White House officials expressed surprise on Saturday at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' decision not to meet with President Biden during his visit to the state.
Biden had previously stated that he would meet with the governor while touring areas of Florida affected by Hurricane Idalia, but the DeSantis team contradicted this statement.
According to Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for DeSantis, the security preparations required for such a meeting in rural communities, especially in the aftermath of a hurricane, would disrupt ongoing recovery efforts.
This explanation was given to reporters during a gaggle on Air Force One, where Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Deanne Criswell and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre were questioned about the situation. Jean-Pierre stated that there was no indication that DeSantis would not be present for the meeting.
Criswell, who had surveyed the damage with DeSantis earlier in the week, confirmed that the area Biden planned to visit in Live Oak had been mutually agreed upon. She mentioned that Biden had spoken with the governor by phone on Thursday and that the power had been restored, roads were open, and access was not hindered in the area. Therefore, it was deemed suitable for the President's visit.
When asked if politics played a role in DeSantis' decision, the officials declined to comment, stating that they would let the governor speak for himself. Jean-Pierre emphasized that DeSantis was welcome to meet with the President if he chose to do so.
This incident marks a departure from previous interactions between Biden and DeSantis. The two had met after Hurricane Ian last year and for another disaster in 2021. When questioned about the difference this time, Jean-Pierre redirected the question to the governor, emphasizing that the President's presence was not about politics but rather about supporting the community.
As of now, there has been no response from DeSantis' spokesperson regarding the matter.
During a press conference at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., President Biden announced his intention to visit Florida. He also called on Congress to pass additional disaster relief funding promptly, increasing his initial request from $12 billion to $16 billion.
DeSantis, on the other hand, has stated that the loss of life and damage caused by Hurricane Idalia was not comparable to that of Hurricane Ian, which resulted in 149 deaths in the heavily populated Fort Myers area. Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Big Bend region, causing significant destruction with winds up to 125 mph. It later downgraded to a tropical storm, impacting Georgia and the Carolinas.
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