Ouch. President Joe Biden visited Florida to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, but 2024 Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis opted not to meet with him. DeSantis said he was concerned that a meeting with the president could be "very disruptive" to recovery efforts, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/09/02/biden-visits-florida-to-view-idalia-damage-despite-desantis-ban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. During a press conference on Friday morning, DeSantis said that he had spoken with Biden over the phone and warned him that his visit might cause significant disruptions in the hardest-hit communities. He said his concern was primarily focused on the potential congestion of rural roadways due to the presence of the <a href="https://www.westernjournal.com/white-house-quietly-takes-major-steps-prepare-impeachment-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House's</a> extensive security apparatus, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/01/desantis-biden-hurricane-idalia-00113815" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a>. While it could be extrapolated that part of the reason <a href="https://www.westernjournal.com/desantis-hecklers-silenced-black-councilwoman-grabs-mic-chews/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DeSantis</a> snubbed Biden is that the two of them are now political rivals, vying for the presidency, it is also fair to consider how Biden handled the wildfire tragedy in Maui. Biden's Hawaii visit undoubtedly did more harm than good, infuriating the devastated residents of the island as he attempted to "comfort" them by joking about the "hot ground" and telling them an exaggerated story about a <a href="https://www.westernjournal.com/biden-talks-lightning-strike-small-kitchen-fire-house-compares-maui-devastation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kitchen fire</a>. "I almost lost my wife, my '67 Corvette and my cat," he told the audience. "Bro is sightseeing and trying to be comic relief for the tour. No sense of what has happened there at all," one X, formerly called Twitter, user tweeted. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bro is sightseeing and trying to be comic relief for the tour. No sense of what has happened there at all.</p> — Lost (@djdubmasterflex) <a href="https://twitter.com/djdubmasterflex/status/1693759683667136945?">August 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">August 22, 2023:</p> Biden told Maui wildfire victims, “I almost lost my wife, my ’67 Corvette, and my cat” and “being out of our home for [the] better part of a year was difficult.”<a href="https://t.co/DNY0Tyatg7">pic.twitter.com/DNY0Tyatg7</a> — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1697304056404807999?">August 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>WARNING: The following tweet contains a vulgar image some readers may find offensive.</strong></em></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Angry Maui Fire Survivors Let Loose With Middle Fingers and F-Bombs at Joe Biden as Motorcade Passes. Nicely done. <a href="https://t.co/a5LoH2IZjs">pic.twitter.com/a5LoH2IZjs</a></p> — SparksN123 (@SparksN123) <a href="https://twitter.com/SparksN123/status/1694381036195737694?">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> One can't blame DeSantis for trying to avoid another such disaster while attempting to deal with the aftermath of Idalia. By all accounts, DeSantis is a very <a href="https://www.westernjournal.com/desantis-sends-warning-part-florida-reports-hurricane-looting-loot-shoot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">capable governor</a> and has been doing a good job helping the state get back to normal as fast as possible. According to Justin Sayfie, a Republican lobbyist and DeSantis fundraiser, "So far, Gov. DeSantis has done an exceptional job pre-, during and post-hurricane, and that is being noted by voters in Florida and across the country," the <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2023/09/02/desantis-biden-hurricane-idalia-campaign-president-tv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tampa Bay Times </a>reported. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Earlier this week I met with Eileen Lilley, who was in desperate need of help after she lost her home from Idalia. <a href="https://twitter.com/FLSERT?">@FLSERT</a> has already been able to bring her a new trailer to live in until she is able to rebuild. We were also able to bring her supplies to get her through this… <a href="https://t.co/d8cXTBr8dQ">pic.twitter.com/d8cXTBr8dQ</a></p> — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1698078373606834510?">September 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Keaton Beach sustained major damage from Hurricane Idalia when it made landfall here.</p> This will not be an easy recovery, but local officials are working nonstop to get this community back on its feet. We will be there to provide support. <a href="https://t.co/McrmxxAAhj">pic.twitter.com/McrmxxAAhj</a> — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1698063723636965830?">September 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> As his motorcade passed by to chants of "Let's go, Brandon. F*** Joe Biden," the people of Florida let the president know pretty clearly what they think of him. <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>WARNING: The following tweet contains vulgar language some readers may find offensive.</strong></em></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">JUST IN: Biden arrives in Florida to steady chants of “F Joe Biden”<a href="https://t.co/ksQvjkfXnB">pic.twitter.com/ksQvjkfXnB</a></p> — Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChuckCallesto/status/1698065512318550242?">September 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> And of course as usual, Biden couldn't help make inappropriate jokes on Thursday when he addressed the hurricane, which didn't help the situation. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Unfortunately, this kind of thing has become expected from Biden.</p> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bidengaffes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bidengaffes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Democrats?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Democrats</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Florida?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Florida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoeBiden?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JoeBiden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/naturaldisasters?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#naturaldisasters</a> <a href="https://t.co/7DfnnJ6ohz">https://t.co/7DfnnJ6ohz</a> — Conservative Tribune (@conserv_tribune) <a href="https://twitter.com/conserv_tribune/status/1697409575497183643?">September 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Staying far, far away from the <a href="https://www.westernjournal.com/never-reads-room-biden-opens-remarks-hurricane-idalia-joke-mother/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden blooper reel</a> may have been the safest thing for DeSantis. It may have been the best thing for Florida as well, but unfortunately, they had to deal with it. This article appeared originally on <a href="https://www.westernjournal.com/">The Western Journal</a>.
