It’s been just over three weeks since Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria. More than 80 percent of the island is still without power, which in itself is a life-threatening situation. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have told reporters there is a daily shortfall of 1.8 million meals. And “hospitals are running low on medicine and high on patients,” as the New York Times reported Tuesday.

And yet Thursday morning, President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw federal support from the island.

...We cannot keep FEMA, the Military & the First Responders, who have been amazing (under the most difficult circumstances) in P.R. forever! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2017

Trump also blamed the crisis on Puerto Ricans and their stagnating infrastructure, echoing earlier tweets from September 30, when he said that Puerto Rican leaders want “everything done for them.”

And he harped on Puerto Rico’s problems before the storm, quoting TV journalist Sharyl Attkisson:

"Puerto Rico survived the Hurricanes, now a financial crisis looms largely of their own making." says Sharyl Attkisson. A total lack of..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2017

Ultimately, Congress will decide how much to spend on the island territory home to 3.4 million American citizens, he said.

...accountability say the Governor. Electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes. Congress to decide how much to spend.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2017

It’s true that no recovery effort can last forever. But given the scale of the disaster in Puerto Rico, the military and FEMA support of Puerto Rico should continue long past three weeks. It took most of a year to clean up the wreckage of the Twin Towers after 9/11. And consider how the US military has been in Afghanistan for more than 15 years. The federal government clearly knows how to facilitate a long-term effort in difficult conditions.

Reports from the ground make it clear Puerto Rico is far from recovered. The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday in a press release that some Puerto Ricans have been trying to get drinking water from contaminated Superfund sites on the island. Ten people have contracted leptospirosis, a disease spread in drinking water contaminated by animal excrement. And there’s compelling evidence to believe the death toll on the island is much higher than official reports, and is still climbing.

And yet Trump still thinks the response has been fantastic. Here’s what he tweeted Sunday.

Nobody could have done what I’ve done for #PuertoRico with so little appreciation. So much work! pic.twitter.com/k2jAkIpfjI — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

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