President Joe Biden is planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 16 just over one year after a train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in the community, The White House told Cleveland.com.
Biden promised to visit the community following the disaster on Feb. 3, 2023, though he has yet to follow through on that commitment until now. During his visit, the president will meet with locals affected by the toxic spill while assessing how his administration has worked to keep Norfolk Southern accountable, The White House told Cleveland.com.
“From the moment — the day of the derailment that we saw in East Palestine and what the community had to deal with, within hours — within hours, we’ve had federal assistance, federal employees on the ground — within hours. And that was because of this President — right? — because he understood what that community would be going through,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Jan. 26 after being asked about a potential trip to the area by the president.
Though the trip is seemingly to mark one-year since the disaster, the date of Biden’s travel has yet to be announced, Cleveland.com reported.
Exclusive: President Biden to visit East Palestine toxic train wreck site: https://t.co/DRIMwoFgFa
— Sabrina Eaton (@sabrinaeaton) January 31, 2024
Following the derailment, which spilled vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl, former President Donald Trump visited the area affected by the crisis before Biden.
With the 2024 election just months away, Biden has faced growing calls to follow through on his promise to visit the area. Other Biden administration officials visited the community, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg made a trip to the community after he came under fire for his response to the disaster.(RELATED: Pete Buttigieg Confronted By DCNF Reporter In DC Streets Over Response To Toxic Train Wreck)
I asked Secretary Buttigieg about the crisis in East Palestine and I guess he didn’t like that so he took a pic of me. Im just doing my job, sir. @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/HjKNgF25FJ
— Jennie Taer 🇮🇱🇺🇸 (@JennieSTaer) February 22, 2023
“I feel like I don’t matter,” Jessica Conard, an East Palestine resident, told The New York Times about Biden’s failure to immediately visit the community.