WASHINGTON — He’s had enough time.
President Biden pledged Wednesday to visit next month on the anniversary of the East Palestine, Ohio, toxic train derailment. This came after months of awkward eschews from the White House, where he was asked why he had not visited.
“In February, President Biden visited East Palestine, Ohio, and met with residents affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment, stating that his administration is providing state and local guidance to protect the community and hold the Norfolk Southern train. “We will take stock of the progress we have made by working with them,” the government official said.
Former President Donald Trump, who is seeking a rematch with Biden in November, visited a McDonald’s restaurant serving residents and placed an order in the same month as an imposing cloud of chemicals hung over the rusted, industrial town.
President Trump said on social media: “Biden finally decided to visit East Palestine, Ohio after a year delay, but only to build political trust. Because everything he’s done so far is too It was also tragic,” he posted. “I know those great people. I was there when it mattered, and his welcome could not have been warmer.”
Trump’s campaign claims the 77-year-old former president only began to widen his lead over the 2024 Republican nominee after visiting the region.
DJ Yokeley, a local business owner living in East Palestine, criticized Biden’s belated plans for the visit.
“The American people woke up and realized that our leader didn’t show up for the greatest catastrophe of 2023, and now the president will show up, because this year… It’s an election year,” he said. Wednesday morning.
“President Trump came and supported us when we didn’t need to…Now he’s like, ‘You have to visit East Palestine. We haven’t been there yet, so check your books. ”.
Residents of the town, about an hour’s drive west of Pittsburgh, have reported a variety of health complaints and expressed concerns about the disaster’s long-term effects on the community, including the possibility of increased cancer risk. There is.
The accident involved the leak of 100,000 gallons of the carcinogen, followed by a controlled combustion of vinyl chloride.Chemicals can produce toxic substances that are highly toxic Dioxins When it burns.
The Environmental Protection Agency stated: 4 other dangerous chemicals The substances leaked during the derailment included butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and isobutylene.
Republicans have repeatedly cited the delay in Biden’s trip to East Palestine and criticized him for isolating himself from voters in struggling non-swing states. They also attacked Biden for not doing more to address fentanyl imports from China, which have killed about 200,000 people on his watch.
In recent months, Biden and other administration officials have been using fentanyl frequently, increasing doses of non-opioid drugs and killing unwitting users, the president said, adding that China’s President Xi Jinping said at a summit in November that they agreed to take measures to curb exports.
