Ron DeSantis has ‘NO PLANS’ to meet Biden in Florida to assess the Hurricane Idalia devastation in White House snub – after the president said they would

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis does not expect to join President Biden when the president visits his storm-ravaged home state on Saturday, his spokesman said Friday.

The apparent criticism comes as Floridans seek federal infusions worth billions to recover from the massive devastation in Hurricane Idalia’s path — and after the president said he would meet with DeSantis if asked. .

A spokesman for DeSantis said DeSantis, one of the leading Republican presidential candidates, has “no plans” to meet Biden.

That comes despite the president answering “yes” when asked Friday if he planned to meet DeSantis, who has seen his poll numbers plummet but is still second only to former President Donald Trump in the presidential election of 2010. the Republican Party.

“We have no plans for the governor to meet with the president tomorrow,” spokesman Jeremy Redfern said.

“In these rural communities, and so soon, and so soon after the impact, the security preparations alone required to set up such a meeting would halt ongoing recovery efforts.”

He made the statement, which was confirmed by DailyMail.com, just as the White House was preparing for a trip.

Biden has made multiple calls to DeSantis and the White House has held regular briefings by security officials. It is the kind of cooperation between the federal states and the states that presidents and governors usually put forward to show cooperation in a recovery situation.

President Biden is heading to Florida on Saturday to review storm damage. In Florida, UBS bank estimated insurance claims to be as much as $10 billion

DeSantis leans toward a stormy recovery even as he runs a presidential campaign, with his polls plummeting

Storm recovery costs could be as high as $20 billion

Biden and DeSantis met in June 2021 following the collapse of the Surfside condominium.

NBC first reported on DeSantis’ latest plans.

Biden himself often cites the security footprint issue when weighing visits — including his chaotic visit to a wildfire tour in Hawaii. But with Biden leaving, there will already be a substantial Secret Service and security presence.

Biden called DeSantis Thursday to tell him he would be making a major disaster declaration. According to the White House, he has ordered all federal resources to assist in the response.

Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach on Wednesday with winds of about 125 miles per hour and a storm surge of six feet.

The extent of the damage became clear on Friday. About 28,000 residents were told they could be without power for two weeks after the storm toppled power lines and left a trail of destruction.

But it could have been worse. It took a late exit from the capital Tallahassee, with a population of 200,000 people.

Instead, it hit less populated coastal areas.

Still, Florida’s UBS bank estimated insurance claims would amount to about $10 billion.

Other estimates suggested the final cost could exceed $20 billion in Florida alone.

If DeSantis stays clear of Biden, he can avoid a repeat of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie famously “hugging” President Barack Obama during his 2016 trip to review storm damage from Hurricane Sandy.

Christie is one of DeSantis’ rivals in 2024, in a race where former President Donald Trump is the undisputed leader of the polls.