Trump declares himself 'best thing to ever' happen to Puerto Rico after announcing $13m aid package

President had blocked funding in the past. He’s courting Latino voters at present

Donald Trump declared himself the “best thing to ever happen to Puerto Rico” after sending a $13m aid package as he blasted the Obama administration for “destroying” it while vowing to turn the island territory into a pharmaceutical powerhouse.

His approval of the aid monies and predictions Puerto Rico can become a “success” is another stunning reversal for a president who spent much of his term calling it one of the most “corrupt” places in the world. It also comes at a time he is trying to court Latino voters in a dozen swing states in a close re-election race. 

“What we’re doing is something that will be fantastic for many years,” he claimed.

Asked about his past slamming of Puerto Rico’s government, he said all will be well “because we're building that up as a great medical, pharmaceutical area. They were very good at it. But they destroyed it with their tax policy,” driving companies “to China.”

The president spent months last year slamming the Puerto Rican government, tweeting in April 2019 that “all their local politicians do is complain & ask for more money,” described those officials as “grossly incompetent” and spending US funds “foolishly or corruptly” as they “only take from USA.”