Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski slammed President Donald Trump for his response to the post-hurricane recovery of Puerto Rico, saying that his ‘racism’ was ‘costing lives.’
‘Hard to believe but this could be worse than Charlottesville…Trump’s racism is costing lives,’ the MSNBC host tweeted.
She added the hashtag #hesnotfit, a reflection of her long-held view that Trump was not qualified to be president.
Charlottesville is a reference to the August 12 events in which a woman was killed and 20 others were injured while protesting a white supremacist march in Virginia.
In response to the events, Trump said that ‘both sides’ were to blame and that there were ‘fine people’ among the white supremacists.
Trump on Saturday placed blame squarely on Puerto Ricans for the slow recovery from Hurricane Maria after critics and the mayor of San Juan complained his administration’s response to the US territory’s plight was insufficient.
Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski (right) slammed President Donald Trump for his response to the post-hurricane recovery of Puerto Rico, saying that his ‘racism’ was ‘costing lives.’ Brzezinski’s co-host and fiancee, Joe Scarborough (left), also blasted Trump
Brzezinski and Scarborough have a long history of feuding with Trump. In June, the president famously belittled Brzezinski for ‘bleeding badly from a face-lift’
Eleven days after the devastating storm wiped out power, water and communications systems, about half of the 3.4 million people on the island do not have access to drinking water, and 95 percent remain without power, according to the US Defense Department.
Maria, the most powerful storm to strike Puerto Rico in nearly 90 years, has destroyed roads, making it difficult to deliver aid and move the heavy equipment needed to fix damaged infrastructure across the island.
The hurricane has killed at least 16 people, according to the official death toll.
Trump, who plans to visit the island on Tuesday, fired off a series of angry tweets from his private golf club in New Jersey, taking aim at the mayor of San Juan, the island’s capital and largest city.
Brzezinski’s Morning Joe co-host and fiancée, Joe Scarborough, also lashed out at the president on Saturday.
Scarborough was outraged by Trump’s attack on San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, whom the president chided for ‘poor leadership’ which he says was responsible for the island’s slow recovery.
Scarborough and Brzezinski came to the defense of San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, whose criticism of the slow government response angered Trump. Cruz is seen above embracing a Puerto Rico resident in San Juan on Saturday
Trump, who plans to visit the island on Tuesday, fired off a series of angry tweets from his private golf club in New Jersey, taking aim at Cruz, the mayor of Puerto Rico’s capital and largest city
‘Poor leadership’: Trump also said the American citizens in Puerto Rico expect handouts
Lashing out: The president of the United States unleashed his tirade in the early hours of Saturday
‘Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help,’ Trump tweeted on Saturday.
‘They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.’
A war of words began when President Trump took to Twitter Saturday to blast Cruz, calling her ‘nasty,’ and saying the American citizens in Puerto Rico expect handouts.
‘Poor leadership would be hiding at a country club golfing while fellow Americans are suffering and dying,’ Scarborough tweeted in response.
‘She’s not doing that. You are.’
Brzezinski and Scarborough have a long history of feuding with Trump.
In June, the president famously belittled Brzezinski for ‘bleeding badly from a face-lift.’
Brzezinski and Scarborough joined a chorus of celebrities and high-profile public figures who denounced Trump on Saturday for his handling of the Puerto Rico recovery effort.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez and Star Trek’s George Takei are among those to have defended the devastated island of US citizens.
Under seige: Suffering Puerto Ricans have found an unlikely defender in Hollywood celebrities
Harsh: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s (pictured in Hamilton) takedown of the Commander In Chief was especially brutal, with the Hamilton creator tweeting: ‘You’re going straight to hell’
Trump tweeted: ‘The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.
‘Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help.’
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s takedown of the Commander In Chief was especially brutal, with the Hamilton creator tweeting: ‘You’re going straight to hell, @realDonaldTrump. No long lines for you. Someone will say, “Right this way, sir.” They’ll clear a path.’
The Grammy Award winning composer wasn’t the only celebrity critical of the 45th President of the United States of America.
Lady Gaga took to social media to blast the former reality TV star, writing: ‘Oh I see @realDonaldTrump you’re not helping PR because of the electoral votes u need to be re-elected #Florida=29 #Texas=38 #PuertoRico=0’
In an earlier tweet she had written: ‘I think it’s clear where the “poor leadership” lies @realDonaldTrump Puerto Rico is part of the United States. This is our responsibility.’
The Joanne singer’s statements were in reference to Puerto Rico’s complicated relationship to the country Trump leads.
As an unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Ricans are by law natural-born US citizens but cannot vote in elections.
Joining forces: The Grammy Award winning composer wasn’t the only celebrity critical of the 45th President of the United States of America
No Applause: Lady Gaga took to social media to blast the former reality TV star
Learned lady: The Joanne singer’s statements were in reference to Puerto Rico’s complicated relationship to the United States
And Jennifer Lopez weighed into the debate. The Shades of Blue actress posted a photo contrasting Cruz wading through waist deep flood water in Puerto Rico with Trump casually tossing a golf ball during one of his frequent golf trips.
