DeSantis Ignored White House Calls for Hurricane Relief
White House Criticizes Florida Governor DeSantis for Ignoring Calls for Hurricane Relief Assistance
In a surprising turn of events, the White House has publicly criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for refusing to respond to phone calls from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris regarding hurricane relief efforts in the state. The situation unfolded at a Monday afternoon press briefing, where White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed reports that DeSantis had been unresponsive to the attempts at communication.
During the briefing, Jean-Pierre expressed the administration’s disappointment in DeSantis’ lack of cooperation, stating, “It’s up to him if he wants to respond to us or not. We invited the governor to come and survey the damage areas with the president. Obviously, we were in Florida, we invited the governor of Florida to come. It was his decision not to attend or not be there with the president.”
Despite DeSantis’ apparent unwillingness to engage with federal authorities, Jean-Pierre assured the public that the White House was still committed to helping with storm recovery efforts through other channels, such as connecting with state and local officials and pre-positioning resources in anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s impending landfall.
Reports indicate that DeSantis not only ignored calls from Vice President Harris but also opted out of meeting with President Biden during his recent visit to Florida. An aide to DeSantis suggested to NBC News that the governor perceived the calls as “political” and thus chose not to respond.
These actions by DeSantis have raised eyebrows, particularly in light of former President Donald Trump’s baseless accusations regarding the federal government’s handling of storm relief efforts. Trump, who has a history of spreading conspiracy theories, falsely claimed that Biden had neglected to reach out to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp following Hurricane Helene. Both Biden and Kemp swiftly refuted these claims.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how DeSantis’ decision to ignore calls from high-ranking officials will impact the ongoing hurricane relief efforts in Florida. The White House’s pointed criticism of the governor underscores the importance of cooperation and communication in times of crisis, emphasizing the need for unity and collaboration across all levels of government.
