Gov. Ron DeSantis did not take a call from Vice President Kamala Harris and refused to join President Joe Biden in Florida as the state braces for Hurricane Milton.
The Florida Republican thinks that the outreach from the Biden-Harris White House is politically motivated, according to multiple reports.
But DeSantis says he wasn’t even aware of the calls. Â
When Biden sought to reach out to DeSantis last week, the governor was flying and unable to take the call, he claimed. DailyMail.com can confirm that the governor also did not take Harris’ call this week.
And when Biden was in Florida last week to survey storm damage from Hurricane Helene, DeSantis was already holding a previously scheduled press conference in another part of the state. The two did not meet.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did not take President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris’ calls as they reached out regarding Hurricane relief in his state
When asked about not taking the call during a press conference on Monday, DeSantis said that he wasn’t even aware that the VP had called him.Â
‘I didn’t know she called me. I saw that, but I wasn’t aware of that,’ he said to reporters in Tallahassee, also claiming that he didn’t know the president called either.Â
‘We’ve gotten approvals for everything we asked for,’ he assured. Â
Biden’s Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday: ‘It’s up to the governor if he wants to respond to us or not.’
After the death and destruction of Hurricane Helene, parts of Central and Northern Florida are bracing to be hit by another storm by Wednesday.
White not in direct contact with the president or vice president, DeSantis has been speaking with Federal Emergency Management Director Deanne Criswell.
Asked whether politics is affecting hurricane relief response, Jean-Pierre said: ‘That’s really for the governor to speak to, right?’
‘It was his decision…to not attend or not be there with the president,’ she added.
‘We are doing our part, in the Biden-Harris administration, working — obviously FEMA is work — is on the ground, all hands on deck, whole of government. Robust approach here. And so, again, that’s for Gov. DeSantis to speak to.’
A lot of speculation has swirled on the Republican side that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not doing enough to help relieve those dealing with hurricane fallout.
Some theorize that too much money was allocated for housing migrants and illegal immigrants and so none is left for hurricane relief. Others are pushing conspiracies that if families accept the aid then the federal government can then take their home, which is leading Americans to not reach out for the help they need.
Hurricane Milton is expected to hit landfall by Wednesday as Florida remains in recovery mode from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
