CNN —
The White House responded to reports that Florida’s Republican governor has rejected calls from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as authorities continue hurricane recovery efforts and prepare for the storm to make landfall later this week.・I blamed Mr. DeSantis.
“It’s up to the president to respond to us or not,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a press briefing Monday.
A White House official told CNN that DeSantis has been contacted numerous times since Hurricane Helen made landfall in the state, but the governor did not respond to the vice president’s calls. When Biden visited Florida last week to assess storm damage there, DeSantis declined to accompany him and instead held a press conference with reporters four hours south of the area the president was touring. went.
“We invited the governor, well, we invited the governor to come and survey the affected areas with the president. Obviously, we were in Florida, so we invited the governor of Florida to come. “It was the governor’s decision not to attend or to attend,” Jean-Pierre said. “The president reached out regarding Hurricane Helen. He reached out. It’s up to the governor, and it’s really up to the governor.”
DeSantis told reporters Monday that he had no knowledge of the vice president’s lobbying, insisting at a news conference in Tallahassee, “I didn’t know she called me.”
The governor said he’s grateful to Biden for approving everything he’s needed so far, adding that he “will not hesitate” to call Biden if he needs additional assistance.
“We want to use every resource available to help Floridians prepare for and respond to this storm, but he has approved everything we have asked President Biden to do. , we believe we will receive further approval for some individual assistance and post-landfall debris removal,” DeSantis said.
Harris also responded to reports that DeSantis did not return her phone calls on Monday, saying, “In moments of crisis, those who call themselves leaders must put politics aside and put the people first. It should be the moment when you say yes.” ”
“People desperately need help right now, but playing politics at this moment, in the midst of a crisis like this, is completely irresponsible and selfish. , it’s not about political games, it’s about political games, doing the job you’re sworn to do, and that’s putting the people first,” the vice president told reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews. Ta.
CNN has reached out to the White House, the Harris campaign and DeSantis’ office for more information about the working relationship between Biden, Harris and DeSantis.
NBC News first reported that DeSantis did not return Harris’ calls.
This is not the first time a Florida governor has avoided a meeting with Biden in the wake of a natural disaster. In 2023, he declined to meet with Biden during a post-Hurricane Idalia visit to the state, even after the president said he planned to meet with the Republican governor.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell contacted DeSantis on Sunday to discuss preparations for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
“She talked to him yesterday about Milton,” Jean-Pierre said. “And we’re definitely going to continue to pre-position on the ground and support our communities with what they need at all times. That’s our commitment.”
Harris, who also spoke with Criswell on Monday, urged people in the path of Hurricane Milton to heed warnings from state and local officials.
“Everyone in the Tampa, Florida area, please heed the evacuation advisory,” she said. “Listen to your local officials, because we know there are many people who have survived hurricanes before. This hurricane is going to be very serious. Get whatever you want and listen to my orders.” I’m hearing this from local officials. ”
Jean-Pierre insisted that the federal government will remain focused on the state’s disaster recovery, regardless of whether DeSantis returns calls from the president or vice president.
“That’s something the governor should say to himself. If you have a president and a vice president and you’re offering assistance that will be provided to voters who live in your state and what we need to do in the federal response, “It’s the governor’s job to reach out to us again to make sure we’re doing everything and offer support, and it’s up to him to respond to us,” she said. said.
She continued: “But what we’re doing is working with state and local officials to make sure we’re prepared in advance to make sure we’re prepared for the communities that are going to be affected. It’s necessary. I am doing a job that is said to be
The spokesperson said federal officials would respond “determined across the government.”
“Other than that, we have to leave it to the governor to decide what he does and how he wants to move forward. That’s his problem, that’s the governor’s problem,” she said.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Kit Maher contributed to this report.
Correction: This article has been updated to accurately reflect where DeSantis held a press conference related to Biden last week.
