President Donald Trump received searing criticism from Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló recently for his opposition to increased aid. | Susan Walsh/AP Photo White House Trump boasts he's taken better care of Puerto Rico than 'any living human being' Trump's comments come amid reports that he is angry about the hurricane-struck island receiving too much in federal disaster assistance.

President Donald Trump on Thursday proclaimed that no other “living human being” has cared for Puerto Rico better than he has.

“I’ve taken better care of Puerto Rico than any man ever,” the president said on the White House lawn before departing for a rally in Michigan.


“We have $91 billion going to Puerto Rico. We have $29 billion to Texas and $12 billion to Florida for the hurricane,” he added. “Puerto Rico has been taken care of better by Donald Trump than by any living human being.”

Trump’s comments come two days after news reports that he privately told Republicans that Puerto Rico, which was struck by two hurricanes in 2017, was receiving too much federal disaster assistance.

The Senate voted 90-10 on Tuesday to advance a multibillion-dollar aid bill that would provide relief to areas hit by hurricanes, wildfires and flooding. But the bill’s fate now hangs in limbo as Democrats threaten to withdraw support if they feel the amount of aid allocated to Puerto Rico is inadequate.

Trump on Thursday blamed the U.S. territory’s governor and the mayor of San Juan for slowing the U.S. territory’s recovery from Hurricane Maria.

“They don’t know how to spend money, and they are not spending it wisely,” he said.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló has fired a series of criticisms at Trump in recent days, slamming the president for his opposition to increased aid. Earlier Thursday, CNN aired an interview with Rosselló, who said he would not sit back and allow Trump to degrade the island.

“If the bully gets close, I’ll punch the bully in the mouth,” Rosselló said.

The president has pledged not to support more disaster aid for Puerto Rico. He initially opposed the $600 million in nutritional assistance for the island in an aid bill but agreed to go along with it to get the overall measure passed, Republican aides said.

Trump claimed Thursday that he has a “great relationship” with the people of Puerto Rico, adding that he’s giving residents of the island “more money that they’ve ever gotten.”