President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the town of East Palestine next month, marking one year since a significant train derailment resulted in a toxic spill, severely impacting the Ohio border town’s environment.
The alarming incident which took place on February 3 last year led to widespread contamination of the local air and water sources. The visit aims to address the concerns of the local community and assess the ongoing recovery efforts.
The decision to visit the affected area comes after Biden faced substantial criticism for his travel priorities. Notably, he was censured for opting to visit Kyiv during the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rather than attending to the East Palestine disaster soon after it occurred. This choice was met with discontent by local authorities, including the mayor of East Palestine, Trent Conaway, who regarded Biden’s overseas visit as a “slap in the face.”
The response by the Biden administration to the East Palestine environmental crisis came under further scrutiny when former President Donald Trump made a personal trip to the town, providing supplies and drinking water to those in need.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg made an appearance at the crash site one day after Trump’s visit. He explained that the absence of President Biden was to avoid any interruption of the remediation efforts already underway.
Questions were raised about the President’s commitment to the situation in September when he mentioned not having the time for a visit, in light of his ability to vacation meanwhile.
President Biden’s upcoming tour to East Palestine signals an attempt to reconcile with the community and provide federal acknowledgment and support for the hardships endured by the residents. It is expected to offer a platform for local voices to be heard at the highest levels of government and contribute to the healing process of the town.