Author Stephen King has criticised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his response to Hurricane Milton, which has caused “multiple deaths” in the state. The hurricane made landfall as a Category 3 storm, bringing tornadoes, high waves, strong winds, and heavy rainfall, prompting evacuation alerts to be issued to millions.
Governor DeSantis is facing backlash for reportedly refusing a call from Vice President Kamala Harris regarding disaster recovery efforts following the hurricane. An aide to DeSantis stated that the calls “seemed political,” leading to criticism from Harris who called DeSantis “utterly irresponsible” and “selfish” for prioritising politics over people during a crisis.
Stephen King, known for his works like “The Shining” and “Pet Sematary,” likened DeSantis to a “sulky teenager” who behaves childishly and dangerously by not engaging with the vice president’s outreach. King’s remarks on Twitter drew attention to DeSantis’ actions as a leader in a time of crisis.
DeSantis defended his response, stating that his focus has been solely on managing the emergency situation caused by the hurricane. He accused Harris of politicising the issue and questioned her sudden interest in Florida’s hurricane response, suggesting it may be tied to her presidential aspirations.
The exchange between DeSantis and Harris has sparked a debate about leadership during emergencies and the role of politics in such situations. King’s criticism adds to the scrutiny faced by DeSantis as the state deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton and its impact on residents.