As Florida grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, a political clash has erupted between Governor Ron DeSantis and Vice President Kamala Harris over their roles in the disaster response. While DeSantis has praised President Joe Biden for his handling of the situation, he did not mince words when criticizing Harris, accusing her of politicizing the crisis and inserting herself into a process where she "has no role."
During a press appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," DeSantis expressed his frustration with Harris's recent comments about his decision not to take her call regarding the state's hurricane response. "She has no role in this process," DeSantis said. "And I've been dealing with these storms in Florida under both Trump and Biden. Neither of them ever politicized it." He added, "She's trying to inject herself into this because of her political campaign."
The tension between DeSantis and Harris escalated after reports surfaced that DeSantis's team had turned down a call from Harris last month, following the landfall of Hurricane Helene. When asked about the snub, Harris responded by criticizing the governor, stating, "Playing political games at this moment in these crisis situations is utterly irresponsible and selfish."
Despite his criticisms of Harris, DeSantis has been notably more complimentary toward President Biden. The governor acknowledged the administration's support, highlighting Biden's responsiveness to Florida's needs. "I am working with the president of the United States. I'm working with the director of FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]. We've been doing this now nonstop for over two weeks," DeSantis said, emphasizing the productive collaboration.
President Biden, for his part, appeared to downplay the tension between DeSantis and Harris. When asked about the governor's refusal to engage with the vice president, Biden said, "All I can tell you is I've talked to Governor DeSantis. He's been very gracious. He thanked me for all we've done. He knows what we're doing, and I think that's important."
Hurricane Milton made landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, bringing widespread damage to Florida's Gulf Coast. The storm knocked out power to over 3.4 million residents, tore off roofs, toppled cranes, and flooded communities still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene just two weeks earlier. DeSantis has remained steadfast in his focus on coordinating the state's emergency response, directing efforts to restore power and provide relief to affected communities.
In contrast to DeSantis's praise for Biden, his comments about Harris were pointed and dismissive. "Although I've worked well with the president, she has never called Florida. She has never offered any support," he said. "I don't have time for those games. I don't care about her campaign, obviously I'm not a supporter of hers, but she's not, she has no role in this process."
Harris, who took a break from her campaign activities to sit in on a FEMA briefing on Milton, faced criticism for her distracted demeanor during the meeting. A clip from the briefing showed Harris appearing disoriented before commenting, "It's a live broadcast," to a staff member, further fueling DeSantis's argument that her involvement was politically motivated.
The feud between the two leaders highlights the broader political dynamics at play during a natural disaster. While Harris accused DeSantis of playing politics with people's lives, the Florida governor remained focused on what he described as his primary responsibility: working directly with those who can deliver immediate aid to his state. "For her to say that my focus should be on catering to her rather than worrying about my own people just shows she doesn't understand what it means to respond to these natural disasters," DeSantis remarked.
Despite the political friction, the collaboration between Florida's governor and the federal government appears to be intact. The White House confirmed that Biden had several conversations with DeSantis to ensure that federal support for Florida's recovery efforts was delivered promptly. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell also participated in these discussions, underscoring the importance of a coordinated response to Hurricane Milton's aftermath.
While DeSantis has openly credited Biden for his administration's support, he has been unwavering in his criticism of Harris's involvement. The governor made it clear that his focus remains on the welfare of Floridians affected by the storm, not on engaging in political squabbles. "I don't have time for those games," DeSantis said, reinforcing his commitment to managing the crisis at hand.
