(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Citizens of East Palestine, Ohio, where the toxic train derailment took place at the beginning of February, expressed their anger with jetsetter President Joe Biden, who is traversing the globe but has yet to visit the site of the crisis.
Biden did say he would visit “at some point,” but has not made any public plans thus far.
According to the Daily Caller, officials and residents called the president’s situation a “disaster” and a “fail,” particularly as he hurries to prop up failing banks.
“Biden himself has either been preoccupied with traveling to Ukraine or bank bailouts for Silicon Valley. It all amounts to a masterclass in government incompetence,” said Rep. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, when onsite at ground zero. “Joe Biden has failed this test and the people of East Palestine are suffering the consequences.”
Over the last two weeks, Biden visited Alabama, Pennsylvania, California and Nevada, planning to discuss gun control, Social Security, Medicare and voting rights.
He also attended two Democratic National Committee dinners, and spent the weekends at his personal home in Delaware.
The White House refused to share when or if Biden will be visiting the wreckage, and spokespeople pointed out that several federal agencies responded to the situation.
The Biden admin took 10 days to comment on the situation in East Palestine, but quickly took action to bail out Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.
“Thanks to the quick action of my administration over the past few days, Americans can have confidence that the banking system is safe,” Biden said in a statement shortly after the bank crash. “Your deposits will be there when you need them.”
Several East Palestine natives spoke angirly about the White House’s neglect for their dire situation.
“It’s unfortunate for the American citizens to watch a leader of the free world, and someone that was elected to a job, fail from a leadership perspective,” said local business owner DJ Yokley. “[it] puts perspective on the urgency that we have here in East Palestine. There was no urgency. There was no urgency for anybody to get here and represent that until [Trump] came through and drew light to our situation.”
Other locals and government officials called the lack of communication “concerning” and a “failure.”
“The EPA has completely failed to get toxic waste out of town and into the proper containment facilities, leaving residents continuously exposed to hazardous materials,” Vance said.
