Trump: Death Toll From Hurricane Maria In Puerto Rico Made Up By Dems

Donald Trump

Donald Trump took to Twitter this morning to declare the death toll in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria - officially reported at 2,975 according to an independent study done by George Washington University - is a manufactured nothing-burger in an attempt to make him look "as bad as possible."

Like the Trumpster really needs help in that department?

You'll recall during an open meeting/press event in Puerto Rico, when Trump finally went down to the American territory, he claimed the destruction in Puerto Rico was not that bad compared to Hurricane Katrina.

Via Vox:

“If you look at the — every death is a horror, but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds of people that died and what happened here with a storm that was just totally overbearing. No one has ever seen anything like that. What is your death count?" he said.

"Sixteen," responded Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.

"Sixteen certified," Trump said, and then told the leaders assembled that they should all be "very proud."

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

.....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

Earlier this week, Trump called his administration's response to the devastation in Puerto Rico "an incredible unsung success."

Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz responded to Trump's boasts:

Success? Federal response according to Trump in Puerto Rico a success? If he thinks the death of 3,000 people os a success God help us all.

— Carmen Yulín Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) September 11, 2018

Damn it: this is NOT about politics this was always about SAVING LIVES. pic.twitter.com/SjwywKN3Jh

— Carmen Yulín Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) September 13, 2018

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman told her Twitter followers that, yes, Trump believes the Dems really made up the death toll figures:

Trump says Dems manufactured the 3,000 death toll from the hurricane in Puerto Rico last year “to make me look bad.” For those who ask if he really believes this, the answer is yes. https://t.co/N3wJPZianj

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 13, 2018