The people of Puerto Rico have become political opponents for Trump
Donald J. Trump
On Thursday morning   President Trump  made a remarkable statement: The government couldnât keep federal disaster relief efforts running in Puerto Rico forever. There would need to be some limit   he  hinted in a string of tweets  tied to a dollar amount set by Congress.
The impression left by the tweets was that Trumpâs patience with the disaster in Puerto Rico had run out  that it was time to start winding things down and to let the island fend for itself. Contrast that with  his  assertion to Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Harvey struck in September.
Texas & Louisiana: We are w/ you today  we are w/ you tomorrow  & we will be w/ you EVERY SINGLE DAY AFTER  to restore  recover  & REBUILD! pic.twitter.com/YQb82K2VSB â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30  2017
That contrast is not new.  Trump  downplayed the looming disaster in Puerto Rico from the outset.
Before Harvey threatened the Gulf Coast and Hurricane Irma hit Florida   Trump  was providing constant updates on  their  approach and immediate aftermath on Twitter  marveling at the stormsâ destructive power and offering praise for those responding to the storm.  He  spent  his  weekends at the White House and Camp David  helping to coordinate operations.
Before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico   Trump  tweeted twice.
 He  spent the weekend  it  hit at  his  club in Bedminster  N.J.  â and the following weekend there  too. Last weekend  he  was at the White House â save for several trips to  his  golf course in Virginia.
As criticism of Trumpâs handling of Maria started to mount  Trumpâs first response was a string of tweets in which  he  criticized the islandâs âmassive debt.â  He  began to turn  his  attention to the crisis on the island  scheduling a day-long visit and praising the work of federal employees who were already on the ground.
But everything was tinged with defensiveness.  He  repeatedly reminded people that Puerto Rico was harder to get to than Texas. Praise for first responders was levied with critiques of the âfake newsâ for also covering the numerous problems Puerto Ricans faced.
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! â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
Despite the Fake News Media in conjunction with the Dems  an amazing job is being done in Puerto Rico. Great people! â  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
 Insistences that things were going well sat next to insults aimed at a politician who had been critical of  Trump  for the lack of resources in  her  city.
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 .  â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
 â¦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. Theyâ¦.  â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
 Note the comment about Puerto Rican workers in that last tweet. Over the weekend   Trump  tweeted a video showing all the hard work that federal workers were doing.
Nobody could have done what Iâve done for #PuertoRico with so little appreciation. So much work! pic.twitter.com/k2jAkIpfjI â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8  2017
On Thursday morning   President Trump  made a remarkable statement: The government couldnât keep federal disaster relief efforts running in Puerto Rico forever. There would need to be some limit   he  hinted in a string of tweets  tied to a dollar amount set by Congress.
The impression left by the tweets was that Trumpâs patience with the disaster in Puerto Rico had run out  that it was time to start winding things down and to let the island fend for itself. Contrast that with  his  assertion to Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Harvey struck in September.
Texas & Louisiana: We are w/ you today  we are w/ you tomorrow  & we will be w/ you EVERY SINGLE DAY AFTER  to restore  recover  & REBUILD!  [TGT]  August 30  2017
That contrast is not new.   [TGT] downplayed the looming disaster in Puerto Rico from the outset.
Before Harvey threatened the Gulf Coast and Hurricane Irma hit Florida    [TGT] was providing constant updates on  their  approach and immediate aftermath on Twitter  marveling at the stormsâ destructive power and offering praise for those responding to the storm.  He  spent  his  weekends at the White House and Camp David  helping to coordinate operations.
Before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico    [TGT] tweeted twice.
  [TGT]   spent the weekend  it  hit at   [TGT]   club in Bedminster  N.J.  â and the following weekend there  too. Last weekend  he  was at the White House â save for several trips to  his  golf course in Virginia.
As criticism of Trumpâs handling of Maria started to mount  Trumpâs first response was a string of tweets in which  he  criticized the islandâs âmassive debt.â  He  began to turn  his  attention to the crisis on the island  scheduling a day-long visit and praising the work of federal employees who were already on the ground.
But everything was tinged with defensiveness.  He  repeatedly reminded people that Puerto Rico was harder to get to than Texas. Praise for first responders was levied with critiques of the âfake newsâ for also covering the numerous problems Puerto Ricans faced.
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! â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
Despite the Fake News Media in conjunction with the Dems  an amazing job is being done in Puerto Rico. Great people! â  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
 Insistences that things were going well sat next to insults aimed at a politician who had been critical of  Trump  for the lack of resources in  her  city.
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 .  â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
 â¦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. Theyâ¦.  â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30  2017
 Note the comment about Puerto Rican workers in that last tweet. Over the weekend   Trump  tweeted a video showing all the hard work that federal workers were doing.
Nobody could have done what Iâve done for #PuertoRico with so little appreciation. So much work! pic.twitter.com/k2jAkIpfjI â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8  2017