'Racist' and 'Outrageous' Jabs at Puerto Rico Earn Trump 'Hater-in-Chief' Label

Just a sample of today's response to "disgusting" early-morning tweet sent out by Trump

President Donald Trump throwing paper towels to hurricane victims during a visit to the island earlier this month. "It is outrageous that [Trump] is making veiled threats to withdraw relief workers from US citizens in need," declared Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Thursday. "That's poor leadership." (Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called it—among other things—both "outrageous" and "poor leadership."

"While you are amusing yourself throwing paper towels at us, your compatriots and the world are sending love and help our way."
—San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz described it as "unbecoming of the leader of a free world" and declared President Donald Trump the "Hater in Chief."

And Alejandro García Padilla, the former governor of Puerto Rico, said it is important be plain about what this is: "racist." In an afternoon interview with MSNBC, Padilla said, "He is showing off that he is just racist. Let's call it by name."

That's a "pretty bold assertion" host Craig Melvin said in response. "Yes. Yes it is," acknowledged Padilla.

All of that is just a sample of today's response to a "disgusting" early-morning tweet sent out by Trump in which he passive-aggressively blamed Puerto Ricans for their current woes and suggested—despite the serious and deadly situation on the island—that there was a timeline for how long federal emergency efforts would continue.

Carmen Yulín Cruz

✔@CarmenYulinCruz

@POTUS your comments about Puerto Rico are unbecoming of a Commander in Chief they seem more to come from a “Hater in Chief”.

6:55 PM - Oct 12, 2017

In one out of a series of tweets, Warren said, "It is outrageous that @realDonaldTrump is making veiled threats to withdraw relief workers from US citizens in need. That's poor leadership."

Addressing the president directly in a statement issued in response to the tweets, Cruz declared, "Mr. President, you seem to want to disregard the moral imperative that your administration has been unable to fulfill." She added, "Tweet away your hate to mask your administration's mishandling of this humanitarian crisis. While you are amusing yourself throwing paper towels at us, your compatriots and the world are sending love and help our way. Condemn us to a slow death of non-drinkable water, lack of food, lack of medicine while you keep others eager to help from reaching us."