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The Hill: Dems rip Trump for dedicating golf trophy to hurricane victims

October 1, 2017

Democratic lawmakers are blasting President Trump for dedicating a golf trophy to hurricane victims while Puerto Rico continues to recover from Hurricane Maria.

Lawmakers took to Twitter to criticize Trump, who dedicated the trophy at the Presidents Cup golf tournament Sunday to the victims of the recent hurricanes that have struck the U.S.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said American citizens in Puerto Rico were in need of basic supplies, not a golf trophy.

"Dear @realDonaldTrump: US citizens in Puerto Rico need water, food, oxygen tanks, medicine BUT NOT A GOLF TROPHY. You still don't get it," Lieu tweeted Sunday.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) similarly panned the move, asking if Puerto Ricans "feel better now" after the trophy dedication.

"Hey Puerto Rico - you still don't have electricity or drinkable water. But good news: Trump dedicated a golf trophy to you. Feel better now?," Boyle tweeted.

"I'm sure hurricane victims would rather have electricity, food, and water," Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) also tweeted Sunday.

Trump said at the golf tournament Sunday that he wanted to "just remember" the victims of the hurricanes.

"And we're going to dedicate this trophy to all of those people that went through so much that we love — a part of our great state, really part of our great nation," Trump said.

Trump's administration is facing criticism for not doing enough to respond to the hurricane, as many of Puerto Rico's 3.4 million residents lack access to drinking water and face food shortages and a collapsed infrastructure more than a week after Hurricane Maria hit.

The administration has defended its response, noting the supplies it has sent to Puerto Rico and the presence of federal officials on the ground there.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit Puerto Rico on Tuesday.