Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declined a meeting with President Joe Biden during his visit to Florida to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia. The governor’s administration cited concerns that the visit would disrupt ongoing recovery efforts.
Jeremy Redfern, DeSantis’ spokesperson, stated that the security preparations required for such a meeting, especially in rural communities so soon after the hurricane, would impede ongoing recovery efforts.
The White House responded by stating that President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, along with Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), would still travel to Florida on Saturday. However, the location and time of their visit remained unspecified.
A White House official, speaking anonymously, noted that Biden had informed DeSantis of the visit on Thursday, and the governor did not express concerns at that time.
The two leaders were expected to jointly survey the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia, a catastrophic storm that damaged over 6,000 homes and claimed at least one life.
DeSantis and Biden have previously cooperated during crisis events in Florida, such as the 2021 condo collapse and the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. However, this would have been their first joint event since DeSantis announced his presidential run.
Senior White House officials had emphasized the importance of the president’s conversation with DeSantis, particularly following a recent racially motivated shooting and in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
Republican Senator Rick Scott also confirmed his presence with Biden on Saturday, where he would receive a storm briefing from local officials and advocate for his disaster relief legislation.
DeSantis had previously warned Biden that the trip could be disruptive to the hardest-hit communities due to security measures potentially congesting rural roadways.
The hurricane made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Keaton Beach on the Gulf Coast, an area far from major cities and known for its rural nature.
Both leaders had expressed their commitment to prioritizing assistance to those affected by the hurricane, setting aside political considerations.
However, DeSantis has frequently criticized Biden’s policies on various issues and has engaged in legal battles with the administration on several fronts. This tension was further highlighted during the recent Republican presidential debate, where DeSantis portrayed Biden as an ineffective leader.
The decision not to meet with Biden drew criticism from Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic party, who argued that leaders should put aside their differences during times of crisis. She accused DeSantis of prioritizing politics over people.
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