J-Lo captioned the photo ‘Photos were taken five minutes apart. Couldn’t make this up folks. #shameful.’
Star Trek actor George Takei picked up on the same contrast between the San Juan Mayor’s rescue efforts and Trump’s apparent lack thereof.
The LGBTI activist posted the same pic of Cruz shaking a Puerto Rican resident’s hand while wading through water, contrasting the image with Trump’s own tweets criticizing the San Juan mayor.
Takei captioned the image: ‘The irony of Trump golfing and tweeting—saying the mayor of San Juan wants “everything to be done for them”—it’s [as] thick as his skull.’
Contrasts: The Shades of Blue actress posted a photo contrasting Cruz wading through waist deep flood water in Puerto Rico with Trump casually tossing a golf ball
Close interest: the 48 year old singer/actress, shown here in March 2017, is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents
Great minds: Star Trek actor George Takei picked up on the same contrast between the San Juan Mayor’s rescue efforts and Trump’s apparent lack thereof
Live long and prosper: The Star Trek actor has a long history of social and political activism. Seen here in September 2017
Not every celebrity message took direct aim at Trump, however.
Ellen Degeneres tweeted a statement of support for the beleaguered Puerto Rican politician.
It simply read: ‘.@CarmenYulinCruz I see you, I hear you, I love you. You’re a hero.’
And Puerto Rican musician Fat Joe has teamed up with fellow rapper Jay-Z to personally fly supplies to the disaster-stricken region.
Jay-Z has apparently equipped the rap veteran with a plane, according to Ebony, which he will use to deliver non perishable items such as diapers, water and canned foods.
‘I promise all these items will be delivered by ME personally to Puerto Rico. God bless. #savepuertorico,’ Fat Joe wrote on Instagram.
Helping hand: On Saturday Ellen DeGeneres tweeted a statement of support for the beleaguered Puerto Rican politician
Good deed: And Puerto Rican musician Fat Joe, 47, has teamed up with fellow rapper Jay-Z to personally fly supplies to the disaster-stricken region
Here to help: Jay-Z has apparently equipped the rap veteran with a plane, according to Ebony , which he will use to deliver non perishable items to the region
To the rescue: ‘I promise all these items will be delivered by ME personally to Puerto Rico. God bless. #savepuertorico,’ he wrote on Instagram
On Saturday afternoon, Kim Kardashian also lashed out at the president in frustration.
The reality TV star was responding to the Commander In Chief’s Twitter plea to the people of Puerto Rico to ‘not believe the #FakeNews’ about his underwhelming response to their plight.
The socialite blasted Trump, writing: ‘They don’t have the power to watch the news!!! Please stop tweeting & golfing while people are dying! Please step up & help!’
President Trump has continued his Twitter war with Cruz, who responded Saturday by posting photos of the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico after it was devastated last week by Hurricane Maria.
‘We must all be united in offering assistance to everyone suffering in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the wake of this terrible disaster,’ Trump tweeted late Saturday afternoon.
Frustrated: On Saturday afternoon, Kim Kardashian also lashed out at the president pleading for the President to ‘stop tweeting & golfing while people are dying!’
He then criticized Cruz again, tweeting: ‘Results of recovery efforts will speak much louder than complaints by San Juan mayor. Doing everything we can to help great people of PR!’
Cruz declined to escalate the Twitter feud with the president, tweeting: ‘The goal is one: saving lives. This is the time to show our “true colors”. We cannot be distracted by anything else.’
The tweet was sent with photos of Cruz engaged in relief efforts while visiting island residents whose lives have been upended by the hurricane.
In one dramatic photo, Cruz is seen wearing a life vest with water up to her waist. She is shaking hands with a Puerto Rican resident who is kayaking through the flood waters of a residential neighborhood.
Cruz declined to escalate the Twitter feud with the president, tweeting: ‘The goal is one: saving lives. This is the time to show our “true colors”. We cannot be distracted by anything else’
President Donald Trump continued his Twitter war with Cruz
Later on Saturday, Trump sounded more conciliatory, tweeting: ‘I will be in PR on Tues. to further ensure we continue doing everything possible to assist & support the people in their time of great need’
Later on Saturday, Trump sounded more conciliatory, tweeting: ‘I will be in PR on Tues. to further ensure we continue doing everything possible to assist & support the people in their time of great need.’
The president then repeated his criticisms of the ‘fake news’ media, saying that press coverage is preventing ‘my people’ from ‘getting the credit they deserve for doing a great job.’
He then posted a video showing federal rescue personnel aiding in the recovery.
In one dramatic photo, Cruz is seen wearing a life vest with water up to her waist. She is shaking hands with a Puerto Rican resident who is kayaking through the flood waters of a residential neighborhood