President Joe Biden arrived in East Palestine, Ohio, on Friday to address growing criticism that he has ignored the victims of an explosion and fire caused by a train derailment more than a year ago.
As Breitbart News reported, Mr. Biden’s long-promised visit came after a special counsel report last week called into question the 80th president’s mental acuity. This will be our first interaction.
AP report Mr. Biden, 81, will visit the village of 5,000 people at the invitation of the village chief as the Environmental Protection Agency continues a large-scale cleanup effort paid for by railroad company Norfolk Southern.
Republicans have long criticized Biden for not visiting sooner, and tensions persist in the community as local residents resent being ignored by the White House.
Exclusive — John Roark: East Palestinians still need help even as Biden ignores it
Jack Knudsen/Breitbart News
“The president has always said he will leave when the time is right and it makes sense to leave,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “And that’s what he’s doing.”
During Biden’s visit, there will also be a separate rally for former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner. Trump received nearly 72% of the vote in Columbiana County, Ohio, which includes East Palestine, the Associated Press reported.
Rally coordinator Mike Young described the grassroots event as “anti-Biden.” He delivered water to communities after the disaster, but said the president should have been immediately present at the scene, something Trump was happy to do.
When President Trump arrived a few days after the accident, he gave a speech at a fire station in a nearby town and then bought food for everyone at the police station, fire department, and McDonald’s in East Palestine.
Collective action: Donald Trump visits McDonald’s in East Palestine with Americans, fact-checkers go berserk
Alana Mastrangelo / Breitbart News
“The feedback from residents is, ‘Where were you a year ago?'” Young said, taking issue with Biden’s absence. “It’s too little, too late. And now Biden emerges at election time.”
On Thursday, community activists sent a letter to Biden asking him to issue a major disaster declaration for the community, provide long-term medical care for residents, strengthen environmental inspections and provide relocation funds for those seeking to leave.
