Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora does not "feel comfortable celebrating in the White House" when his world champions are honored by President Donald Trump on Thursday, Cora told Puerto Rico's El Nuevo Día on Sunday.
"Puerto Rico is very important to me," Cora told the paper. "During the winter, I spent a lot of time back home, visiting my family and friends. Unfortunately, we are still struggling, still fighting. Some people still lack basic necessities, others remain without electricity and many homes and schools are in pretty bad shape almost a year and a half after Hurricane María struck.
"Even though the United States government has helped, there's still a long road ahead and that is our reality. I've used my voice on many occasions so that Puerto Ricans are not forgotten and my absence [from the White House] is no different. As such, at this moment, I do not feel comfortable celebrating in the White House."
President Trump has voiced numerous concerns with Puerto Rico's local response to Hurricane Maria, including a tweet Monday, calling out Democrats' political response of blocking disaster relief funding to U.S. states.
Trump tweeted:
"Puerto Rico has been given more money by Congress for Hurricane Disaster Relief, 91 Billion Dollars, than any State in the history of the U.S. As an example, Florida got $12 Billion & Texas $39 Billion for their monster hurricanes. Now the Democrats are saying NO Relief to......"
And continued in an ensuing tweet:
"....Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and others unless much more money is given to Puerto Rico. The Dems don’t want farmers to get any help. Puerto Rico should be very happy and the Dems should stop blocking much needed Disaster Relief!"
Cora joins a slew of others in rejecting the invitation to the White House, including other Red Sox players as the team has made the visit voluntary.
In Boston, former Stanley Cup champion goaltender Tim Thomas was widely criticized for turning down the invitation by former President Barack Obama in 2012.
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