Trump Attacks ‘Fake News Media’ for Not Recognizing ‘Amazing Job Being Done in Puerto Rico’

Claimed ‘Fake News Networks’ Working Overtime 

Donald Trump returned to Twitter Saturday afternoon to attack the free press and Democrats for the federal government’s abysmal response to the destruction of Puerto Rico.

The president began his latest weekend getaway at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey by attacking San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, the face of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. From the safety and comfort of his golf course, he criticized her “poor leadership ability” and insisted Puerto Ricans are lazy, “wanting everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort.”

Dan Scavino Jr., the president’s assistant and the White House’s Social Media Director, followed suit—calling the mayor a “Trump hater” and the “perfect example of an opportunistic politician.”

This deflection from the federal government’s response was met with considerable outcry, with the mayor herself responding by focusing on saving Puerto Ricans.

This clearly struck a nerve.

Trump’s attacks early Saturday ended with an attack on “Fake News Networks” who he claimed were “working overtime in Puerto Rico doing their best to take the spirit away from our soldiers and first R’s. Shame!”

Nearly six hours later, however, coverage of Puerto Rico—not the American citizens in Puerto Rico—was clearly still on the president’s mind. “Despite the Fake News Media in conjunction with the Dems,” Trump wrote, “an amazing job is being done in Puerto Rico. Great people!”

Those in the media are working tirelessly to assist those in Puerto Rico and relay the federal government’s response to the States, even as the president insists to people – as Maggie Haberman of the New York Times described – that “what they’re seeing on TV isn’t real.” One example is Roberto Aram Ferdman, a correspondent for Vice on HBO, who grew up in Puerto Rico and has returned to cover fallout:

Other examples:

As Congressman Ted Lieu summarized:

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