Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said Friday that race is one reason that President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE cares more about Florida than Puerto Rico.

Asked in a CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer about the difference between Trump's responses when Hurricane Dorian was expected to hit Puerto Rico versus Florida, Beyer said, "Well, part of it's that Florida could be a swing state in 2020 and part of it is Florida is not an island full of people of color."

The lawmaker expressed approval for Trump's discussion of the storm in terms of its impact on Florida, but wished the president was "even-handed" when it comes to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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"I don't really criticize his sticking up and trying to modify the impacts of the hurricane on Florida. I just wish that he would be even-handed when it comes to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico," Beyer said.

Democratic Rep. Don Beyer on the President’s differing tone on the hurricane threat to Puerto Rico versus Florida and Georgia: “Part of it’s that Florida could be a swing state in 2020. And part of it is Florida is not an island full of people of color.” pic.twitter.com/vJPI2ffoEF — CNN (@CNN) August 29, 2019

Dorian missed Puerto Rico, but could hit Florida in the coming days and might become a Category 4 hurricane.

Trump canceled his upcoming visit to Poland in response to the possible impact on Florida.

“It’s something very important for me to be here,” Trump said. “The storm looks like it could be a very, very big one indeed.”

Earlier, when it appeared the storm could hit Puerto Rico, Trump said in tweets on Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be ready to assist but also rekindled a spat with Puerto Rican leaders over the response to Hurricane Maria in 2017.

"We are tracking closely tropical storm Dorian as it heads, as usual, to Puerto Rico. FEMA and all others are ready, and will do a great job. When they do, let them know it, and give them a big Thank You - Not like last time. That includes from the incompetent Mayor of San Juan!" he said.