Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of the territory's capital city San Juan, has repeatedly called on federal authorities to do more to get vital supplies to residents, many of whom are still without power and running water since the storm delivered a body-blow to the island earlier this month.
Trump lashed out in a series of morning tweets, while also suggesting that Puerto Ricans "want everything to be done for them" and had left the bulk of relief work to federal first responders and the military.
"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.
"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."
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Speaking at a news conference yesterday, an emotional Cruz appeared to take issue to a series of oddly upbeat comments made by Trump administration officials.
"I respectfully disagree with President Trump and I am sure that he is not getting the data that we are seeing in the streets."
Trump's latest missive could further inflame sentiment after he had earlier weighed in on the emerging fight over how to finance the already debt-stricken territory's recovery -- comments that were viewed as premature and distasteful by some.