People Are Calling Ron DeSantis A "12-Year-Old" For Refusing To Answer Kamala Harris's Hurricane Relief Calls
by Alexa Lisitza · BuzzFeedHot Topic
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After Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of Florida that are still undergoing debris cleanups — and as residents currently face evacuation orders amid the incoming Hurricane Milton — Gov. Ron DeSantis is apparently refusing to pick up the phone for White House calls about aid.
During a press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris's calls about hurricane relief efforts are going unanswered. She said: "It’s up to him if he wants to respond to us or not."
“The president has reached out around Hurricane Helene. He reached out. It is up to the governor. It is really up to the governor.”
“We’re going to do the work,” Jean-Pierre said. “We’re going to continue to talk to local and state officials, that’s important as well, we’re going to pre-position as Hurricane Milton is coming towards Florida.”
On his end, an aide for DeSantis told NBC News that the governor was screening calls from Harris because they “seemed political.” They said, “Kamala was trying to reach out, and we didn’t answer."
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When asked by reporters about DeSantis's decision to ignore calls offering "resources and help," Harris said, "Moments of crisis, if nothing else, should really be the moment that anyone who calls themselves a leader says they're going to put politics aside and put the people first."
"People are in desperate need of support right now, and playing political games at this moment... It's utterly irresponsible and it is selfish and it is about political gamesmanship instead of doing the job that you took an oath to do."
Reporter: There are reports that DeSantis is ignoring your calls..
Kamala Harris: Playing political games at this moment…It's utterly irresponsible and it is selfish and it is about political gamesmanship instead of doing the job that you took an oath to do pic.twitter.com/lySDD98xO9
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 7, 2024
MSNBC / Via Twitter: @Acyn
People reacting to the news in real time often expressed similar sentiments. One person wrote, "What a dastardly thing to do to the residents of the very State you're supposed to be governing and helping in their time of need!"
Others alluded to this being childish behavior.
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"DeSantis is like a petulant 12 year old," one person wrote. "This is the type of shit you expect in 7th grade."
They think DeSantis is choosing "politics over life..."
...and that his role in ignoring relief offers makes DeSantis a "bigger disaster" for the state.
As the debate waged, some expressed an annoyance over future conversations where they envision Republican leaders possibly blaming the current administration for any lack of relief, despite them reaching out.
And residents hope their neighbors remember this moment when it comes time to vote.
Make sure you follow the National Weather Service for updates about the storm.
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