WASHINGTON – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that President Donald Trump is lying after the president claimed Puerto Rico wouldn't have been included in the disaster aid package without his assistance.

Trump on Thursday signed the $19.1 billion bipartisan disaster assistance bill which the House passed on Monday by a 354-58 margin. The legislation also included about $1.4 billion in assistance for Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from Hurricanes Irma and Maria nearly two years later.

"Just signed Disaster Aid Bill to help Americans who have been hit by recent catastrophic storms," Trump tweeted Thursday. "So important for our GREAT American farmers and ranchers. Help for GA, FL, IA, NE, NC, and CA. Puerto Rico should love President Trump. Without me, they would have been shut out!"

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Schumer replied to Trump's tweet, claiming that it was the president's fault the bill was held up.

"This is a lie. Without your interference, Puerto Rico and these other disaster-impacted areas would have received disaster relief aid months ago," Schumer, D-N.Y., tweeted. "Fortunately, Democrats remained resolute and got this done."

"Now get the money to the communities who need it ASAP," the New York Democrat added.

The disaster aid deal was held up for months in the Senate after the president repeatedly attacked Puerto Rico, claiming the island already received enough help from the federal government. Trump claimed that leaders in Puerto Rico were incompetent and ungrateful.

The disaster aid package, however, was finally passed last month with a 85-8 margin in the Senate. It was then held up in the House for several weeks after lawmakers left for recess just before the House got the bill.

House leaders tried three times to pass the bill using a procedure known as "unanimous consent," which allows passage if no one objects. However, each time a Republican lawmaker objected. The legislation finally passed in the House earlier this week.

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