Trump aides urged him to cancel Puerto Rico trip over fears of protests: report

Aides to President Trump urged him to delay his trip to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico over fears that protests against his administration’s response to Hurricane Maria could trigger a fiery response, according to a report by The New York Times.

Trump’s aides are reportedly pleased with his response to a mass shooting in Las Vegas, but are concerned about his ability to maintain his restrained tone amid back-to-back visits to Puerto Rico and Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday — two days that the Times noted are almost certain to be emotionally taxing.

Trump is set to travel to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to survey the damage wrought by Hurricane Maria. He has faced scrutiny from local officials and others who say his administration was slow to respond to the storm. 

Trump defended the relief efforts over the weekend in a series of tweets that accused people in Puerto Rico of relying too heavily on the federal government for aid and not doing enough to help themselves. 

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Those comments came after Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of Puerto Rico’s capital city, ripped Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke for saying that the Trump administration’s recovery efforts on the island made a “good news story.”

The Trump administration came under fire last week, with critics accusing the federal government of failing to respond to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in the same manner that it responded to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida. 

Trump is also expected to travel to Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with first responders and the families of victims of a Sunday night mass shooting at a music festival that left at least 59 people dead and more than 500 injured. 

The president issued a solemn address on Monday condemning the attack and offering condolences to the victims’ families. But some have criticized Trump in the wake of the shooting for his stance on gun rights.

—This report was updated at 11:24 a.m.