In the critical hours leading up to Hurricane Milton's arrival in a still-recovering Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is reportedly sending calls from Vice President Kamala Harris directly to voicemail.
DeSantis allegedly avoided the calls because they "seemed political," according to an NBC report quoting a source from his office.
The refusal comes amid broader political tension between DeSantis and the Biden administration. While DeSantis has coordinated with FEMA, he has not directly spoken with President Biden, despite the federal government's involvement in the storm response.
When questioned about relations between the executive branch and Florida's governor, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered, "That's really for the governor to speak to, right?"
Regarding Florida's recovery from Helene, DeSantis told press, "we have it handled."
Governors of other hurricane-ravaged states, including Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster have expressed appreciation for Biden's assistance in handling the storm and its aftermath.
Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
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