It has been over two weeks since Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria, and President Donald J. Trump, has yet to be proactive in the restoration process. This storm is the fifth strongest hurricane to ever hit the United States, yet the aid from mainland is one of the worst, most delayed in American history.

Residents in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, had an overwhelming sense of absence hours, then days, and now weeks after the storm. Unlike the relief programs set in place for Texas and Florida, Puerto Rico was left with next to nothing. When the forecast projected Hurricane Harvey, donations were set up before the storm even hit land, and the same goes for Irma. Days after the storm hit land on the coast of Puerto Rico, power was out, kids were left hungry, and the winds continued to reach maximum speed. And still, no aid had been received.

Not only has Trump been selfish and irresponsible in a time of need, but he has been utterly closed minded about opening our budget to help in Puerto Rico. Trump so much as went and gave $16 million for the restoration of Puerto Rico in the form of a loan, meaning the money needs to be paid back.

Emergency personnel report that 35 percent of the population still has no potable water, 75 percent has no electricity, and Trump wants to bring the emergency workers back to America. Puerto Rican mayors begged for assistance from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for nearly two weeks before they were sent help. Trump, after sending minimal help, said “they want everything to be done for them.”

Of course they want everything to be done for them, because they have been in a debt crisis for years. Puerto Rico was already bankrupt before the hurricane, and it doesn’t have the medical staff to tend to all in need. Since America adopted Puerto Rico as a U.S territory, we promised to support the people and help them in times of need, just as we would for any state. Trump said that since they don’t have the right to vote for our federal officers, they shouldn’t have the right to federal assistance because “[they] are affecting our budget.”

Trump on Thursday, October 12, tried to shame the island for its predicament. He tweeted, “Electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes.” He then quoted Sharyl Attkisson, a journalist, as stating that, “Puerto Rico survived the Hurricanes, now a financial crisis looms largely of their own making.” With a huge amount of criticism under his belt for his response to the crisis in Puerto Rico, he stills makes it seem as if the recovery is in full speed and fully covered (even though we know it isn’t).

Perhaps Trump should spend less time on Twitter and more time on running the country, which includes helping the people of Puerto Rico recover just as we are helping the hurricane victims in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.