President Biden stated to reporters as he was leaving for a weekend trip to Delaware that he currently has no plans to visit East Palestine, Ohio, and that he has not been invited to do so due to criticism of the administration’s handling of the toxic train derailment that occurred on February 3.
The derailment resulted in dangerous chemicals being spilled and toxic smoke being released, causing the evacuation of around 5,000 residents and reportedly leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of animals in the region.
Biden has faced criticism from Republicans for his decision to visit Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, before visiting East Palestine, where residents are concerned about the potential long-term health effects of the train derailment. Former President Donald Trump, who is seeking the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, accused the Biden administration of neglecting the crisis in East Palestine.
Biden defended his administration’s response to the derailment, highlighting their quick response and ongoing engagement with officials in the region. He also stated that he has spoken with every major figure in both Pennsylvania and Ohio and that there was no request for him to visit East Palestine before his trip to Kyiv.
However, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway accused Biden of neglecting his domestic responsibilities and prioritizing Ukraine, criticizing the President for spending President’s Day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announcing an additional $500 million in financial aid to the war-torn country.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has faced criticism from both Democrat and Republican lawmakers over the derailment, traveled to East Palestine for the first time on Thursday, nearly three weeks after the accident. Buttigieg also received criticism for taking 10 days to make his first public comments on the disaster.
»Biden has no plans to visit site of toxic Ohio train derailment because he “hasn’t been invited”«
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