President Biden on Friday jokingly called his Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm “boss” and referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “president” as he gave an update on hurricane recovery efforts.
The 81-year-old president made eyebrow-raising comments as he sat with members of his Cabinet and other senior administration officials in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, while the vice president attended virtually from Arizona.
Towards the end of his remarks, Biden appeared to walk away and began looking through his folder as he spoke. At that point, Granholm, seated to his left, reminded him to go to the vice president who was waiting on the screen.
“I know, I’m about to go see the vice president,” Biden said.
He then put his hand on Granholm’s arm and said “she’s my boss here,” to which the group of officials laughed.
President Biden jokingly referred to his Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm as his “boss” during an update on the hurricane response in the Roosevelt Room on Friday after she reminded him to go to Vice President Harris
When Harris tried to intervene on screen seconds later, Biden said, “Hang on, Madam Vice President” before wrapping up his thoughts on Congress’ aid in the recovery.
“And with that, I will yield to the president. I mean vice president,” Biden said as officials around him laughed at the apparent joke.
Federal, state and local officials are dealing with widespread destruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida this week just weeks after Hurricane Helene caused devastation across the Southeast.
In the aftermath of Milton, at least seventeen people have been confirmed dead in Florida as cleanup efforts have only just begun.
“Our hearts go out to all those people who have lost not only personal property but their homes and some who have lost lives and are mourning the aftermath of the tornadoes, brutal winds, record landfills and historic flooding,” Biden said Friday.
Biden noted that Milton was the third major storm to hit Florida in three months. He revealed that experts believe early estimates are that Milton alone caused $50 billion in damage.
A destroyed home in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in St. Pete Beach, Florida on October 11
A National Guard truck drove through water on a road on October 11 after the Anclote River flooded homes, businesses and roads during Hurricane Milton’s passage over Florida
“We’re going to do everything we can to help you pick up the pieces and get back to where you were,” the president said.
Biden added that he has been in constant contact with state and local officials who he said are “doing everything they can to help these people recover.”
More than three million people were without power in Milton. Biden said 50,000 power line workers from 43 states and Canada are working to restore power in the state. They have already brought power to over a million people across Florida.
Biden also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida National Guard are all on the ground to help the state clear debris and reopen roads.
Utility workers repair power lines after Hurricane Milton in Englewood, Florida on October 11
The Biden administration, state and local officials have worked to combat misinformation about the recovery of both Milton and Helene.
Biden said people want to be given hope and told that things will be okay. He called the disinformation “malarky” on Friday before dismissing himself and stating he did not want to lose his cool.
“The truth is, we are providing whatever resources are needed,” Biden said. He said there is still more to do and promised to do everything in his power to make it happen.
The president said they are going to Congress because they will need “a lot more money,” noting they still need to figure out specifically how much is needed.