DeSantis Won’t Meet With Biden During Florida Trip to Survey Hurricane Damage

A spokesperson for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that the Republican would not be meeting with President Joe Biden as the incumbent is set to travel to survey damage caused by Hurricane Idalia.

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden depart the White House in Washington en route to Florida on Sept. 2, 2023. Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

A spokesperson for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that the Republican would not be meeting with President Joe Biden as the incumbent is set to travel to the Sunshine State on Sept. 2 to survey the damage from this week’s Hurricane Idalia, suggesting that doing so could interfere with recovery efforts.

“In these rural communities, and so soon after impact, the security preparations alone that would go into setting up such a meeting would shut down ongoing recovery efforts,” Jeremy Redfern said in a statement on Sept. 1.