MIAMI — President Joe Biden touched down Thursday in Florida’s state capital, less than a week after Tallahassee narrowly avoided a direct hit from Hurricane Helene that ravaged nearby coastal counties.
And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) was 300 miles away.
As Biden was deboarding Air Force One in Tallahassee, DeSantis was holding a press conference at hurricane-devastated Anna Maria Island near Bradenton, which is on Florida’s Gulf Coast just outside Tampa.
Since recovery efforts began, DeSantis has sought to separate Florida’s response from the federal government, saying the state was able to move much faster. And early into his remarks Thursday, DeSantis brought up the dockworkers strike that’s affecting ports in several states, including Florida, by listing off crucial supplies that would see disruptions — from medical equipment to vehicle parts, lumber and steel. He urged the Biden administration to “stand up for the storm victims” after ticking off actions Florida was taking.
