COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio (WTOV) — Former President Donald Trump lauded the people of East Palestine and criticized the response of the current presidential administration during a stop Wednesday afternoon at the village’s fire station.
Flanked by local, state, and national officials, Trump said the nation has been watching the events surrounding the Feb. 3 train derailment, which left residents of the village and surrounding areas concerned for their well-being.
“We’re in East Palestine to show our love for our fellow Americans,” said Trump, who was joined at the podium by Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio.
Trump expressed his admiration for first responders involved in the derailment and said railroad workers have “gone beyond the call of duty” in helping clean up the area.
The 45th president, who has announced his intentions to be on the ballot for a third time in 2024, said Norfolk Southern needs to be held accountable for the disaster.
What this community needs now are not excuses,” Trump said. “Norfolk Southern needs to fulfill their obligations. It means the affected communities beyond [East Palestine’s] borders will be taken care of.
“If they don’t come back and give you the treatment you need, we’ll be back.”
Trump criticized the Biden administration’s slow response to the incident and said the president’s decision to visit Ukraine and not East Palestine sent a strong message.
Biden and FEMA said they would not send federal aid to East Palestine under any circumstances,” Trump said. “I worked with FEMA for four years and they were great. They were doing nothing for you, and they intended to not do anything for you.
“When they announced I was coming, they changed their tune.”
EPA Administrator Michael Regan has spent time in East Palestine this week and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is expected to visit the area Thursday. Noted environmental activist Erin Brockovich has a town hall planned for Friday.
Trump brought “thousands of bottles” of drinking water with him, along with “thousands and thousands of gallons” of cleaning supplies donated by a private company.
“This is America right here,” Trump said. “This is America.”
Vance, nearly two months into his first term, thanks Trump for visiting and vowed to keep the heat on all involved to make East Palestine right again.
I think the most important thing we can take from this is we can’t forget about the people of East Palestine,” Vance said. “Everyone has come together to make sure the people of East Palestine are taken care of.
East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway thanked Trump for his help and emphasized the main goal he has.
“We’re a small community,” he said. “We don’t like the media attention. We just want it to go back to the way it was.”

Katu

Tags：trump, biden