Topline
Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday for “playing political games,” following reports of him refusing to take her call over hurricane relief, while DeSantis later attacked the Democratic candidate, saying she was “trying to politicize the storm” as Florida braces for its second major hurricane in as many weeks.
US Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to media members before … [+] departing for New York at Joint Base Andrews.
Key Facts
Earlier on Monday, NBC News reported DeSantis was refusing to take Harris’ calls about recovery efforts just a week after Hurricane Helene struck the state’s Big Bend region.
When asked to comment on the report while leaving from New York from Joint Base Andrews, Harris did not deny it and said people were in “desperate need of support right now and playing political games at this moment in these crisis situations…is just utterly irresponsible.”
Without directly naming DeSantis, the vice president added: “It is selfish and it is about political gamesmanship instead of doing the job that you took an oath to do.”
When asked to comment, DeSantis first told reporters he was unaware of Harris trying to reach him and added “I’m not sure who they called. They didn’t call me.”
Later, however, DeSantis appeared on Fox News host Sean Hannity’s primetime show and attacked Harris, saying he has dealt with several storms under the Biden administration and “she’s never contributed to any of these efforts.”
DeSantis said he is in contact with the president and the FEMA director, and added: “She has no role in this…She’s the first one who is trying to politicize the storm. And she’s doing that just because of her campaign.”
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Key Background
Earlier on Monday, citing an unnamed source, NBC News reported DeSantis was refusing to take calls from Harris because they “seemed political.” The Florida governor’s staffers told ABC News that he had not spoken with President Joe Biden either over the past few days. DeSantis was asked about Harris’ reported calls in a press conference on Monday afternoon and said: “I’m not sure who they called. They didn’t call me.” During Monday’s White House press conference Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said DeSantis had been invited by the White House to survey the storm damage with President Joe Biden and “It was his decision … to not attend or not be there with the president.” And on the reported call from Harris, Jean-Pierre said: “That’s really for the governor to speak to, right?”
Tangent
Last week, Biden criticized former President Donald Trump for “lying” about his administration’s hurricane response and said it was “irresponsible” of Trump to imply “that we’re not doing everything possible” to help the victims of Hurricane Helene. Biden’s comments were a response to Trump’s claims that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was having a hard time reaching Biden—despite Kemp saying he had spoken with the president, who told him “if there’s [anything else] we need just to call him directly.” Trump has continued to put a political spin on the hurricane response on his Truth Social platform. In a post early on Tuesday, he claimed without evidence that Harris has left the people of North Carolina “STRANDED” and added “Hope they remember at the Ballot Box!” In a post on Monday, Trump said Harris’ response to Helene is “IS NOW RATED THE WORST STORM RESPONSE IN HISTORY,” although no such “ratings” exist.
Further Reading
Ron DeSantis is refusing to take Harris’ call on Hurricane Helene (NBC News)
Biden Slams Trump ‘Lying’ About Administration’s Hurricane Helene Response: ‘Irresponsible’ (Forbes)
