Desantis Sets the Record Straight on Kamala’s Unanswered Call: ‘She has no role in this process’

Florida Governor Ron Desantis has set the record straight after media accusations of him refusing to take a phone call from Vice President Kamala Harris about federal aid following Hurricane Helene, saying, “She has no role in this process.”

Desantis told CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin that he had been in touch with the president and the director of FEMA while marshalling his state assets and accused the vice president of trying to inject herself into the hurricane relief effort to further her political campaign.

“[Harris] has no role in this process,” says @GovRonDeSantis. “All the storms I’ve dealt with under this administration, she has never called in Florida or offered any support. She’s trying to inject herself into this because of her political campaign.” pic.twitter.com/V9q4rh9uW9

— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) October 10, 2024

Desantis told CNBC that he didn’t even know that Harris was trying to reach him and stated, “I’ve been dealing with these storms in Florida under both [former President] Trump and Biden. Neither of them ever politicized it. And, in fact, all the storms I’ve dealt with under this administration, although I’ve worked well with the president, she has never called in Florida. She has never offered any support.”

Desantis added, “So, what she’s doing is she’s trying to inject herself into this because of her political campaign. So, as the governor here, who’s leading this, I don’t have time for those games. I don’t care about her campaign. Obviously, I’m not a supporter of hers.”

The Florida governor had spoken with the president and FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell earlier on Thursday after Hurricane Milton made landfall the night before.

When asked about Desantis’ alleged refusal to take Harris’s phone call, President Biden responded, “All I can tell you is I’ve talked to Gov. DeSantis. He’s been very gracious. He’s thanked me for all we’ve done. He knows what we are doing, and I think that’s important.”

Harris accused Desantis of playing “political games” but did not explain why the governor should be talking to her when she is not the sitting president.