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The president's latest description of the natural disaster comes after harsh criticism from San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and others regarding his characterization of response efforts in Puerto Rico during and after Hurricane Maria last year.

\"I think Puerto Rico was incredibly successful. Puerto Rico was actually our toughest one of all because it is an island,\" the president said last Tuesday. \"I actually think it is one of the best jobs that's ever been done with respect to what this is all about.\"

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello recently announced the revised official death toll of 2,975 from the hurricane last year after the government commissioned an independent study.

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