Over the weekend, instead of reporting on the Puerto Rico relief efforts and how they were crippled by circumstance, the liberal media chose to champion the anti-Trump criticism from Democratic San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz. After President Trump pushed back against the criticism, the media sensed blood in the water and went all in. On Sunday’s Good Morning America, ABC Correspondent David Wright touted public outrage at the President, including one actor claiming Trump was going to Hell.
Part way through his report highlighting anti-Trump criticism over his Puerto Rico response, Wright raised up the scathing tweet written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, best known for his work on the Broadway musical Hamilton. “And playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted: ‘She has been working 24/7. You have been golfing. You're going straight to Hell. Fastest golf cart you ever took,’” Wright read with excitement. He failed to clarify that Trump had been D.C. coordinating with Puerto Rico’s governor.
Miranda had been a vocal opponent of the President for some time. On one occasion, during a Hamilton performance, he took the time to harangue Vice President Mike Pence because he was in the audience. So the irony went right over Wright’s head when he dismissed Trump’s accusation that Mayor Cruz’s criticism was political:
Trump suggested her criticism of the administration's response is politically motivated, tweeting: “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.”
And it was no surprise whose corner Wright would place himself in for the report. During his lead into the segment, he asserted Trump was the one who started the argument. “The President's getting ready to head down to Puerto Rico this week. But, the fight he picked with one local official after she dared to criticize the administration's response ensures that the trip could be politically fraught,” he bemoaned.
In a series of tweets, President Trump told the people of Puerto Rico that the federal government was doing everything in its power to help them and urged them not to believe the “fake news.” Wright mocked Trump, explaining that “Of course, the reality of the situation is that most of the people in Puerto Rico will not be watching the news because they don't have power.”
Wright wrapped up his report by once again praising Miranda’s tweet: “Well, the President is taking a drubbing online for what people are saying is attacking storm victims, including that strongly worded tweet from Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
Transcript below:
ABC
Good Morning America
October 1, 2017
8:10:40 AMDAVID WRIGHT: Good morning, Dan and Paula. The President's getting ready to head down to Puerto Rico this week. But, the fight he picked with one local official after she dared to criticize the administration's response ensures that the trip could be politically fraught.
[Cuts to video]
From the comfort of his golf club here in Bedminster, another tweetstorm. The President lashed out at San Juan's mayor. “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,” he tweeted. “They want everything to be done for them. When it should be a community effort. 10,000 federal workers now on the island doing a fantastic job.”
CARMEN YULIN CRUZ: This is a time when everyone shows their true colors. I have no time for distractions.
WRIGHT: The mayor spent part of her Saturday wading the streets. Using a bull horn to reach stranded residents.
CRUZ: I hope he gets a chance to really look at people. Look at people's faces. See them drinking from a creek.
WRIGHT: Trump suggested her criticism of the administration's response is politically motivated, tweeting: “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.” And playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted: “She has been working 24/7. You have been golfing. You're going straight to hell. Fastest golf cart you ever took.”
BROCK LONG: Right now, we have disasters in 20 different states that we're working. Don't forget about Harvey. Don't forget about Irma. And all the work that's been done. Get rid of the noise. Focus on the progress that we've been -- that has been made.
WRIGHT: Late in the day, after a round of phone calls, the President softened his tone. Insisting the administration is “working to people of Puerto Rico in every way.” Adding: “To the people of Puerto Rico: Do not believe the fake news.”
[Cuts back to live]
Of course, the reality of the situation is that most of the people in Puerto Rico will not be watching the news because they don't have power. Well, the President is taking a drubbing online for what people are saying is attacking storm victims, including that strongly worded tweet from Lin-Manuel Miranda. Dan and Paula?
PAULA FARIS: Yeah, certainly a lot of criticism direct odd toward the President this morning. Thank you, David, for your reporting.
