Puerto Rico resident commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón said if Puerto Rico were a state, it would likely have more aid in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“Saying that Puerto Rico is in bankruptcy as a way or excuse just to not to help is not wise. It’s not American, and it’s not rightful,” González, a lifelong Republican, told Politico’s “Off Message” podcast.
“If we were a state, we already would have a lot of the help that Florida did.”
{mosads}During the interview, she also said this isn’t the time to be “talking about withdrawing the help.”
“This is not the time to talk about how much it’s costing the U.S., because we are American citizens,” she told Politico.
She called Trump’s statements and attempts to put blame on Puerto Rico “shocking.”
She said everyone on the island is “frustrated,” because they didn’t expect to be “hit by this kind of hurricane” and to be without power for so long.
González’s comments come after Trump has faced backlash for the federal response to the devastation in Puerto Rico. Trump sparked controversy after blasting local Puerto Rican officials and suggesting the island do more to take on the burden of recovery.
Last week, Trump warned his administration’s response to the hurricane-ravaged territory can’t last forever.
On Monday, during a press conference in the Rose Garden, Trump defended the federal response to Puerto Rico and said many problems with distributing aid supplies on the ground were because of local issues.
A poll released Monday found that Trump’s approval rating on his response to hurricanes has dropped 20 points since the storm hit Puerto Rico.
Much of the island is still without power and many residents don’t have access to clean drinking water.
A report this past weekend said some Puerto Rico residents desperate for drinking water are turning to a hazardous waste site.