President Biden jokingly called his Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm a “boss” on Friday and referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “president” while giving an update on hurricane recovery efforts.
The 81-year-old president made surprising comments while sitting with members of his Cabinet and other senior administration officials in the White House’s Roosevelt Room as the vice president joined virtually from Arizona.
Toward the end of his remarks, Biden appeared to pause and began going through his binder as he spoke. That’s when Granholm, seated to his left, reminded him to approach the vice president who was waiting on the screen.
“I know, I’m going to talk to the vice president in a second,” Biden said.
He then put his hand on Granholm’s arm and said “she’s my boss here,” to which the group of officials laughed.
President Biden jokingly referred to his Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, as his ‘boss’ during an update on the hurricane response in the Roosevelt Room on Friday after she reminded him to go to Vice President Harris.
When Harris tried to intervene seconds later on the screen, Biden said, “wait a minute, Madam Vice President” before finishing his thoughts on the need for congressional help with the recovery.
And with that I give way to the president. I mean the vice president,” Biden said as officials around him laughed at the apparent joke.
Federal, state and local officials are grappling with widespread devastation following Hurricane Milton, which made landfall this week in Florida, just weeks after Hurricane Helene caused destruction across the Southeast.
At least seventeen people have been confirmed dead in Florida following Milton as cleanup efforts are just beginning.
“Our hearts go out to all those who have lost not only personal property but also their homes and some lost lives and are grieving the aftermath of the tornadoes, the brutal winds, the record downpours and the historic flooding,” Biden said Friday. .
Biden noted that Milton was the third major storm to hit Florida in three months. He revealed that experts believe early estimates indicate Milton caused $50 billion in damage alone.
A home destroyed after Hurricane Milton in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on October 11
A National Guard truck plows through water on a highway Oct. 11 after the Anclote River flooded homes, businesses and roads as Hurricane Milton passed through Florida.
“We’re going to do everything we can to help you recover and get back to where you were,” the president said.
Biden added that he has been in constant contact with state and local officials who he said are “doing everything they can to help these people recover.”
More than three million people were left without electricity thanks to Milton. Biden said 50,000 power line workers from 43 states and Canada are working to restore power to the state. They have already restored power to more than a million people across Florida.
Biden also shared that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida National Guard are on the ground helping the state clear debris and reopen roads.
Utility workers repairing power lines after Hurricane Milton in Englewood, FL on October 11
The Biden administration and state and local officials have been working to combat misinformation about the recovery of both Milton and Helene.
Biden said people want to be given hope and told that everything is going to be okay. On Friday, he referred to the misinformation as “nonsense” before cutting himself off by saying he didn’t want to lose his temper.
“The truth is, we are providing all the resources that are needed,” Biden said. He said there is more to do and promised to do everything in his power to achieve it.
The president said they will go to Congress because they will need “a lot more money” and noted that they still need to determine specifically how much is needed.