As storm approaches Puerto Rico, Trump tells residents to be thankful

Tropical storm Dorian is set to make landfall on Puerto Rico by Wednesday afternoon, following the same path that Hurricane Maria took in 2018, leaving 2,975 dead at the time. US President Donald Trump tweeted in the early morning telling residents to be ‘thankful’ for emergency services.

“We are tracking closely tropical storm Dorian as it heads, as usual, to Puerto Rico. FEMA and all others are ready, and will do a great job. When they do, let them know it, and give them a big Thank You - Not like last time. That includes from the incompetent Mayor of San Juan!”

The president tweeted again a few hours later, "Puerto Rico is one of the most corrupt places on earth. Their political system is broken and their politicians are either Incompetent or Corrupt. Congress approved Billions of Dollars last time, more than anyplace else has ever gotten, and it is sent to Crooked Pols. No good!...."

Trump added, "....And by the way, I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to Puerto Rico!".

San Juan’s mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz, has often been at odds with Trump over the federal government’s disaster response measures for the territory.

On Tuesday night, Cruz disputed the president’s claim that Congress had earmarked “an all time record” of $92 billion for Puerto Rico the previous year. Speaking to CNN, Cruz said, “The president continues to express lies because the truth really does not suit him...As you said, it's not $92 billion, it is close to 42 billion. It's close to between $12.6 and $14 billion dollars that have come to Puerto Rico and still, things have not worked appropriately.”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Cruz criticised the Trump administration for its lacklustre response to the catastrophe, saying, “We are dying and you are killing us with the inefficiency”. This prompted Trump to accuse her of “poor leadership”.

The tropical storm Dorian had wind speeds of up to 70mph (113kph) on Wednesday morning, slightly less than those of a hurricane. The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning in some Puerto Rican islands (Vieques and Culebra) as well as in the US Virgin Islands.