Vice President Kamala Harris lambasted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday for allegedly avoiding her attempts to discuss federal storm relief as a formidable hurricane nears the state. She described his actions as “utterly irresponsible,” asserting that he is engaging in political maneuvers rather than prioritizing essential support for Floridians.
The tensions arise as DeSantis reportedly has been dodging calls concerning storm recovery from Harris, following the devastation of Hurricane Helene over a week ago, with Hurricane Milton expected to strike Florida’s southwest coast imminently.
According to an aide to DeSantis, cited by NBC News, the Republican governor has not responded to Harris’s outreach because the calls appeared politically motivated. “Kamala was trying to reach out, and we didn’t answer,” the aide stated, noting that, to their knowledge, DeSantis had also not communicated with President Joe Biden during this period.
However, a White House pool report from Monday evening contradicted that assertion, revealing that President Biden had engaged in separate conversations with both DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to gather updates on the recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and discuss preparations for Hurricane Milton. Biden urged both leaders to contact him directly if additional federal support was necessary.
Despite the ongoing tensions, DeSantis has been in communication with FEMA Director Deanne Criswell regarding recovery efforts.
Last week, Ron DeSantis mentioned that he had missed a call from Biden while in transit. Additionally, sources familiar with Biden’s visit to northern Florida to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Helene indicated that DeSantis had been invited but scheduling conflicts prevented their meeting.
As the response to Hurricane Helene becomes increasingly politicized just a month before the presidential election, both the White House and local Democratic leaders have called for an end to misinformation surrounding the storm and the response efforts. Prominent figures like Trump and Harris have already visited the affected regions.
Republicans have controversially linked disaster relief efforts to immigration, propagating false claims that FEMA funds were diverted to immigration assistance, which the White House and FEMA have vehemently denied.
During a Monday briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed that the government is committed to a “robust federal response” to the impending storm. She noted, “Any further actions are up to the governor and how he chooses to proceed.”
Jean-Pierre also highlighted the pervasive issue of misinformation, stating, “Disinformation is a problem across the board, whether it pertains to the election or the ongoing situations with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, DeSantis expressed to reporters that the federal focus should shift to North Carolina, asserting, “Florida has it handled. We have what we need. Most of the effort should be in western North Carolina right now, where active rescues are still necessary.” He has also dispatched resources, including members of the Florida National Guard and officials from various state agencies, to assist North Carolina in its recovery efforts.
