Ahead of Visit to Puerto Rico, Trump Eases Up on Mayor

President Trump says San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz has "come back a long way" from her criticism of the federal response to Hurricane Maria. "I think it's now acknowledged what a great job we've done and people are looking at that. Whether it's her or anybody else, they're all starting to say it," Trump told reporters Tuesday before flying to Puerto Rico, per Politico. It marked a friendlier tone than Trump had used days earlier when stating Puerto Rican officials "want everything to be done for them." He said Tuesday, however, that although roads are cleared and communications are being restored, "at a local level, they have to give us more help."

The White House said Monday that Trump would come face-to-face with Cruz on Tuesday after the mayor accepted an invitation to attend events alongside him, per Time. "I have accepted the invitation on behalf of the people of San Juan and out of respect for the American people represented by the Office of the President of the United States," Cruz wrote on Facebook. "This is about saving lives, not about politics." Previously, she has been openly critical of the federal government's response, and Trump lashed out at her over the weekend. (More Puerto Rico stories.)