February 19, 2025
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by Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) – US President Joe Biden will travel to Florida on Saturday to survey the damage from Hurricane Idalia and offer condolences to those affected by the storm, but he will not meet with the state’s Republican governor and potential presidential rival Ron DeSantis. . ,

Biden, a Democrat, told reporters Friday that he would meet with the governor during the visit, but DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern later said no meeting was planned and that “the security preparations it takes to hold such a meeting are ongoing.” Will call off recovery efforts.”

DeSantis, 44, is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination to oust Biden from the White House, but is trailing former President Donald Trump in the polls. Biden, 80, is running for re-election.

Biden and DeSantis have spoken regularly throughout the week about the storm, which hit the Big Bend area of ​​Florida with Category 3 winds of about 125 mph (200 kph). On Wednesday, the President said that politics was not involved in their talks. “I think they have confidence in my judgment and my willingness to help,” Biden said.

The White House said Biden, who is traveling with his wife Jill, informed DeSantis about the trip during a conversation on Thursday and the governor did not raise concerns then.

White House spokeswoman Emily Simmons, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said, “His trip to Florida has been planned in close coordination with FEMA as well as state and local leaders to ensure that response operations But have no effect.”

DeSantis has been a fierce critic of Biden and the two have clashed over COVID-19 vaccines, abortion and LGBT rights. But they met last year when Biden came to Florida to assess the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, and Biden said at the time that they worked together “hand in hand”.

As the Republican presidential primary race heats up, DeSantis wouldn’t want to be photographed with Biden in view of the storm damage. Although he is behind Trump, DeSantis is ahead of other Republican candidates in the race.

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who is also running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, drew criticism for praising President Barack Obama in 2012 when the Democrat visited his state after Superstorm Sandy.

Biden, who visited Hawaii last week after deadly fires, said on Wednesday that there was no denying the climate crisis in the wake of the extreme weather. He is scheduled to travel to his home state of Delaware over the weekend after concluding his Florida trip. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by William Mallard)

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