Chuck Todd to Mnuchin: Trump Seems to Lack Empathy for Puerto Rico

CHUCK TODD: Okay, you mentioned the governor, but you're not mentioning the mayor. Why did he attack the mayor? She's in a situation, a pretty desperate situation. He seemed to lack a little bit of empathy for the situation at the time. Why did he do this?

SECY. STEVE MNUCHIN: Well, I think, as you know, when the president gets attack, he attacks back. And I think the mayor's comments were unfair, given what the federal government has done. But again, this is really about the focus should be--

CHUCK TODD: How do you know they were unfair? Is that fair to say? Have you been down there?

SECY. STEVE MNUCHIN: I haven't been down there.

CHUCK TODD: I mean is it unfair? I mean it's-- I remember going through Hurricane Andrew. When you're in this moment a week or so later and you still don't have power, any-- the president himself tweeted, a week after Sandy hit, "It's outrageous that power isn't on." People do get frustrated.

SECY. STEVE MNUCHIN: Again, I completely understand people's frustration. And this is a very, very difficult situation. I haven't been there, but I've been almost on daily calls monitoring what's going on with the rest of the cabinet. I think FEMA's done a terrific job, given a very difficult situation.

And we're doing everything we can to get resources to the governor so that they can be distributed. But I understand people's frustration on the island. And I can assure you the federal government's doing everything we can.

CHUCK TODD: Does the president, it seemed as if yesterday his tone changed on Puerto Rico. Does the president regret attacking the mayor and the people of Puerto Rico yesterday morning?

SECY. STEVE MNUCHIN: I haven't spoken to the president about that, so I can't comment on it. But I don't think he was attacking the people. He understands that the people are going through a very difficult situation.