Biden and Harris regarding
Following DeSantis’ refusal to answer calls from Biden and Harris regarding storm recovery, the White House withdraws.
As officials continue hurricane recovery work and get ready for another to make landfall later this week.
The White House chastised Ron DeSantis over allegations that the Republican governor of Florida had turned down calls from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
At the press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
“It is up to him if he wants to respond to us or not.”
Since Hurricane Helene made landfall in his state, Harris has contacted DeSantis several times, a White House insider told CNN. But the governor has not returned the vice president’s calls.
DeSantis turned down Biden’s invitation to accompany him on his storm damage survey last week in Florida.
Opting instead to conduct a press conference with media four hours south of the president’s tour route.
“Obviously, we were in Florida, and we invited the governor of Florida to come. It was his option not to attend or not be there with the president,” Jean-Pierre stated. “We invited the governor, right, to come and evaluate the damage regions with the president.” “With regard to Hurricane Helene, the president has made contact. He made contact. The governor is ultimately in charge in this matter.”
Regarding information regarding outreach between Biden, Harris, and the DeSantis campaign. CNN has contacted the White House, the Harris campaign, and the DeSantis office.
The initial report on DeSantis not returning Harris’ calls came from NBC News.
The governor of Florida has previously declined to meet with Biden after a natural disaster In 2023.
He rejected to meet with Biden on a trip to the state following Hurricane Idalia, even after the president claimed he’d planned to meet with the Republican governor.
DeSantis and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell spoke on the phone on Sunday about the hurricane preparations for Milton.
Which is expected to hit Florida on Wednesday.
Jean-Pierre replied, “She talked with him about Milton yesterday.” “And we will undoubtedly keep prepositioning on the ground, providing the people with anything they require at any time. That is our pledge.
Regardless of whether DeSantis answers calls from the president or vice president, the press secretary stressed that the federal government is still committed to disaster recovery in the state.
The governor should talk to himself about that. If the president and vice president reach out to support your constituents, the people who live in your state, to ensure that we are taking all necessary federal action, and we are reaching out, offering our support, then the governor has the option to respond to us or not, the representative stated.
Then she went on, “But what we are doing is working with state and local leaders to make sure that we are pre-positioned to make sure that we are doing the necessary job and that we are ready to be there for the areas that are going to be impacted.”
The press secretary stated that a “strong all-of-government” response will be given by federal officials.
“And for everything else, I would have to let the governor take his own steps and decide how he wanted to proceed with this. That is a question for the governor, not for him,” she remarked.
