President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden Visit Florida to Survey Hurricane Idalia Damage and Response Efforts

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are in Florida Saturday to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia and the response to it. The president and first lady will take an aerial tour of storm-affected areas before traveling to Live Oak, Florida, where they will receive a briefing on response and recovery efforts, and meet with first responders, federal personnel, and local officials.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has voiced concerns with the president’s “security apparatus” being disruptive to recovery efforts. DeSantis’ spokesperson, Jeremy Redfern, said the governor’s office does not have plans for the two to meet.

This visit comes more than 10 years after Superstorm Sandy devastated New Jersey and placed then-Governor Chris Christie in the eye of a political hurricane. During the first 2024 Republican presidential debate, Vivek Ramaswamy, a White House hopeful, taunted Christie, saying “Give me a hug – give me a hug just like you did to Obama.” Christie’s embrace of then-President Barack Obama was more figurative than literal, with a handshake and pats on the back as they assessed storm damage together.

Ramaswamy continued, brushing off Christie’s retort that he was an amateur, saying “You will help elect me just like you did Obama, too.” It remains to be seen how the President’s visit to Florida will affect the 2024 presidential race.