Trump scraps trip to Poland to monitor Dorian as Florida-bound hurricane could grow into dangerous Category 4 storm

New York Daily News, The (NY)

Aug. 29--President Trump on Thursday scrapped his Labor Day weekend trip to Poland and said he would stick stateside to monitor Hurricane Dorian as it barrels toward Florida, striking a much different tone than when the storm was expected to hit Puerto Rico.

Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said he's sending Vice President Pence in his place to the Polish capital of Warsaw for a World War II commemoration ceremony, adding it's "very important for me to be here for the storm."

"All resources of the federal government are focused on the arriving storm," Trump said, adding Dorian is projected to be "a very, very big one indeed" and that "our highest priority is the safety and security of the people in the path of the hurricane."

The president's pledge of unequivocal support for Florida sharply contrasted his comments a day earlier, when Dorian was still projected to strike Puerto Rico.

"Puerto Rico is one of the most corrupt places on earth," Trump tweeted as Dorian was heading straight for the U.S. territory. "Their political system is broken and their politicians are either Incompetent or Corrupt...And by the way, I'm the best thing that's ever happened to Puerto Rico!"

As part of the same Twitterstorm, the president voiced skepticism about having to send federal aid to Puerto Rico, complaining that a massive storm was "as usual" heading toward the island, which was ravaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Maria left more than 3,000 people dead and the island has yet to fully recover from the catastrophic hurricane.

Nonetheless, Trump has continued to berate local politicians while overstating how much aid they have received, claiming $92 billion has been given to the U.S. territory, when the real figure is closer to $14 billion.

The president's incessant attacks against Puerto Rico have prompted accusations of racism, as he's never voiced similar reluctance when Trump-voting states like Texas and Florida have been rocked by natural disasters in the past.

Earlier Thursday, Trump said Puerto Rico was "in great shape" after Dorian had grazed the island's east coast and caused only minor damages.

"The bad news, Florida get ready!" Trump tweeted. "Storm is building and will be BIG...Be prepared and please follow State and Federal instructions, it will be a very big Hurricane, perhaps one of the biggest!"

Dorian is projected to hit Florida late Sunday or Monday. Forecasters say the holiday weekend hurricane could develop into a dangerous Category 4 storm by the time it hits the Sunshine State.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded a previous state of emergency to encompass all 67 counties on Friday and urged residents to "heed the call and evacuate if you're asked to."

"All residents, especially those along the east coast, need to be prepared for possible impacts," DeSantis tweeted.

___

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.