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Kamala Harris tears into 'utterly irresponsible and selfish' Ron DeSantis for refusing to take her calls during hurricanes

2 months ago 8

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter In Washington, D.C. and Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent For Dailymail.Com In Washington, D.C.

Published: 01:13 BST, 8 October 2024 | Updated: 01:52 BST, 8 October 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday tore into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for not taking her calls as another hurricane was barreling toward his state's coastline. 

Harris spoke to journalists at Joint Base Andrew as she departed for New York Monday ahead of a series of interviews in the Big Apple. 

Earlier Monday reports came out that said DeSantis ignored a call from Harris specifically because he believed the move was politically motivated - as she's the Democratic nominee for president. 

'You know, moments of crisis, if nothing else, should really be the moment that anyone who calls themselves a leader says they’re gonna put politics aside and put the people first,' Harris said on the tarmac.  

She pointed out that 'people are in desperate need of support right now.' 

'And playing political games at this moment in these crisis situations, these are the height of the emergency situations, it's just utterly irresponsible, and it is selfish, and it is about political gamesmanship instead of doing the job that you took an oath to do, which is to put the people first,' Harris added. 

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday tore into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for not taking her calls as another hurricane was barreling toward his state's coastline

.@VP Harris on FL Gov. DeSantis: "Moments of crisis...should really be the moment that anyone who calls themselves a leader, presidential politics aside, put the people first...playing political games at this moment...is utterly irresponsible and it is selfish..." pic.twitter.com/3PpQElZwy8

— CSPAN (@cspan) October 7, 2024

President Joe Biden was in the state last week to survey damage and DeSantis didn't join him.  

When Biden sought to reach out to DeSantis last week, the governor was flying and unable to take the call, he claimed. 

DailyMail.com can confirm that the governor also did not take Harris' call this week.

And when Biden was in Florida last week to survey storm damage from Hurricane Helene, DeSantis was already holding a previously scheduled press conference in another part of the state. 

The two did not meet.

When asked about not taking the call during a press conference on Monday, DeSantis said that he wasn't even aware that the VP had called him. 

'I didn't know she called me. I saw that, but I wasn't aware of that,' he said to reporters in Tallahassee, also claiming that he didn't know the president called either. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did not take President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris' calls as they reached out regarding Hurricane relief in his state

'We've gotten approvals for everything we asked for,' he assured.  

Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday: 'It's up to the governor if he wants to respond to us or not.'

After the death and destruction of Hurricane Helene, parts of Central and Northern Florida are bracing to be hit by another storm by Wednesday.

White not in direct contact with the president or vice president, DeSantis has been speaking with Federal Emergency Management Director Deanne Criswell.

Asked whether politics is affecting hurricane relief response, Jean-Pierre said: 'That's really for the governor to speak to, right?'

'It was his decision...to not attend or not be there with the president,' she added.

'We are doing our part, in the Biden-Harris administration, working — obviously FEMA is work — is on the ground, all hands on deck, whole of government. Robust approach here. And so, again, that's for Gov. DeSantis to speak to.'

A lot of speculation has swirled on the Republican side that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not doing enough to help relieve those dealing with hurricane fallout.

Some theorize that too much money was allocated for housing migrants and illegal immigrants and so none is left for hurricane relief. 

Others are pushing conspiracies that if families accept the aid then the federal government can then take their home, which is leading Americans to not reach out for the help they need.

Hurricane Milton is expected to hit landfall by Wednesday as Florida remains in recovery mode from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

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