Ah, here we go again—another round of Kamala Harris trying to play politics while a hurricane barrels toward Florida. On Monday, Harris decided to take some potshots at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, accusing him of “playing political games” for allegedly ignoring her calls about federal storm relief efforts. According to Harris, DeSantis is “utterly irresponsible” and “selfish” in refusing her outreach as people face another powerful storm. But, as usual with Harris, there’s more to this story than her soundbites suggest.
Let’s break it down. Harris’s comments came right after NBC and ABC News reported—citing unnamed sources, naturally—that DeSantis wasn’t taking her calls about storm recovery efforts. The reports hinted that DeSantis was snubbing her to score political points, but here’s the kicker: DeSantis claims he didn’t even know she called. During a press conference, he stated, “I didn’t know that she had called. I’m not sure who they called. They didn’t call me.” So, either Kamala’s people are calling the wrong number, or someone’s playing a game of telephone—pun intended.
Later, on Hannity, DeSantis didn’t hold back, calling Harris “delusional” for accusing him of turning the disaster into a political circus. He pointed out that in previous hurricanes under both Trump and Biden, he had no problem working with the federal government. Harris, though? This is the first time anyone’s tried to politicize storm relief, and DeSantis wasn’t shy about saying it’s all because she’s desperate to gain traction for her flailing campaign.
But let’s be real—why is Harris suddenly so eager to get involved? Her supporters have spent years arguing that the vice president doesn’t have much power. So, why the sudden need to play hero just weeks before Election Day? The timing here is a little too convenient, especially when you consider that Florida is a key battleground state. And it’s no secret that Harris’s numbers against Trump are looking shaky, with polls showing a tight race in the final stretch.
Meanwhile, President Biden has been doing his own storm tour, stopping in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas to survey damage from Hurricane Helene. During his Florida stop, DeSantis held his own press event across the state, declining to join Biden. The White House, never missing a chance to stir the pot, tried to make it sound like DeSantis was snubbing the president. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made sure to mention that “it was his decision not to attend.” But, funny enough, Biden and DeSantis did speak later over the phone, and DeSantis confirmed that they’ve received everything they’ve asked for from the feds, giving credit where it’s due.
So, what’s really happening here? While DeSantis is busy managing recovery efforts and preparing for the next hurricane, Harris is trying to turn the situation into a headline. Sure, Biden made a point of saying that he’s ready to help, but if the relief is already flowing, what exactly is Harris offering with her calls? It’s not hard to see why DeSantis might view her involvement as little more than political theater.
Right after the controversy, Biden posted this…
Tonight, I spoke with Florida Governor DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Castor for firsthand reports on Hurricane Helene recovery and preparations for Hurricane Milton.
My Administration is ready to support both leaders and the people of Florida with any further resources they may need. pic.twitter.com/imXXVXQnoD
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 8, 2024
And then, there’s allegedly this:
NEW: There was a physical altercation between Jill and Kamala staffers in the White House after Joe’s press room last week, began with accusations that the Bidens were undermining Kamala deliberately, per WH official
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 7, 2024
And let’s not forget the bigger picture: this entire drama is unfolding just weeks before voters head to the polls. Harris is out there accusing Trump of spreading “mis and disinformation” about the federal response while Trump continues to hammer away at Biden and Harris over their handling of Hurricane Helene. And with North Carolina and Georgia—states hit hard by the storm—among the key battlegrounds, it’s no surprise that every move is being scrutinized.
But here’s the bottom line: DeSantis is focused on keeping Floridians safe and restoring power to those still reeling from the aftermath of Helene. Meanwhile, Harris is out there trying to score political points in a situation that demands actual leadership, not empty words. It’s a classic move—focus more on the press coverage than the problem at hand. And if that doesn’t scream “playing political games,” well, then maybe we need to redefine the term.
