great and beautiful island.
"And we now have more than 15,000 federal personnel on the island - 15,000. We will not rest until that job is done.
"Puerto Rico has a long road of recovery ahead, a very long road but we know that its people are proud and they are resilient and they will come back strong."
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Earlier this week, praised his administration's response to Hurricane Maria's devastation amid accusations that his government was far too slow to address the crisis.
Trump met with survivors and island officials, including San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has repeatedly blasted him for what she said was insufficient concern about the US territory's plight.
Trump and first lady Melania visited a disaster relief distribution centre at Calvary Chapel outside San Juan, where he was filmed throwing paper towels into the crowd.
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(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: REUTERS)
Trump visited the island to reassure its struggling residents that he is committed to their recovery.
Two weeks after it was hit by the worst hurricane in 90 years, many of Puerto Rico's 3.4 million residents are still struggling without basic necessities.
The storm wiped out the island's power grid, and less than half of its residents have running water.
It is still difficult to get a mobile phone signal or find fuel for generators and cars. About 88 percent of mobile phone sites are still out of service.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: REUTERS)
Trump, who has grappled with hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in the past six weeks, said at a briefing that the disasters were straining the US budget.
"I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack because we've spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico," he said. "And that's fine. We've saved a lot of lives."
Trump said the federal response to Maria compared favourably with a "real catastrophe like Katrina," the 2005 storm that swamped Louisiana and Mississippi and killed more than 1,800.
"What's happened in terms of recovery, in terms of saving lives - 16 lives that's a lot - but if you compare that to the thousands of people who died in other hurricanes that frankly were not nearly as severe," he said.
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Shortly after Trump left Puerto Rico, Governor Ricardo Rosello said the death toll had risen from 16 to 34.
On Air Force One on his return flight to Washington, Trump said it had been a "great day" and he had heard no criticism during his day in Puerto Rico.
"We’ve only heard 'thank yous' from the people of Puerto Rico," he said. "It is something I enjoyed very much today."
He said local truck drivers are still needed to help distribute supplies.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: REUTERS)
Days before his visit, Trump lashed out at Mayor Cruz on Twitter, accusing her of "poor leadership" and saying that some people on the island "want everything to be done for them."
Trump shook hands with Cruz but he saved his warm words of praise for other local and federal authorities.
"Right from the beginning, this governor did not play politics," he said of Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: REUTERS)
On CNN, Cruz said she told Trump, "This is about saving lives; it’s not about politics."
Trump took a helicopter tour of the destruction, seeing hills that are normally lush and green, brown and bare after Maria's winds stripped the branches.
He also saw from the air the USNS Comfort, the just-arrived hospital ship.
Valentine Navarro, 26, a salesman in San Juan, shrugged off Trump's trip as a public relations exercise.
"I think he’s coming here because of pressure, as a photo-op, but I don’t think he’s going to help more than he has already done – and that’s not much," Navarro said.