President Joe Biden said Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the first to respond to Hurricane Helen, even though Vice President Kamala Harris accused DeSantis of “playing politics” instead of doing his job. He praised Milton, saying he was “cooperative” and “did a great job” in dealing with Milton. Responding to storms.
NBC News reported Monday that DeSantis declined a call from Harris' team. “People are in dire need of help right now, and in this moment of crisis, they are using this moment to play political games. This is the height of the emergency,” Harris told reporters on Monday. “That's completely irresponsible and selfish.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Joe Biden's opinions on Florida's Republican governor's response to Hurricane Helen and preparedness for Milton differed greatly from his vice president's.
“The governor of Florida has been supportive. He said we've got everything we need. I talked to him again yesterday and he said, no, you're doing a great job, everything's fine. And we said thank you for that,'' Biden said at a White House press conference on Tuesday. “We had a tough start in some places, but every governor from Florida to North Carolina has been fully supportive and supportive.”
Ron DeSantis: 51 counties are under state of emergency.
Two from right speak with linemen before a press conference at the Tampa Electric Company offices in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, as Tropical Storm Helen, which is expected to become a hurricane, moves. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Heading north along the Mexican coast toward the United States
On Monday, after DeSantis' staff told NBC that the Florida governor had chosen not to answer the vice president's phone calls, DeSantis clarified that he had no idea Harris was trying to contact him.
DeSantis also hit back at claims that Harris was playing political games with Storm, accusing her of engaging in political gamesmanship.
“I've worked on these hurricanes under both President Trump and President Biden, and neither of them ever tried to politicize it. From the time she became vice president to now, It has never conjured up any of the storms we have had,” DeSantis said. “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday morning in response to the vice president’s critical report. “Why is she, who has never shown any interest in this before, suddenly parachuting in and trying to inject herself? We think it's because of politics and because of her campaign. I know.”
“Mr. Harris is not even in the chain of command. She has no role in this,” DeSantis added. “The idea that I have to worry about her when I'm focused on the task at hand is frankly ridiculous.”
Milton criticizes Florida issue, Biden cancels overseas trip. DeSantis tells vice president: 'This is not about you, Kamala.'
Biden has had multiple phone calls with DeSantis since Hurricane Helen began making landfall in the Southeast, and has said he will “call directly” to DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor if further assistance is needed. I told him so. Meanwhile, DeSantis said Tuesday morning that “all” of the federal government's requests for further assistance have been met.
DeSantis also noted that at the state level, resources are being reallocated as needed to help Florida's smaller communities with fewer resources.
Florida coastal residents warn others to 'evacuate' as Hurricane Milton approaches: 'You never know what's going to happen'
Governor DeSantis' office declined to comment on the record to Fox News Digital, but pointed to the governor's comments on both “Fox & Friends” and “Hannity,” respectively. Fox News Digital also reached out to the Harris campaign for comment, but did not receive a response by press time.
Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at a press conference from his home state following the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his Florida-based Mar-a-Lago golf club.
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As Florida continues to deal with the damage from Hurricane Helen, it is now preparing for a potentially even worse storm, Hurricane Milton, and is urging millions of residents to evacuate.
“Helen woke me up – this “It's literally a catastrophic situation,” Castor said Tuesday, “and I can tell you without any dramatization that if you choose to stay in one of the evacuation zones, you're going to die. It means being deaf.”
