Here's what's making headlines in the political world on Thursday, September 13, 2018:
Trump: Democrats artificially raised Hurricane Maria death toll
-- President Trump again defended his administration's response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico on Thursday and claimed -- without providing evidence -- that the death toll from the hurricane was falsely inflated.
Earlier this week, the president called his administration's response to Hurricane Maria an "unsung success."
Trump tweeted Thursday morning: "3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000. This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!"
3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018
.....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018
In August, researchers at George Washington determined that 3,000 deaths should be attributed to Hurricane Maria due to the crippling effect the storm had on the island's infrastructure. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló accepted the findings a few days later, raising the death toll to 2,975.
Trump’s remarks come as Hurricane Florence barrels towards states in the U.S. southeast.
Trump has fiery response to bank CEO’s claims
-- President Trump offered a response to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon after Dimon said he could beat Trump if he ran against him.
During a Wednesday event, Dimon said, “I think I could beat Trump. I can’t beat the liberal side of the Democratic Party.” A transcript of the remarks was posted by CNBC.
Hours later, Dimon clarified his comments, stating that he should not have made the comments and confirmed he was not running for president.
Trump, however, took note of Dimon’s remarks. He tweeted: “The problem with banker Jamie Dimon running for President is that he doesn’t have the aptitude or ‘smarts’ & is a poor public speaker & nervous mess - otherwise he is wonderful. I’ve made a lot of bankers, and others, look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy!”
The problem with banker Jamie Dimon running for President is that he doesn’t have the aptitude or “smarts” & is a poor public speaker & nervous mess - otherwise he is wonderful. I’ve made a lot of bankers, and others, look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018
McCain family calls GOP committee's use of his image in political attack ad "unfortunate"
-- The family of John McCain, who died last month after a yearlong battle with brain cancer, rebuked the National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday for airing an ad in Arizona that uses video of the late senator to attack a Democratic nominee in a contested House race.
"The McCain family believes it is unfortunate that the Senator's image is being weaponized this election season," said Julie Tarallo, spokeswoman for the family. "And they would hope there would be more respect, especially so soon after his passing."
The ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee, airing in Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, uses straight to camera footage from McCain's successful 2016 run against Ann Kirkpatrick, who was at the time challenging the Republican's Arizona Senate seat. In the video, McCain faults Kirkpatrick for not opposing higher taxes and federal spending.
"Ann Kirkpatrick won't oppose higher taxes, she won't oppose more federal spending and she won't oppose increased debts that slow economic growth," McCain says.
CNN contributed to this report
