Trump knocks Biden for going to East Palestine one year after train derailment

Former President Trump knocked President Biden, his likely general election rival, for going to East Palestine, Ohio, roughly one year after a major train derailment.

In a social media post, Trump hit Biden for “finally” visiting East Palestine after the White House announced Wednesday the president would travel there next month to meet with residents impacted by the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment.

“With the World blowing up around us, with the Middle East on FIRE, Biden has finally decided to visit East Palestine, Ohio, a year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER,” Trump wrote in a Wednesday morning Truth Social post.

“I know those great people, I was there when it counted, and his reception won’t be a warm one. Worst President in History!” 

Trump, the GOP presidential front-runner, has long bashed Biden over the issue. He sought to draw a contrast with the president by visiting East Palestine weeks after the derailment last year, and he accused the administration of “indifference and betrayal” in its response.

The White House has not given an exact date for Biden’s planned visit to East Palestine. He vowed last March to visit the area “at some point,” and the administration sent other top officials to the area soon after the derailment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The Norfolk Southern train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals near East Palestine. Vinyl chloride, a hazardous chemical used when producing plastic, spilled during the incident, raising concerns about the health and environmental effects in the area. 

Despite Biden not visiting the site so far, the White House has touted EPA involvement just hours after the derailment, and Biden issued two executive orders related to the incident focused on holding Norfolk Southern accountable and appointing a coordinator to spearhead recovery efforts for the community.