President Joe Biden resisted calling political rival Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-F.L., even as massive Hurricane Ian bore down on the Sunshine State.
Biden only reached out to DeSantis hours before the Category 4 hurricane slammed into millions of Americans living in Florida.
The White House reached out to the mayors of Democrat-run cities — Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa, Mayor Ken Welch of St. Petersburg, and Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater — before the administration contacted DeSantis.
It was only after the governor went public that Biden hadn’t reached out that the White House contacted him.
“I have not personally spoken to the president,” DeSantis told reporters when asked about the coordination between Florida and the federal government. “I’m happy to brief the president if he’s interested in hearing what we’re doing in Florida.”
“My view on all this is that you’ve got people’s lives at stake, you’ve got their property at stake, and we don’t have time for pettiness. We’ve got to work together to make sure we’re doing the best job for them, so my phone line is open.”
Take a look —
"I’m happy to brief the President if he’s interested in hearing what we’re doing in Florida… You've got people’s lives at stake…no time for pettiness, we've gotta work together to make sure we’re doing the best job for them. So my phone line is open." @RonDeSantisFL on Biden pic.twitter.com/d2FkngDq5J
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) September 27, 2022
After the news went viral, the White House announced Biden had contacted DeSantis’ office just hours before Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida.
“President Biden spoke this evening with Governor DeSantis of Florida to discuss the steps the Federal government is taking to help Florida prepare for Hurricane Ian,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement late Tuesday.
“The President and the Governor committed to continued close coordination.”
President Biden spoke this evening with Governor DeSantis of Florida to discuss the steps the Federal government is taking to help Florida prepare for Hurricane Ian. The President and the Governor committed to continued close coordination.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) September 27, 2022