Disaster aid stalls in Senate amid fight over Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats blocked a Republican disaster aid bill, saying more money is needed to help hurricane-torn Puerto Rico. Trump claimed additional funding would come at the expense of U.S. farmers and states, and attacked the island’s political leaders, alleging they “only take from USA.” Puerto Rico’s residents are U.S. citizens. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said it was “ridiculous” to question Trump’s commitment to the people of Puerto Rico, but called the island “that country” in an interview with MSNBC. Period,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Trump complained in a pair of tweets Tuesday about the island’s leadership and said $91 billion destined for Puerto Rico is “more money than has ever been gotten for a hurricane before, & all their local politicians do is complain & ask for more money.” He said the politicians there are “grossly incompetent, spend the money foolishly or corruptly, & only take from USA.” “The best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico is President Donald J. Trump,” the president continued. “And it’s the only bill on the table that could earn a presidential signature in time to deliver urgent relief on the nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico.” Political momentum for the measure — strongly backed by Trump’s allies in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina, among other states — has only been heightened by massive flooding in Midwestern states such as Nebraska and Iowa, whose nominating caucuses are the first test for Democrats hoping to challenge Trump next year.