DeSantis Ramps Up His Beef With Harris After Ducking Her Hurricane Calls
The Florida governor has not spoken to the vice president as his state prepares for a potentially catastrophic storm, multiple outlets reported.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been accused of dodging calls from Vice President Kamala Harris as Hurricane Milton approaches, sparking a heated exchange between the two politicians.
DeSantis denied receiving calls from Harris, claiming he was unaware of any attempts to contact him. He attributed the allegations to a politically motivated attempt by the Biden administration to use the storm for their own benefit.
Harris, however, vehemently criticized DeSantis' actions, calling them "selfish" and "utterly irresponsible." She accused him of prioritizing political gamesmanship over the well-being of his constituents.
The feud erupted after multiple outlets reported that DeSantis had declined to answer calls from Harris regarding storm preparations. An anonymous DeSantis aide told NBC News that the governor believed the calls were "political," while a source close to the governor confirmed the same to ABC News.
DeSantis countered by accusing Harris of attempting to "politicize the storm" and using the situation to gain an advantage in the presidential campaign. He asserted that his sole focus was on the people of Florida and that he was prepared to utilize any necessary federal resources.
The White House, however, insisted that their outreach was intended solely to provide support and assistance to the state. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that they had been in contact with state and local officials and that FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell had spoken with DeSantis.
Despite the ongoing controversy, DeSantis has been actively leading Florida 's preparations for Hurricane Milton. He announced a "24/7" operation to remove debris left by Hurricane Helene and has activated 8,000 National Guardsmen to respond to the impending storm. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for parts of Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties.
Hurricane Milton, currently a Category 5 storm, is expected to make landfall on Florida 's Gulf Coast by Wednesday. The storm's rapid intensification and potential for catastrophic damage have heightened concerns and underscored the urgency of preparedness.
DeSantis denied receiving calls from Harris, claiming he was unaware of any attempts to contact him. He attributed the allegations to a politically motivated attempt by the Biden administration to use the storm for their own benefit.
Harris, however, vehemently criticized DeSantis' actions, calling them "selfish" and "utterly irresponsible." She accused him of prioritizing political gamesmanship over the well-being of his constituents.
The feud erupted after multiple outlets reported that DeSantis had declined to answer calls from Harris regarding storm preparations. An anonymous DeSantis aide told NBC News that the governor believed the calls were "political," while a source close to the governor confirmed the same to ABC News.
DeSantis countered by accusing Harris of attempting to "politicize the storm" and using the situation to gain an advantage in the presidential campaign. He asserted that his sole focus was on the people of Florida and that he was prepared to utilize any necessary federal resources.
The White House, however, insisted that their outreach was intended solely to provide support and assistance to the state. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that they had been in contact with state and local officials and that FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell had spoken with DeSantis.
Despite the ongoing controversy, DeSantis has been actively leading Florida 's preparations for Hurricane Milton. He announced a "24/7" operation to remove debris left by Hurricane Helene and has activated 8,000 National Guardsmen to respond to the impending storm. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for parts of Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties.
Hurricane Milton, currently a Category 5 storm, is expected to make landfall on Florida 's Gulf Coast by Wednesday. The storm's rapid intensification and potential for catastrophic damage have heightened concerns and underscored the urgency of preparedness.