No, Donald Trump didn’t dispatch federal disaster assistance to Ron DeSantis in snowy Florida


Trump and DeSantis, 7-31-2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks July 31, 2020, speaks during a roundtable discussion on the coronavirus outbreak in Belleair, Fla. (AP)

On Jan. 20, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of winter weather in the state’s northern half.

President Donald Trump had nothing to do with it. 

But a Threads post the following day suggested a cozier arrangement between the two Republicans.

“Donny declaring a state of emergency in Florida because of snow is laughable,” the Jan. 21 post said. “Did he declare and send money to blue states as well? Of course not. Donny is sending money to Ronny.”

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

We asked the Florida Division of Emergency Management about the claim. 

Stephanie Hartman, an agency spokesperson, told PolitiFact that although DeSantis declared a state of emergency because of the winter weather — Florida had record-breaking snowfall — “there is no federal disaster declaration.” 

We found no evidence, such as public statements, press releases or news stories, that Trump has made federal disaster assistance available to the state of Florida. 

DeSantis’ executive order allowed state officials “to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts,” according to the state’s emergency management division

We rate the claim that Trump declared “a state of emergency in Florida because of snow”

False.

 

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Florida because of winter weather, not President Donald Trump. 

Statement

President Donald Trump declared “a state of emergency in Florida because of snow.”

Context

a Threads post

Speaker/Target

Statement Date

January 21, 2025
Our Sources

Threads post, Jan. 21, 2025

STATE OF FLORIDA, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 25-13, Jan. 20, 2025

Florida Division of Emergency Management, ICYMI: Updates on Gulf Winter Weather System and State Preparedness, Jan. 22, 2025

CNN, Icy roads pose dangerous threat in wake of massive winter storm that paralyzed Gulf Coast with record-breaking snow, Jan. 22, 2025

Statement from Stephanie Hartman, press secretary, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Jan. 23, 2025

 

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