OAN’s Elizabeth Bolbelding
5:35pm – Wednesday, January 31, 2024
President Joe Biden will finally visit the East Palestine area of Ohio, which was tragically affected by a toxic train derailment nearly a year ago.
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The White House recently announced that Biden will visit East Palestine, Ohio, next month to commemorate the one-year anniversary of a tragic train derailment and toxic chemical spill in the area.
The visit, announced by the White House, did not include a specific date for Biden’s visit.
The tragedy in East Palestine occurred on February 3rd.rd, 2023, a south Norfolk train carrying hazardous materials derails and catches fire. The fire spread over several days, releasing toxic gas and oil and forcing local residents to evacuate their homes, taking their pets with them. People in the area also became concerned about the long-term health and economic effects of the derailment.
Biden is said to be visiting East Palestine at the invitation of the mayor of East Palestine to be on the ground and “observe firsthand” the progress of recovery and cleanup from the toxic chemical spill.
Mayor Trent Conaway (R-Ohio), a critic of Biden, announced on Wednesday that he had invited the current president to visit, believing it would be more beneficial to the community.
“I’m as red-hot as they are. I’m as conservative as they are. Sometimes I have to do what’s best for people, so yeah, that’s why I invited him,” Conaway said. stated in an interview. Associated Press.
Additionally, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement regarding Biden’s upcoming trip to the region, saying he would visit the region “in February.”
“He is looking forward to going to the East Palestine team in February. We will find the most convenient date for the people on the ground,” Jean-Pierre explained to reporters during Wednesday’s conference. “He always said that when the time was right, he would be there when it would be most helpful for him to be there.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s rural, urban, suburban, red state or blue state, the president has always been there… supporting and being there for the community,” Jean-Pierre added. “So when it’s helpful, he’ll definitely do it.”
Biden has faced continued criticism from Republicans for not visiting East Palestine sooner.
As time passed and people witnessed Mr. Biden at the scene of other tragedies, many local residents of East Palestine also claimed that the tragedy of the train derailment “felt forgotten.”
Joe Betuy, a steel worker living in East Palestine, expressed extreme disappointment with the Biden administration’s response to the derailment and the postponement of the president’s visit.Betui stated: Associated Press Reporters claimed that Biden only needed to “show up for an hour or so.”
“I really don’t know what to say,” Smith said of Biden’s visit. “It’s about a year late.”
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that “an attempt by the train crew to stop the train after discovering overheated wheel bearings” led to the derailment.
The cost of cleanup and restoration along the Ohio-Pennsylvania border is expected to exceed $1.1 billion, according to Norfolk Southern News.
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