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

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for not answering her calls as another hurricane barreled toward his state’s coastline.

Harris spoke to reporters at Joint Base Andrew as she left for New York on Monday, ahead of a series of interviews in the Big Apple.

Earlier Monday, reports emerged that DeSantis ignored a call from Harris specifically because he believed the move was politically motivated — as she is the Democratic nominee for president.

“You know, moments of crisis should really be the moment when anyone who calls themselves a leader says they’re going to put politics aside and put people first,” Harris said on the tarmac.

She pointed out that “people are in dire need of support right now.”

“And playing political games right now in these crisis situations, this is the height of the emergencies, it’s just completely irresponsible, and it’s selfish, and it’s about political games instead of doing the job that you take an oath to do.” you have taken. , which is to put people first,” Harris added.

President Joe Biden was in the state last week to assess the damage and DeSantis did not accompany him.

When Biden tried to reach DeSantis last week, the governor was flying and couldn’t answer 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 already held a previously scheduled press conference in another part of the state.

The two did not meet.

When DeSantis was asked during a news conference on Monday whether he had not answered the call, he said he did not even know the vice president had called him.

‘I didn’t know she was calling me. I saw that, but I wasn’t aware of that,” he told reporters in Tallahassee, also claiming he was unaware the president had also called.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not take calls from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris when contacted regarding hurricane relief in his state

“We have received approval for everything we asked for,” he assured.

Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday: “It’s up to the governor whether he wants to respond to us or not.”

After the death and destruction of Hurricane Helene, parts of central and northern Florida are preparing to be hit by another storm on Wednesday.

White has not had direct contact with the president or vice president, but DeSantis has spoken with Federal Emergency Management Director Deanne Criswell.

When asked if politics will impact the hurricane response, Jean-Pierre said, “That’s really something the governor needs to talk about, right?”

“It was his decision…to not attend or not be present with the president,” she added.

“We are doing our part, in the Biden-Harris administration there is work – of course FEMA is work – on the ground, all hands on deck, the whole government. Robust approach here. And so again, that’s Governor DeSantis’ job to have a say in.”

There has been much speculation on the Republican side that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not doing enough to help those dealing with the impact of the hurricane.

Some theorize that too much money has been allocated to housing migrants and illegal immigrants, leaving nothing for hurricane relief.

Others promote conspiracies that if families accept the aid, the federal government could take their homes, leading to Americans not seeking the help they need.

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday as Florida continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.