President Joe Biden said he was too busy to visit East Palestine following the Ohio train disaster, as criticism mounts of the president’s ability to handle moments of crisis.
Biden has suffered criticism in the past two weeks over his handling of the Maui wildfires, while he was snubbed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday during a visit in the wake of Hurricane Idalia.
Sunday marks the seventh anniversary of the catastrophe on February 3rd. The commander-in-chief was rebuffed in February for waiting to visit, and finally promised on March 2 that he would do so.
As he prepared to leave Idalia-ravaged Florida for his family estate in Delaware on Saturday, he was asked again why he had not visited, 166 days after he promised to do so.
“I did not have the opportunity to travel to East Palestine. “There’s a lot going on here, and I just haven’t been able to break myself,” Biden said at a news conference.
President Joe Biden said he was too busy to visit the train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, as criticism intensifies over the president’s ability to handle moments of crisis
He then tried to suggest that the 80-year-old had been thinking about it lately, but he just hadn’t been able to take the time to put the global travel arrangements behind him.
“I was thinking about traveling to East Palestine this week, but I was reminded that I literally have to travel around the world,” the president continued. “I’m flying from Washington to India to Vietnam.”
He then admitted that there were no concrete plans to visit the city in Republican-controlled Ohio any time soon.
“It will take a while, but we are making sure that East Palestine has what they need materially to address their problems,” Biden added.
Republican Senator JD Vance, who represents the state, responded sarcastically to a video of Biden’s remarks.
“Do you like ski trips and beach vacations? “Yeah, you were so busy,” he joked. In June, it was reported that Biden, the oldest president in American history, was on track to take more vacation than any other commander in chief.
In fact, according to a New York Post report, Biden has spent 382 days of the 957 days of his presidency – or 40% – on private overnight trips outside the White House.
This surpasses George HW Bush, who spent 36% of his presidency off duty, and Trump, who spent 26% of his term on personal trips from Washington.
Sunday marks the seventh anniversary of the February 3 disaster that shocked the world
A drone photo shows parts of a derailed Norfolk and Southern freight train
The commander-in-chief was rebuffed in February for waiting to visit, and finally promised on March 2 that he would do so
Ohio Senator JD Vance criticized Biden for taking a vacation for his visit to East Palestine
On the way back from Pittsburgh, I took aerial photos of a train derailment that occurred Friday evening in East Palestine, Ohio. Flight restrictions in the region have been lifted. pic.twitter.com/OyHoKQ4og5
— Kelly Marie (@Kmatter66) February 5, 2023
Vance spoke just a few days ago and criticized the president for not yet having a planned visit to the city.
“Joe Biden promised he would visit East Palestine.” “He didn’t keep that promise,” Vance said. “Joe Biden has not only refused to visit East Palestine, but he has also refused to provide critical assistance to the reconstruction effort.”
It is known that Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump, visited the city just 19 days after the derailment and called the victims of a “betrayal” by President Biden.
Biden did not visit Maui for more than two weeks after devastating wildfires destroyed parts of the island and killed at least 115 people.
On February 3, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed, releasing large amounts of toxic chemicals into the air, water and soil, forcing evacuations as residents feared for their health. Some complained of headaches and other symptoms.
On February 16, Michael S. Regan, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, traveled to the derailment site to thank first responders for their work and to assure that the EPA would be “on site” throughout the cleanup process.
Dozens of fish have been killed, half of East Palestine’s 5,000 residents have been evacuated and some have never returned for fear the drinking water was contaminated.
Norfolk Southern said in April that a freight train derailment that released millions of gallons of toxic chemicals in the small Ohio town could cost the company nearly $400 million in legal fees and cleanup costs.
A black cloud rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of part of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains days after the derailment
Regulators say Norfolk Southern has made improvements since a fiery derailment in Ohio but still falls far short of the “gold standard for safety.”
Several residents said urine tests found at least trace amounts of vinyl chloride in their bodies, raising fears about possible long-term health problems, including an increased risk of cancer
The state of Ohio sued the railroad operator in March, seeking damages for damages to the state’s environment, economy and residents
It is known that Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump, visited the city just 19 days after the derailment and called the victims of a “betrayal” by President Biden
Trump stands next to a pallet of his branded water in East Palestine. During his visit to the poison train derailment site, he brought trucks with his own supplies
Several residents said urine tests found at least trace amounts of vinyl chloride in their bodies, raising fears about possible long-term health problems, including an increased risk of cancer.
The railroad says tests show public drinking water is safe, but it is establishing a fund for long-term drinking water protection.
Funds are also set up for health care and help sellers if the value of their property drops due to the accident.
The state of Ohio sued the railroad operator in March, seeking damages for damages to the state’s environment, economy and residents. The Justice Department has also filed a federal lawsuit.