Beshear acknowledged Thursday that President Trump took longer to approve public assistance for the April and May weather disasters in Kentucky than has typically been the case in recent years, but continued to express gratitude for the help.
Trump signed off on the aid amid a change in Louisville's stance on holding immigrants. Kentucky's largest city, which has been labeled a sanctuary city by the administration, is now set to abide by a 48-hour federal detainer policy.
It's a move Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said is necessary because cities considered sanctuaries are experiencing a "terrifying increase in raids by ICE, including mass raids."
But asked point blank whether the two news items were connected, Beshear said he had no reason to think so.
"No. Not from my understanding, not at all," the governor said.
Beshear added that Louisville's decision puts the city in line with state policy and pushed back on the sanctuary city label.
"This isn't a broader statement on different immigration efforts out there. It's just when this federal agency contacts you and you have someone in custody, how much time you give them to decide if they're going to take action. I think the mayor was and the city were under extensive pressure," he said. "But let me say, I don't think that they were ever a sanctuary city. I think that those criteria weren't met."
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has threatened to sue cities that don't comply with the administration's immigration demands, citing Louisville's compliance in her warning.