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The White House dodged questions on whether President Joe Biden has spoken with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ahead of Hurricane Ian’s impending landfall.
“In the past, President Biden has made calls to [Republican] governors in situations like natural disasters, [such as] Kay Ivey in Alabama, Asa Hutchinson in Arkansas or the governor in Texas,” a reporter asked FEMA chief Deanne Criswell on Tuesday who was standing alongside White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “Can you articulate how these determinations are made and why it hasn’t been made in this case to have the president call the governor?”
In response, Criswell did not say whether Biden, a Democrat, has spoken with DeSantis, a Republican ahead of Ian’s landfall. The FEMA head said that she has spoken with DeSantis and her team is in contact constantly with the governor.
“The president is very focused on making sure the federal family has the right resources to support this,” Criswell told reporters.
