Biden surveyed hurricane damage in Florida and Georgia on Thursday amid criticism from Republicans about the slow pace of the federal response.
The president emphasized the need to unite as Americans during disaster recovery. He said that his administration’s major spending initiatives have benefited red states more than blue states over the past 3 1/2 years. Biden defended rescue efforts, stating that he deployed “extensive resources” before Helene made landfall and approved emergency declarations.
During Biden’s visit, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference at Anna Maria Island, which was among the areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Since the recovery efforts began, DeSantis has tried to draw a contrast between the state’s response and the federal government’s, saying that the state was able to move much faster.