MIAMI, Florida — President Joe Biden called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Tuesday night, just hours after the Republican governor said he'd be receptive to a conversation as Hurricane Ian approaches Sarasota.
"President Biden spoke this evening with Governor DeSantis of Florida to discuss the steps the Federal government is taking to help Florida prepare for Hurricane Ian," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted Tuesday evening. "The President and the Governor committed to continued close coordination."
It was not immediately clear why Biden didn't call DeSantis earlier and White House officials didn't explain the delay when asked about it repeatedly at Tuesday's press briefing. DeSantis has been one of Biden's most frequent critics, and often calls the president "Brandon" — a nickname that alludes to the GOP chant "F-ck Joe Biden."
But DeSantis appeared to put politics aside earlier in the day as the danger of a category 4, life-threatening storm loomed over his state. He suggested during a press conference in Tallahassee on Tuesday just after 5 p.m. that he'd welcome a call from Biden.
"I'm happy to brief the president if he's interested in hearing what we are doing in Florida," DeSantis said at the press conference. "My view on all this is you have people's lives at stake, you have their property at stake, and we don't have time for pettiness.
"We have got to work together to make sure we are doing the best job for them. My phone line is open."
He added that Florida officials "appreciate" how quickly Biden approved the state's emergency declaration.
DeSantis had already been in touch with federal officials. Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, spoke to DeSantis over the phone on Friday about Hurricane Ian.
On Tuesday, DeSantis said that Gracia Szczech, the regional administrator for FEMA, had been with Florida officials for several days.
"We feel like we have a good relationship with FEMA," he said.
Biden called other Florida elected officials ahead of the storm, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Tampa and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welsh — both Democrats — and Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, a centrist Republican. Biden raised the calls during an event in the White House the Rose Garden but did not mention DeSantis.
"I told each one of them whatever they need — I mean this sincerely — to contact me directly and they know how to do that," the president said. "I have a lot of personnel down there already. We are here to support them in every way we can."
The storm is set to hit all three cities and the first landfall is expected Wednesday night. DeSantis said it was predicted to get stronger and to cross the state and then head north on Friday morning, toward Georgia or South Carolina. Roughly 2.5 million Floridians are in regions with mandatory evacuations.
"This thing is the real deal it is a major, major storm," DeSantis said.
Presidents and governors typically hold a phone call at a time of natural disasters so presidents can offer federal relief and rescue, as well as show bipartisanship.
DeSantis is up for reelection in six weeks. He has been a frequent Biden critic on COVID-19 mitigation measures, coronavirus vaccines and treatments, and on immigration policy.
It's possible he will challenge Biden for president in 2024, particularly if former President Donald Trump doesn't seek the White House again.
Biden was set to appear at a campaign event in Florida Tuesday alongside DeSantis' Democratic challenger, Charlie Crist, but the White House canceled the event due to the storm. The Biden administration has criticized DeSantis after he recently authorized planes to take Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
But DeSantis and Biden have brokered bipartisan moments. For instance, they came together roughly a year ago following the Surfside, Florida, building collapse.
DeSantis also sat near first lady Jill Biden at Surfside's one-year memorial this year, and neither made mention of the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which occurred just as the event began.
This story has been updated after President Joe Biden called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
