For the second time in two weeks, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis opted not to meet with President Joe Biden, even as the president visited the state to survey damage caused by Hurricane Milton. The storm, which recently tore through Florida, left a significant trail of destruction, but DeSantis has remained distant from Biden during the ongoing hurricane season.
President Biden traveled to Florida on Sunday to inspect the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which struck the Gulf Coast, bringing devastating rains, high winds, and even tornadoes. The storm, while not as severe as some predicted, still caused tens of billions of dollars in damage and claimed the lives of at least 17 people.
Biden took an aerial tour of the Tampa Bay area, which saw some of the worst impacts of the storm, and received a briefing from state and federal officials on the recovery efforts. Despite the president’s visit, DeSantis was absent from the event, marking the second time he has avoided meeting with Biden in person during the hurricane recovery period.
No Communication Between Biden and DeSantis
Before leaving Florida, President Biden confirmed to reporters that he had not spoken with DeSantis during his trip. According to the governor’s office, DeSantis was represented at the briefing by Kevin Guthrie, the state’s emergency management chief. The decision for DeSantis to skip the meeting is seen by some as politically motivated, given the timing of the visit amidst the closing weeks of the presidential campaign.
The governor’s office has yet to provide a specific reason for DeSantis’ absence. However, during Biden’s previous visit following Hurricane Helene late last month, DeSantis cited a scheduling conflict, choosing to tour storm damage in a different part of the state at the same time. In both cases, DeSantis and Biden have missed opportunities to stand side by side as their state faces the aftermath of major storms.
Florida Reeling from Storms’ Impact
Despite DeSantis’ absence, the aftermath of Hurricane Milton has been felt deeply across the state. According to Moody’s Analytics, the storm caused an estimated $50 billion to $85 billion in economic damage, leaving nearly a million residents without power. Florida’s recovery efforts have ramped up in the days since, but the long-term impact will take months to assess fully.
At the peak of the storm’s damage, around 4 million homes and businesses lost power. By Sunday afternoon, approximately 892,000 residents remained without electricity, and power companies continued working tirelessly to restore services. DeSantis is expected to give a media briefing later in the day, but by that point, President Biden will have already left the state.
DeSantis’ Political Calculations
DeSantis’ decision not to meet Biden during the hurricane season raises questions about political calculations ahead of the 2024 election. With his own presidential ambitions and a tense political landscape, DeSantis’ avoidance of public collaboration with the Democratic president is seen by some as a strategic move. However, critics argue that these actions might come at the cost of showing bipartisan unity during natural disasters, when citizens expect their leaders to set aside politics.
This isn’t the first time DeSantis has drawn criticism for skipping such meetings. After Hurricane Idalia hit Florida in 2023, DeSantis similarly declined to join Biden during his visit. The governor’s critics, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have accused him of using natural disasters to play political games. After Hurricane Helene, Harris remarked that DeSantis had refused to take her calls, fueling further tension between the governor and the Democratic administration.
Despite the strained relationship, Biden and DeSantis have maintained communication over the phone. Following the landfall of Hurricane Milton, the two spoke briefly, with Biden noting that DeSantis had expressed gratitude for the federal support in the recovery efforts. However, their failure to meet in person highlights the challenges of balancing disaster response with the political demands of a contentious election season.
Other Florida Officials Step Up
While DeSantis was notably absent, other prominent Florida Republicans did attend Biden’s briefing. Senator Rick Scott, who previously served as governor of Florida, was present and participated in discussions with the president. Scott, who is also a Republican, has taken a more collaborative approach to working with the Biden administration in disaster recovery efforts.
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, whose district was severely impacted by Hurricane Milton, also attended the event. Luna, a Republican, has garnered attention for promoting false claims that post-storm FEMA funds were being diverted to assist migrants. Despite this, she spoke with Biden after the storm and has publicly stated that all efforts are being made to care for Florida’s residents.
A Fragile Recovery Amid Political Tensions
As Florida continues its recovery from both Hurricanes Milton and Helene, the absence of bipartisan unity has not gone unnoticed. Biden, in his remarks, emphasized the importance of coming together in times of crisis, stating, “In moments like this, we come together to take care of each other, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans.”
However, with DeSantis opting not to appear alongside Biden, the political tensions remain palpable. As the state rebuilds from the devastation, Floridians will be watching closely to see how both leaders navigate the intersection of disaster recovery and the demands of national politics.
The question now is whether this dynamic will shift in the weeks leading up to the election, or if the divide between DeSantis and Biden will deepen as both men remain focused on their political futures. For now, the recovery in Florida continues, with local and federal agencies working together to address the damage left behind by two powerful storms.
