Former President Donald Trump has slammed his successor for much too belatedly paying attention to a community rocked by a major train derailment in February 2023.
President Joe Biden is expected to travel to East Palestine, Ohio, on Friday to visit the site of a Norfolk Southern freight train accident that raised fears of environmental devastation after a massive spill of toxic chemicals in the area.
The wreck drove thousands of people from their homes. Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance recently told The Hill that people in and near East Palestine are still worried about whether the clean-up effort has been sufficient to protect their health.
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The Associated Press recently reported that Norfolk Southern has spent $1.1 billion trying to clean up and rehabilitate the area, which Biden has yet to declare a federal disaster area.
Biden pledged to go last March, a month after the incident, but never did.
Trump, meanwhile, went almost immediately after the wreck. He met with residents and handed out supplies.
On Wednesday, he heckled Biden for his tardiness.
“It was such a great honor to be with the people of East Palestine immediately after the tragic event took place,” Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media platform.
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“I got to know so many of the people, in particular the wonderful Mayor, Trent Conaway. Biden should have gone there a long time ago—for him to go now is an insult to those who live and work in East Palestine and the Great State of Ohio itself.”
“I can’t believe anyone wants him there?”
“I know he doesn’t want to be there, and even he knows he is making a mistake, because he is pandering to people who are smart, politically savvy and unfortunately, badly hurt by Biden’s in-actions and lack of caring,” Trump continued.
“It will be so interesting to see how they meet and greet this FRAUD, and the THUGS that surround him!”
Mayor Conway has said he invited Biden to come because he really wanted the president to see how the community was affected.
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But last month, Conway also took a shot at Biden for the unfulfilled pledge of a visit.
“My personal opinion the best time for him to come would be February of 2025 when he is on his book tour,” Conway told Fox News, suggesting that Biden would then be out of office after losing in November.
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