In a move designed to highlight his political acumen and contrast the leadership styles of current and past administrations, former President Donald Trump announced he would visit the small town of East Palestine, Ohio, on Wednesday.
East Palestine was ground zero for a train derailment on Feb. 3. The train was carrying toxic chemicals which seeped into the ground and were carried throughout the Ohio River Basin when officials decided to initiate a “controlled burn” of the chemicals.
Five of the train cars carried toxic material, including deadly vinyl chloride.
Reportedly, officials decided to initiate a “controlled burn” to decrease the risk of an explosion. Many have criticized the decision as officials burned the contents of five train cars — rather than the one they petitioned to burn. The burn sent plumes of toxic smoke into the air.
Local residents have complained that the clean-up response has been poor and that officials have sounded the “all-clear” despite multiple reports of animal die-offs and tainted water.
President Biden’s relative silence on the issue is fueling anger. Pundits viewed Biden’s refusal to authorize FEMA aid to those impacted by the catastrophe as a political miss for the DNC.
Administration officials reversed the decision to withhold aid after former President Trump threw light on the issue and announced he would be visiting the small town of 4,700 residents.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the Federal point person for this issue, did not comment on the incident for more than a week; he has yet to visit the area. The Daily Wire reported that Buttigieg did, however, attend the National Association of Counties Conference to “comment on matters such as racial equity in the construction sector.”
Buttigieg announced on Monday he would travel to East Palestine “when the time is right.”
EPA Administrator Michael Regan has visited the area and pledged additional testing of area soil and water.
The lack of high-ranking administration officials visiting the derailment site was darkly emphasized on Monday when President Biden traveled by plane and train to meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
Many criticized Biden for traveling thousands of miles to extend great support to Zelenskyy — and pledge another $500 million in aid — while extending minimal support to Ohio residents.
East Palestine’s mayor, Trent Conaway, referred to Biden’s trip to Ukraine as a “slap in the face.”
Conaway added: “He doesn’t care about us.”
Amid a rising chorus of criticism regarding the federal response to the chemical spill, former President Trump announced:
“Biden and FEMA said they would not be sending federal aid to East Palestine. As soon as I announced that I’m going, he announced a team will go. Hopefully, he will also be there. This is good news because we got them to ‘move.’ The people of East Palestine need help. I’ll see you on Wednesday!”
According to a report from Fox News, Trump will meet with residents and leaders of East Palestine and donate several pallets of water and thousands of gallons of cleaning supplies.
A spokesperson for Trump told The Daily Wire: “President Trump is meeting with the citizens of East Palestine and will never forget them and what they are going through. Contrast that with Biden and the federal government who has failed them from the beginning.”
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