President Joe Biden is in Florida to witness the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, once again shining a spotlight on his frosty relationship with Gov. Ron DeSandis, the embattled Republican leader he could challenge the Democrat for the presidency in 2024.
For now, Biden and DeSandis have put aside their budding political rivalry and their administrations have worked in concert since the hurricane’s deadly collision with Florida’s west coast. This was presented on Wednesday.
Shortly after the helicopter tour of hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast communities, Biden was greeted at Fisherman’s Wharf by DeSantis and his wife, Casey, where they spoke for several minutes among the wreckage.
In a joint appearance moments later, Biden and DeSantis emphasized to reporters that their two administrations, though often at odds, are working closely together on rescue and recovery efforts.
“I’m just thankful that everybody has come together,” DeSantis said, before adding, “Mr. President, welcome to Florida. We value cooperation at various levels of government.”
Biden said the partnership was “excellent” and highlighted the ability of Americans across the country to help in times of need and urged Floridians to someday return the favor.
“We’re going to sort this all out for you because of all of your grief, but when you’re done with it, when you hear it’s happening somewhere else, remember this is the United States of America,” Biden said. “We’re all in this together.
Later, Biden told reporters that DeSantis “did a good job” of leading Florida through this disaster, calling the Republican’s response “pretty remarkable.”
“We have very different political philosophies, but we’ve worked hand in glove,” Biden said. “In dealing with this crisis, we were at a complete impasse.”
Last week marked the second time Biden and DeSandis welcomed a brief truce after a tragedy. A week after a condominium tower collapsed in Surfside, Fla., last year — killing 98 people — Biden and DeSandis sat side by side in a public bipartisan event of mourning. They exchanged pleasantries in front of the cameras, with Biden fondling DeSandis.
“We live in a nation where we can work together,” Biden said during their joint appearance. “And it’s really important.”
But the public animosity between De Sandys and Biden has only intensified in the 16 months since that day, with the White House and the nation’s third-largest state seemingly perpetually at odds. Biden likened De Sandys to a school bully whose legislative agenda has targeted vulnerable LGTBQ children. DeSantis has blamed Biden for rising inflation and earlier this year accused the Democrat of withholding aid to hurricane victims because the President “hates Florida.”
Tensions reached a tipping point just weeks before Ian’s arrival, when DeSantis took credit for two flights carrying migrants from the border to Martha’s Vineyard. Biden slammed the stunt as “un-American.” DeSantis threatened that future shipments could be headed to Biden’s home state of Delaware.
Asked if Biden would raise the issue of DeSandis moving groups of immigrants to Democratic cities, Jean-Pierre said there would be “a lot of time to discuss the differences between the president and the governor, but now is not the time.” .
The growing rift in their relationship has coincided with DeSantis’ rapid rise in his party to become the most popular Republican not named Donald Trump. His penchant for grabbing headlines and angering liberals has made de Sandys a favorite among Republican voters, some of whom want to see him challenge Biden in 2024.
As he seeks re-election next month, DeSantis has made Biden a key element of his campaign against his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist. The Florida Republican Party has aired ads on DeSantis’ behalf that highlight the close ties between Crist and the President, saying Crist “would do in Florida what Biden did in America” and twice repeating a sharp bite of Crist saying, “Thank God for Joe Biden.”
But those tensions have taken back – at least for now – the massive cleanup left behind by the hurricane’s significant passage. Biden said he has spoken with the Florida leader several times and promised to “be there every step of the way.” DeSantis praised the federal government’s response to the state’s many requests for help.
The Biden administration and de Sandys also joined forces to fend off questions about the timing of evacuation orders in Lee County, where a devastating storm decimated homes and put the lives of those who had taken refuge at risk. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell defended Lee County officials, noting the unpredictable nature of this particular storm.
“Once the forecast of the storm was that it was going to affect Lee County, I know that local officials immediately took the appropriate steps to make sure that they were warning citizens to get them out of harm’s way,” Criswell said.
At a news conference Monday, DeSantis tried to shut down a reporter who was trying to ask the governor if Lee officials gave residents enough time to evacuate before Ian arrived. Lee ordered evacuations about 24 hours before the storm made landfall, later than neighboring northern counties, despite forecasts showing the possibility of a dangerous storm along the region’s coast.
DeSantis said the focus should be “lifting people up and stop talking incessantly and trying to belittle people who did the best job they could with imperfect information.”
Air Force One touched down early Wednesday afternoon in Fort Myers carrying First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who accompanied the President on Monday to survey the damage in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Fiona.
Biden visited a community still reeling from a storm that many thought was heading further north before a late swing turned its gaze toward Lee and Charlotte counties. At least 100 people died in Florida when Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast as a massive Category 4 storm. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors as residents comb through debris and seek temporary shelter. More than 400,000 Florida customers remain without power, and it could be a month before power is restored to the hardest-hit communities.
As part of a major disaster declaration for Florida, Biden on Sept. 29 approved aid for 13 counties that guaranteed the federal government would reimburse 100 percent of debris removal and other search and rescue costs for 30 days related to Hurricane Ian . Speaking at a press conference ahead of Biden’s arrival, de Sandys said many hard-hit communities could not begin clearing debris until roads were cleared, and officials there now faced a time crunch.
“The clock is ticking,” DeSantis said. “Obviously they haven’t been able to do much debris removal when they don’t have consistent access.”
Before leaving for Florida, Biden amended the disaster declaration to extend the compensation period for another 30 days, granting a request DeSantis had planned to make later in the day.
One community facing such difficulties is Pine Island, where all bridges failed as a result of Hurricane Ian. DeSantis announced in Matlacha the opening of a temporary slow-speed bridge later Wednesday that will allow vehicular traffic on Pine Island.
During his press conference, DeSantis filled in on the federal response to the storm.
“Local, state coordination, FEMA — less red tape was holding us back in this (hurricane) than probably anyone I’ve seen,” DeSantis said.
The visit showed how two men of very different temperaments approach a tragedy of immeasurable destruction.
Biden has often leaned into the role of comforter, guiding the nation through the post-vaccination period of the Covid-19 pandemic and communities across the country through more localized tragedies. In less than two years as President, he waded through the wreckage of tornado-ravaged western Kentucky, hugged the families of mass shooting victims in Uvalde and Buffalo, and comforted those displaced by wildfires in the West.
Speaking in Ponce, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, Biden assured the island’s residents that “all of America is with you.”
DeSantis, who describes himself as a hands-on leader, has orchestrated the state’s response with a laser-like focus on the logistics of getting the state back up and running. His press conferences rarely flourish with personal stories of suffering and loss — a staple of Biden speeches. Instead, DeSantis is often forward-looking and matter-of-fact. He reports the recovery statistics and lays out in harrowing detail the obstacles ahead and the state’s plans to overcome the collective difficulties.
Asked by CNN on Sunday for a message to people who couldn’t reach loved ones living in the storm’s path, DeSantis’ response was typically matter-of-fact: He focused on the state’s work with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. to get the internet to those affected. communities.
“You will be able to connect,” DeSantis said. “Well, that will be a comfort to a lot of people.”
CORRECTION: A…
