Sanders lashes out at San Juan mayor for 'making political statements' instead of 'helping her constituents'

When veteran White House correspondent April Ryan asked Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about President Donald Trump's "very controversial" visit to Puerto Rico earlier this week, the press secretary chose to attack San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz.

"Actually, it wasn't controversial, and was widely praised," Sanders said of the president's visit in which he blamed the island territory for "throwing [the U.S.] budget out of whack" and compared their death toll to that of Hurricane Katrina.

"I think that it is sad that the mayor of San Juan chose to make that a political statement instead of a time of focusing on the relief efforts," the press secretary continued.

Trump invited Cruz to a meeting of mayors with San Juan's governor, Sanders continued, claiming Cruz did not speak up during the meeting and ask for what she needed.

"I hope next time she's given the opportunity to help her constituents, she'll take it," Sanders concluded. She did not address the .

Watch video of the exchange below, via CNN.