Former President Donald Trump has addressed the storm that ravaged Florida, wishing those affected by the storm well and criticizing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handling of the disaster.
“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by Hurricane Idalia. I urge everyone to listen to your local officials, heed all warnings, and prioritize the safety of yourself and your loved ones,” President Trump wrote via Truth Social on Wednesday.
“I’ve witnessed the courage, strength, and spirit of the great people of Florida many times over the years! Together, they will recover and rebuild, but in the meantime, be safe. Love and respect to everyone. God bless you all!”
Idalia made landfall along Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday morning. After initially intensifying into Category 4 with the maximum sustained winds recorded at 125 mph, the storm was downgraded to a Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds as it continued to turn more toward the east and move out to the Atlantic.
The storm is estimated to have caused between $12 billion and $20 billion in damage and lost output, according to a report from Moody’s Analytics on Thursday. By comparison, last year’s Ian, a Category 4, caused an estimated $112.9 billion of total damage.
Political Rival
In another Truth Social post on Thursday, President Trump criticized Mr. DeSantis’ management of hurricane recovery, claiming that he “unnecessarily approved a 20 percent hike in Florida Electricity Rates, the largest in history (by far!), after taking a 9.5 Million Dollar Campaign Contribution from ’money machine' Florida Power and Light.”
President Trump also renewed his criticism over Florida’s struggling insurance market, where insurance companies are pulling out while homeowners pay the highest insurance rates in the nation. Following last year’s Hurricane Ian, almost a dozen insurers have stopped offering their policies in the Sunshine State.
“Next up to check out is the Insurance Industry, where DeSanctus gave up the store,” he wrote.
President Trump was among the bills’ opponents, who called them an industry bail-out that would not save homeowners on their premiums.
“DeSanctimonious is delivering the biggest insurance company bailout in global history. This is a gift to insurance companies and a disaster for the people of Florida,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social in March. “The worst insurance scam in the entire country with the highest rates in the entire country. That’s Florida.”
Biden Weighs In
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden seemed content with Mr. DeSantis’ handling of Idalia’s aftermath. On Wednesday, a reporter asked him during a White House press briefing if he “sensed any politics” in his conversations with the Republican primary contender, to which the president replied, “No.”“I know this sounds strange, especially how the nature of politics today. But, you know, I was down there when the last major storm [hit],” President Biden said. “I spent a lot of time with him walking from community to community, making sure he had what he needed to get it done.”
“I think he trusts my judgment and my desire to help. And I trust him to be able to suggest that he’s—this is not about politics, is about taking care of the people of this state.”
Mr. DeSantis, who is trailing behind President Trump over 30 percentage points in Republican primary polls, was asked at a Tallahassee news conference early on Wednesday about President Trump’s then lack of comments on the hurricane. He quickly dismissed the question.
“Not my concern. My concern is protecting the people of Florida, being ready to go,” he said.
When asked if he agreed with President Biden’s comments on the hurricane and avoiding politics, DeSantis said, “Yes.”
“We have to deal with supporting the needs of the people who are in harm’s way or have difficulties, and that is not to triumph over any type of short-term political calculation or any type of positioning,” he said.
