Biden at FEMA: 'Direct Dial' With DeSantis and 'Let's Talk About Why I'm Here' on His Bank Records (August 31, 2023)

As Florida recovered from Hurricane Idalia, President Joe Biden made an unscheduled trip to FEMA headquarters. “The pool has gathered for an unscheduled presidential trip. The destination is not yet specified,” the pooler wrote before the motorcade rolled [2].

At the end of his remarks, a reporter asked about the House Republican investigation of his family. “Will you give your bank records to Congress, as Speaker McCarthy requests?” Biden laughed it off: “Do you—do you want me—[ laughter ]. Let’s talk about why I’m here” [1].

The video above shows Biden at FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center on Aug. 31, 2023. Quotes are from the official transcript and pool reports published by the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”I Apologize for My Back”

Biden opened by turning to the staff behind him. “Well, I don’t know why I’m paying attention to these few guys up here, instead of everybody, but all kidding aside, my mother would say——” he began, then finished: ”——‘I apologize for my back’” [1].

On Maui, he said: “It’s just pure devastation, that whole part of the island just leveled. There’s nothing left” [1].

”Direct Dial” With DeSantis

Biden described his calls with Florida’s governor. “And this morning I spoke again—we’re—it seems like we should be on direct dial, the two of us, Governor DeSantis and I. We spoke again this morning, and I let him know that I approved his major disaster declaration,” he said [1].

The transcript needed corrections in the same passage. Biden said the storm “made landfill [landfall; White House correction],” and named “Governor McMasters [McMaster; White House correction]” of South Carolina [1].

”There’s Still Some Deniers Out There”

Biden tied the storm to climate change. “There’s still some deniers out there in terms of whether or not climate change has anything to do with any of this, and we’re going to need a whole hell of a lot more money to deal with emergency appropriations,” he said [1].

He took aim at senators who questioned the money. “Some of my colleagues—my former colleagues in the Senate and people I work with every day in the United States Senate think that this disaster relief money we’re asking to continue to finish the job so far and have enough money to continue to work to save the American people’s—their lives, their homes, their well-being, is somehow—I don’t know—not needed or—I’m not even sure what their thinking is,” Biden said [1].

He pressed Congress. “We need this disaster relief request met. And we need to do it in September. We can’t wait,” Biden said [1].

Asked about a possible government shutdown, Biden said: “It would be a serious, serious problem. I’m hoping that there’s greater maturity to prevent that from happening than some think” [1].

”Her Husband Is a Neurosurgeon”

Asked whether he had spoken to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Biden said, “Yes, I have. I spoke to Mitch. He’s a friend.” Then he offered a medical opinion. “And having a little understanding of dealing with neurosurgeons and people and—and one of the leading women on my staff, her husband is a neurosurgeon as well. It’s not at all unusual to have the response that sometimes happens to Mitch when you’ve had a severe concussion,” he said [1].

The transcript’s note identified the aide as “Homeland Security Adviser Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall and her husband Jeffrey B. Randall, a neurosurgeon with Sutter Health in Castro Valley, CA” [1].

“Do you have any concerns about his ability to do his job?” a reporter asked. “No,” Biden said [1].

”The G Summit—20 Summit”

On China, a reporter asked whether President Xi Jinping would attend the G20 in India. “The answer is, I hope he attends the G summit—20 summit. Thank you,” Biden said [1].

Asked about fentanyl on Overdose Awareness Day, Biden recalled his Senate years. “I’ve been dealing with the drug epidemic in America since I was the chairman of the Judiciary Committee when I was a U.S. Senator,” he said [1].

”I’m Going to Florida Saturday Morning”

As he left, a reporter asked whether he would visit the storm zone. “By the way, I am going to Florida,” Biden said. “I’m going to Florida Saturday morning” [1].

By the Numbers

1,500: federal personnel and Coast Guard members Biden said were predeployed in the Southeast [1].
$15 billion: the border technology money Biden said he had asked Congress for [1].
2: White House corrections in Biden’s opening, “landfall” and “McMaster” [1].
$16 billion: the disaster request, up from $12 billion, per Fox News [3].

What Happened Next

DeSantis didn’t meet him. “Gov. Ron DeSantis does not plan to meet with President Biden during his visit to regions affected by Hurricane Idalia,” Fox News reported on Sept. 2. “This statement contradicts Biden, who told reporters he would meet with the Florida governor during his trip,” Fox added [3].

Congress funded FEMA and kept the government open. The stopgap law passed Sept. 30 provided an additional “$16,000,000,000” for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund and was “Approved September 30, 2023” [4].

For Biden’s remarks the day before, see HYGO News’ page on “I welcome a federal response”. For the impeachment inquiry the bank-records question pointed to, see the page on the Sept. 13, 2023, briefing.