In the past two months, Florida was hit by Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Helene.
Debby, a Category 1 hurricane, was still a powerful storm when she hit the Sunshine State’s Big Bend region. She brought with her heavy rains and storm surges as well as strong winds, which caused trees to fall, powerlines to be damaged, and flooding. Five people died during the storm. Helene, a Category 4 storm that also struck the Big Bend area, left more destruction in her wake, including at least twenty deaths.
Now, as a hurricane even stronger than the last threatens Florida, Governor. Ron DeSantis has once again shifted into “get it done mode” by providing storm briefings that detail how crews are preparing and encouraging residents to evacuate.
A briefing DeSantis gave on Monday was tainted by a reporter who decided to play political games.
The story began not long after journalists inquired about calls made by President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris in relation to the storm. They cited an anonymous report that claimed that DeSantis had refused to accept a call from Harris concerning the post-Helene operation.
NBC News reported an aide telling them “Kamala tried to reach out and we didn’t respond.”
DeSantis denied that he had deliberately avoided any calls from Biden or Harris. He said the only call that he remembered coming from Biden was when he (DeSantis), was in a helicopter. If the POTUS called at another time, he “was not aware” of it.
DeSantis said that, in relation to the purported Harris phone call, he “didn’t know she had called.” He also stated, “I don’t remember who called me but they didn’t call me.” DeSantis also denied any “political response” from his office.
DeSantis was riled up by the question of another reporter named Gary. DeSantis exploded when the reporter stated that he wanted to ask about politics. He also noted that the news outlet in question would twist his answer, no matter what he said. DeSantis reiterated as he did previously, that he was in touch with FEMA and had received everything he asked from the federal government.
You don’t need to speak to Biden or Harris when you are busy visiting the state to meet with those who will be directly handling the aid requests.
Here is the clip of Ron DeSantis categorically denying the report from @ABC that he ignored a call from Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/zfH7yDXtdM
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) October 7, 2024
Remember, too, how DeSantis, in 2022, felt that Biden had “stiffed”, residents of Florida when it came to federal assistance after the tornadoes that hit Charlotte and Lee counties in that same year.
Biden also called the mayors in Florida’s projected path two years ago but didn’t reach out to DeSantis until the Governor mentioned it during a press conference.
This is all a big fuss about nothing. DeSantis said he has gotten all the help he needs from FEMA so far and hasn’t complained because everything is under control. It’s a mystery why he’d need to massage Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s egos now, but it’s possible that politics is at play – not by DeSantis, but by the Biden-Harris Administration itself.
