Ron DeSantis refuses to accept Harris' assignment for Hurricane Helene

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is not taking calls from Vice President Kamala Harris about storm recovery, just over a week after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of his state.

A source familiar with the situation said he dodged the Democratic presidential candidate's calls because they “seemed political,” according to a DeSantis aide.

“Kamala tried to reach us and we didn’t respond,” the DeSantis aide told NBC News.

DeSantis has been in direct contact with Deanne Criswell, the federal government's director of emergency management.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, DeSantis denied that he refused to take Harris' call.

“I didn’t know she called,” he said. “I’m not sure who they called. You didn't call me. You characterized it yourself. It wasn’t anything anyone in my office did to say it was political.”

Asked about NBC News' report Monday afternoon and whether politics had entered the hurricane response, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “That's really up to the governor to talk to.” Must, right?”

She said the White House invited DeSantis to survey storm damage with President Joe Biden.

“It was his decision … not to attend or be there at the presidential event. … It’s up to him,” she added. “We're doing our part in the Biden-Harris administration, the work – obviously FEMA work – is on the ground, all hands on deck, the entire government. Here's a robust approach. And that, again, is Governor DeSantis' job to speak up.”

Later in the day, Harris also addressed that report, saying: “Moments of crisis should, if nothing else, be the moment when anyone who calls themselves a leader says they will put politics aside and put people first. People.” I urgently need support now and am playing political games in these crisis situations. This is the height of an emergency situation, it’s just completely irresponsible and selfish.”

On Monday evening, the White House released a statement saying the president spoke with both DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor about Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Last week, DeSantis said Biden called him, but he was on the plane at the time and couldn't take the call. Biden was in North Florida last week to survey storm damage, but DeSantis held a news conference that was already scheduled in another part of the state, so they did not meet. A source familiar with the planning said the Biden team invited DeSantis to the event in North Florida.

Biden “asked the governor and mayor to call him directly if anything can be done to further support the response and recovery efforts,” the White House said in its statement.

Hurricane Helene hit Florida's Big Bend region on September 27, devastating some of northern Florida's rural counties and inundating cities along the Gulf Coast with storm surge. Many of these cities, including the densely populated Tampa region, are still dealing with significant flood damage and debris cleanup.

After landfall, remnants of Helene continued to make its way through the Southeast, leaving more than 200 dead and inundating the region, including historic flooding in western North Carolina.

Immediately following Helene, DeSantis said that “we have it under control” regarding storm recovery and that the federal government should focus on North Carolina.

Other governors had greater praise for the federal response. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he spoke with Biden and thanked him for the support, and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, also a Republican, said it was “outstanding.”

As part of what he called Operation Blue Ridge, DeSantis also sent resources from Florida to North Carolina, including members of the Florida National Guard and officials from several state agencies.

Over the weekend, DeSantis said those assets are now returning to Florida as the state expects Hurricane Milton to make landfall in the middle of the week, a severe storm that is expected to hit much of the state, including coastal towns flooded by Hurricane Helene.

This storm is expected to reach the central portion of Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday.

Two other officials from DeSantis' office said Biden has not yet made any attempts to contact the governor about Hurricane Milton.

Former President Donald Trump has spoken extensively about Hurricane Helene, sometimes using overtly political language — including spreading false information. At one point, he claimed on social media that a photo Harris posted on social media during a storm briefing was “FAKE and STAGED.”

Trump visited Georgia in the days after the storm and appeared at an event with Kemp. He has also launched a GoFundMe to support organizations with relief work in the area.