President Trump on Monday said Puerto Rico is in "deep trouble" as it faces large-scale damage and destruction brought about by Hurricane Maria, while pointing to its outdated infrastructure and large debt that complicate recovery efforts.
Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017
...It's old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017
...owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities - and doing well. #FEMA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017
Trump also stated that Puerto Rico is "doing well" and receiving aid necessary for survival including including food, water and medical assistance.
Nearly 3.4 million residents in the American territory are living without electricity after the storm knocked out the power on Wednesday, with officials warning that it could be months before the lights flicker back on.
Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm when it entered the Caribbean, brought massive amounts of destruction and resulted in more than a dozen deaths.
Federal emergency relief resources are already strained after two other major hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S. over the past two months.