Donald Trump told residents of eastern Palestine they were victims of “betrayal” by President Biden and the federal government, and said his visit eventually prompted them to act on a tour of the toxic train’s derailment site on Wednesday.
The former president saluted crowds furious at the White House’s lack of action 19 days after the Ohio disaster, bringing thousands of bottles of his own water, cleaning supplies and canned goods.
Hundreds of people lined the streets, waving MAGA flags and chanting “No More Joe” to greet Trump after he landed in the community in his refurbished Trump Force One jet.
In a speech to the local fire department, he commended the police response and the “strength and courage” of local residents, saying, “You are not forgotten.”
When a reporter asked what message he had for Biden, Trump said, “Get over here.”
His visit coincided with the release of a statement from Norfolk Southern saying they would take “full responsibility” for the derailment, and Pete Buttigieg confirmed he would visit the site on Thursday.
Donald Trump told residents of eastern Palestine they were victims of “betrayal” by President Biden and the federal government, and said his visit eventually prompted them to take a tour of the toxic train’s derailment site
Praising the response from local law enforcement and the “strength and courage” of local residents, Trump said, “You are not forgotten.”
The former president saluted crowds furious at the White House’s lack of action 19 days after the Ohio disaster, bringing thousands of bottles of his own water, cleaning supplies and canned goods
A February 3 derailment of a 50-car freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, released toxic chemicals into the air, land and water – prompting the community to be evacuated after experiencing some symptoms, including headaches
“We stand with you,” Trump told the crowd at the East Palestine Fire Department, “we are praying for you and we will stand with you in your struggle to help, to respond and to help.” [get] accountability you deserve.’
“Biden and FEMA said they would not send federal aid [the town] under no circumstances,” Trump claimed. “We opened up the dam and got them to move,” he said, referring to his visit, which the Biden administration has described as a photo op.
Crowds lined the streets and some chanted “No More Joe” as they awaited the former President’s arrival.
He distributed supplies, including water, to residents during the visit along with Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who has spearheaded the backlash over the White House’s lack of response to the disaster in the city of 4,700.
“We’re bringing thousands of bottles of water — actually Trump Water. The most. Some of that we’ve had to switch to much lower quality water, you want to get those Trump bottles, he said in his speech.
Trump also met with East Palestine Mayor Trent Conway, who earlier this week said Biden’s secret trip to Ukraine was a “slap in the face” to his constituents.
Republicans are furious that Biden hasn’t visited Ohio, or at least used Pete Buttigieg to survey the damage and speak to local leaders about how the government can help.
Buttigieg has announced he will visit the site — adjacent to the Pennsylvania border and about 35 minutes from Pittsburgh — on Thursday.
He had claimed he didn’t want to visit him just for a photo op, which he suggested to Trump.
On February 3, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed, releasing large quantities of toxic chemicals into the air, water and soil, forcing an evacuation amid fears for their health. Some complained of headaches and other symptoms.
On February 16, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan traveled to the derailment site to thank first responders for their work and to assure EPA would be “on site” throughout the cleanup process.
‘We hear you. We see you. We’re going to get to the bottom of it,” he said. “All families need to know they are safe. All families deserve access to clean air and clean drinking water.”
Biden’s trip to Ukraine and Poland this week caused an uproar as Republicans demanded answers as to why he went to the war-torn country, before first addressing issues at home.
The president finally broke his silence on the gaffe with a Twitter thread on Tuesday after his speech in Poland berated Russia and its President Vladimir Putin. He made five calls from Warsaw, Poland on Tuesday evening.
The President noted that he has spoken with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, Ohio State Assemblyman Bill Johnson, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
“I have reiterated my commitment to making sure they have everything they need,” Biden wrote in a thread posted to his official Twitter Tuesday night.
He pointed out that the EPA directed Norfolk Southern, the train owner and operator, to fund the cleanup and disposal of the drain and burning of hazardous materials.
“That’s common sense. This is their mess. You should clean it up,” Biden wrote.
Biden also blamed his predecessor for the disaster, saying Trump instituted policies that made it difficult to strengthen and enforce rail safety.
“For years, elected officials — including the last administrator — have limited our ability to implement and strengthen rail safety measures,” Biden wrote. “Damn, a lot of the elected officials who are pointing the finger now want to dismantle the EPA – the agency that’s making this purge happen.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday hinted that Trump’s trip to Ohio was just a photo op, and assured that he will also visit eastern Palestine, having not already attended the community
Biden has received a lot of backlash for traveling to Ukraine and Poland this week ahead of his visit to Ohio
“I want the affected residents to know that we have your back,” Biden said. “And like I told your governors, they will have all the resources they need.”
However, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway is not convinced Biden has committed to helping his community – instead saying he is “angry” that Biden decided to visit Ukraine this week before he comes to Ohio.
East Palestine is still suffering the aftermath of the fiery 50-car derailment, and Conway says Biden’s refusal to focus on domestic issues and instead march around the war-torn eastern European country was a “slap in the face.”
However, Buttigieg downplayed the need for an administrator to survey the damage and visit the community devastated by the poison spill.
He also suggested that Trump’s trip to Ohio on Wednesday was just a photo op as part of his 2024 campaign.
Trump announced his third run for the White House on November 15. He hasn’t held many public events since announcing his offer during a rally at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla.
Last month he visited the early primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina for campaign events that were far more intimate than the usual massive Trump rallies.
Biden’s team has repeatedly blamed Trump for the gaffe and has refused to do much to address the issue as the public calls for the president to visit the community.
East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway (center) told Fox News this week that he was “angry.”
It’s true that during the Trump presidency some policies were implemented that impacted rail safety, including the reversal of an Obama-era proposal for faster brakes on trains using flammable materials. He also ended the regular railway safety audits.
“Our team is working in lockstep with state and local officials and was on the scene hours after the train derailed,” Biden said.
He said the EPA has already screened more than 500 homes in the area and is “monitoring air and water quality.”
The government also deployed chemical assessment staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources to eastern Palestine.
“The Department of Transportation has made it clear to railroad companies that their pattern of resisting safety regulations needs to change,” Biden wrote on his Twitter thread Tuesday night.
“Congress should join us in implementing rail safety measures.”