‘They Were Abandoned’: Trump Blasts Biden for Leaving Behind East Palestine Residents As He Heads to Ukraine Instead

Forty-Fifth President and 2024 presidential aspirant Donald Trump had harsh words yesterday over Joe Biden’s lackadaisical attitude toward the residents of East Palestine, Ohio. Trump said in an interview with Just the News that the people of East Palestine “are great people, and they were abandoned.” The DC Enquirer has been following the tragic and worrying developments in East Palestine that stem from a train derailment and fallout from an explosion of dangerous chemicals that were carried on that train.

Biden has yet to visit the beleaguered rural Ohio town choosing instead to do a surprise President’s Day visit to Ukraine while Donald Trump announced that he will be visiting East Palestine. Mr. Trump in his interview with Just the News mused that the response to the crisis has been “very sad.” The 45th president added that “I’ll be spending some time in Ohio, where [Biden] should be. And frankly, FEMA should have been there a long time ago, I announced that I was going, and all of a sudden people sending a lot of money now, and they weren’t going to send anything. So I’m honored by that. But I’ll be there on Wednesday. And I look forward to that.”

The response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been puzzling to many. As reported by WKYC Studies, FEMA initially denied Governor Mike DeWine’s (R-OH) request for assistance. They told the governor that this situation did “not qualify for assistance.” Indeed, hours after Governor DeWine restated that he “did [not] expect” FEMA to assist the people of East Palestine with their plight on Friday, February 17th FEMA did an about-face and the governor reported that they would now be sending teams to East Palestine.

While the reason for FEMA’s about-face remains officially unexplained, some link it to the announcement by Mr. Trump that he would visit East Palestine. Statements about Trump’s visit to East Palestine were made on the same day as FEMA’s reversal.

TRUMP FORCES BIDEN’S HAND, FEMA MAKES MAJOR CHANGE AS TRUMP SHOWS TRUE LEADERSHIP– ‘WE GOT THEM TO MOVE’

When Trump visits the town, he will not be the first Republican to have frequented the community there. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), who has endorsed Trump, already made a visit there last week. Mr. Vance has voiced concern over the public health crisis befalling the community and has remarked, “Is the air breathable? Is the water drinkable? That’s the most important question.”

Senator Vance has demanded that it “It’s time for Norfolk Southern to finish the cleanup.”

Visited a local creek in East Palestine today. These waterways are still very polluted. It’s time for Norfolk Southern to finish the cleanup. Check this video out: pic.twitter.com/4lsHBmrMJj

— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 16, 2023

He also  said “if the EPA administrator wants to stand here and tell people that the tap water is safe, by all means, they should be willing to drink it.”

Senator @JDVance1 in East Palestine, Ohio: "If the EPA administrator wants to stand here and tell people that the tap water is safe, by all means, they should be willing to drink it." pic.twitter.com/Q9GQCEnncz

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 16, 2023

Pete Buttigieg, who has not yet visited East Palestine and says he will do so “when the time is right,” attempted to score cheap political capital by blaming Donald Trump’s administration for causing the disaster. As reported by the DC Enquirer, Buttigieg’s “claim was lambasted by another Biden administration member, the Chair of National Transportation Safety Board, as ‘misinformation’ and as ‘FALSE.’”