Trump: Hurricane Irma has "absolutely historic destructive potential"

U.S. President Donald Trump takes a question while holding a joint news conference with Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., September 7, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump warned of Hurricane Irma's destructive potential on Friday as the Category 4 storm headed toward Florida and urged residents in its path to heed government recommendations. "This is a storm of absolutely historic destructive potential. I ask everyone in the storm's path to be vigilant and to heed all recommendations from government officials and law enforcement," Trump said in a videotaped statement. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu)