In an audacious display of disregard, President Joe Biden claimed on Saturday that he has not had the “occasion” to visit East Palestine, Ohio, despite promising to do so back in March. This comes after a train derailment resulted in a toxic chemical spill that led to significant air and water contamination of the village.
With his nonchalant attitude, Biden brushed off a reporter’s question about his failure to visit the beleaguered village, stating, “I haven’t had the occasion to go to East Palestine. There’s a lot going on here, and I just haven’t been able to break. I was thinking about I’d go to East Palestine this week but then I was reminded I’ve gotta go literally around the world. I’m going from, from Washington to India to Vietnam to — and so it’s gonna be awhile but we’re making sure that East Palestine has what they need materially in order to deal with their problems.” This is yet another glaring example of Biden’s lackadaisical approach to the serious issues plaguing our nation.
While Biden has found the time to survey damage from Hurricane Idalia in Florida and the fires in Maui, it remains unclear why he hasn’t made the effort to visit East Palestine, which continues to reel from the aftermath of the spill. The cleanup operation for the hazardous chemicals alone is expected to cost at least $803 million, according to the Associated Press.
In response to Biden’s dismissive remarks, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) lambasted the President on X, saying, “Like ski trips and beach vacations? Yeah you’ve been so busy.” This sarcastic retort underscores the widespread feeling of frustration with the current administration’s priorities.
Like ski trips and beach vacations? Yeah you’ve been so busy. https://t.co/RX5hOpXQ8u
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 3, 2023
Adding insult to injury, Biden last month flew directly over East Palestine en route to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for an event promoting his economic agenda, dubbed “Bidenomics.” This blatant oversight is a slap in the face to the struggling residents of East Palestine, who are desperately seeking help in their time of need.
Biden’s failure to visit East Palestine, despite his earlier promises, is indicative of the wider issue at hand – a lack of concern for the real problems facing everyday Americans. It’s high time we hold our leaders accountable for their empty promises and demand action instead of mere lip service.