Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office announced on Friday that there are no plans for him to meet with President Joe Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia. The governor’s spokesperson, Jeremy Redfern, explained that organizing a meeting would disrupt ongoing recovery efforts in rural communities that have been severely impacted by the hurricane.
Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, causing significant flooding and damage in Florida’s Big Bend region before moving northward to affect Georgia and the Carolinas. President Biden is scheduled to visit Florida on Saturday to personally witness and evaluate the devastation.
Governor DeSantis’ decision to preemptively decline a meeting contradicts President Biden’s statement earlier in the day, where he expressed his willingness to meet with DeSantis during his visit to Florida. This also contrasts with their previous interactions, as they met when the president toured Florida after Hurricane Ian hit the state last year and following the Surfside condo collapse in Miami Beach in 2021. However, DeSantis is currently running for president, and only recently paused his campaign due to Hurricane Idalia’s imminent threat.
In response to DeSantis’ statement, White House spokeswoman Emilie Simons assured that President Biden and the first lady are looking forward to meeting with members of the affected community and assessing the storm’s impact. Simons emphasized that the visit has been carefully coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state and local leaders to ensure there are no disruptions to response operations.
The handling of political rivalries after natural disasters can be challenging. Former Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie faced criticism within his own party for embracing then-President Barack Obama during a tour of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Christie was questioned about this incident during last month’s Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee.
Initially, both Biden and DeSantis stated that prioritizing assistance to storm victims superseded political considerations. However, as the week progressed, DeSantis began to suggest logistical challenges that could arise from a presidential visit to the hardest-hit areas. He expressed concerns about the security arrangements required for such a visit, which might hamper power restoration and relief efforts.
DeSantis, whose presidential campaign revolves around dismantling what he views as “woke” Democratic policies, often receives applause at GOP rallies with his statement urging to send “Joe Biden back to his basement,” referencing the president’s time in Delaware during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, earlier in the week, Biden indicated that he and DeSantis were effectively cooperating, stating that their communication regarding Hurricane Idalia has been frequent enough to warrant a direct line of contact.
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Homeland Security adviser, affirmed the collaborative relationship between Biden and DeSantis in assisting Americans in need, including citizens of Florida, referencing their previous joint efforts following Hurricane Ian and the Surfside collapse.
However, the political dynamics after Hurricane Idalia present potential complications for both parties. Despite announcing his reelection campaign in April, President Biden has mainly focused on governance rather than campaigning. The White House is now seeking an additional $4 billion in supplemental funding from Congress to address the rising costs caused by climate change-induced wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes, which are increasingly burdening US taxpayers.
Governor DeSantis, on the other hand, faces challenges in maintaining a viable campaign for the upcoming presidential election. With four months remaining until the Iowa caucuses, he significantly trails former President Donald Trump, who is the early frontrunner in the Republican primary. DeSantis has undergone multiple restructurings of his campaign team and image in an attempt to refocus his message. The supportive super PAC has even suspended door-knocking activities in Nevada and several states participating in the Super Tuesday primaries, signaling potential issues for his candidacy.
Contributing to this report: Associated Press writer Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Florida.
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