In an interview on Friday night, Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, detailed how he convinced President Joe Biden to aid Florida after the state was struck by one of the most catastrophic storms in U.S. history late last month.
DeSantis’s statements are in response to the fact that Biden did not phone the governor before the hurricane hit the state while calling many local mayors. Biden ultimately phoned the day before the storm, but only after receiving criticism for putting politics before humanity.
“I’ll tell you what. I told him that the media was making a big deal because he wasn’t talking to me or anything and that I wanted to work together for the people. Republicans and Democrats are expected to set aside their differences. As you are aware, nobody has done more to oppose this government in Florida over the past year and a half than I have.
“However, you must be willing to collaborate to assist others. Consequently, I believe the reaction from the municipal, state, and federal levels have been mostly coordinated,” he concluded. This demonstrates that the United States can get things done with high stakes.
In late September, when Biden had not yet contacted the governor before the landfall of Hurricane Ian, which was nearly a Category 5 storm, DeSantis phoned Biden.
Biden had separate phone conversations with the mayors of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater prior to DeSantis’s statements. The president’s discussion with DeSantis was omitted from an official White House summary of calls.
When asked during a news conference if he had spoken to Biden, DeSantis responded, “I have not personally spoken with the president, but FEMA has granted our pre-landfall request.” “We feel that our connection with FEMA is positive. If the president is interested in hearing what we’re doing in Florida, I’d be pleased to brief him. However, I think people’s lives and property are at stake, and we have no time for pettiness. We must collaborate to ensure we do the greatest job possible for them.”