New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy faced criticism for not returning to the state following a significant earthquake that occurred on Friday. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew expressed disappointment over Murphy's absence, noting that the governor did not issue an on-camera address to residents but instead gave interviews to media outlets. Van Drew highlighted that residents had to seek guidance from New York officials during the natural disaster, as Murphy was not present in New Jersey.
Van Drew emphasized that Murphy's presence would have reassured residents about their safety and demonstrated leadership during a crisis. He suggested that Murphy could have taken a brief break from the Democratic convention he was attending to address the earthquake situation in New Jersey. Van Drew underscored the importance of leaders being present for their constituents in times of need.
