Biden touted efforts his administration made in the aftermath of the deadly crash in early February 2023, including cleaning up the scene and continuing to test water, soil and air for toxins.
“No matter what, I won’t go home until this job is done. And it’s not done yet,” Biden said. “There’s still a lot of work to do. … We’re going to stay here until the very end, until every need is met.”
The trip comes nearly a year after Biden promised to visit the region “someday.” The East Palestine village is in a conservative region of the state that is almost certain not to support Biden in the 2024 election. Former President Donald Trump visited the village weeks after the derailment, fueling claims among some Republicans that Mr. Biden was ignoring locals.
Weeks after the seemingly not-so-unusual derailment, the event erupted into a culture war battle that shocked many, including the White House. Conservatives have accused Biden of ignoring small, majority-white towns in the core region that are suffering from environmental disasters caused by multibillion-dollar corporations.
The unrest worsened when photos were released of black smoke billowing over the small town. Although the accident was the result of a controlled release of chemicals from a decommissioned train, conservative activists say that if the accident had happened in an urban or metropolitan area, powerful elites The train was used as a symbol of a community that was said to have been abandoned. If it were an ethnic minority, the reaction would have been different.
Government officials forcefully denied this explanation, noting that environmental experts were immediately dispatched to the area and saying they were treating the derailment as they would any similar incident. Biden rarely visits accident sites that did not result in death or widespread destruction. Especially since Biden’s presence could impede the cleanup.
However, the scar remained. And in counties where Trump won more than 71% of the vote in 2020 and Biden won 27%, supporters of the former president held rallies ahead of the current president’s arrival.
Outside the Norfolk South Office, which is still under construction, a man was working to install a large sign that read “Peace on Earth.” Mr. Trump. ” Down the street, some held signs that read, “Impeaching crooked Joe Biden is no joke,” “Even dogs hate Biden,” and “Biden stole 2020.” .
Several other residents who showed up at the event held signs reading “Help Our Sick Children,” in honor of the president’s son Beau Biden, who died after the spill. He appealed for further measures to be taken. Exposure to toxic chemicals in Iraq — “Think of Beau’s chemical exposure.”
Late in the afternoon, at a major intersection in the center of town, MAGA protesters and pro-Palestinian protesters gather on opposite corners, amidst competing chants of “Massacre Joe” and “Let’s go,” perhaps just They were united by one thing: anger at Biden. Brandon go. ”
Mr. Biden then left the scene of the derailment and arrived near the center of town, where protesters had gathered. He was spending time at a candle shop buying flower-scented candles for his wife, Jill, when a group of protesters outside chanted, “Cease fire now!” Ceasefire now! ” Meanwhile, another group yelled, “Let’s go, Brandon!” Let’s go, Brandon! ” (The latter slogan is an adaptation of a vulgar phrase about the president.)
Beyond the demonstrators, the unhappiness of many residents was clear. “If we were in a blue state, Biden would have been here from the beginning,” said Tamara Freese, who lives next door to the site of the derailment, lamenting the division in the community.
“I’m willing to bet” Biden’s visit would have been sooner had East Palestine been a more prominent location, Nelson said. “If it had happened in New York City or downtown Chicago or even Youngstown, they would have been up in arms. But here, in blue-collar America, that’s how it’s always been. We… You’re forgotten, until the war starts and they come knocking on your door to go and fight.”
Tamara Freese added that she wished Biden had arrived sooner, but was glad he did in the end.
“I think just the initial support was helpful,” she said. “But even though it’s been a year, I’m glad Biden is here. I mean, I might not have supported him, I might not have voted for him, Hmm. But I fully support him – he should definitely be here. And even though it took a year, Biden is coming so he will listen to those who can speak. I look forward to that.”
Matthew McCanlis, who lives in the hotel with his girlfriend, was perplexed as to why the president had to wait so long.
“It seems like a year later. Why did he show up now?” McCanlis said. “I mean, what is he going to do? At least Trump was a past president — he showed up from the beginning. It took over a year for this guy to come along. What’s the point? “
The White House said Biden wants to visit the community in a year’s time to recognize the pain they have suffered and the distance they have traveled to heal.
“The president has always said he will leave when the time is right and it makes sense to leave,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters this week. . “And that’s what he’s doing.”
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told reporters on Air Force One that the government had moved 176,000 tons of contaminated soil and treated more than 43 million gallons of contaminated water.
He said the administration is still determining what long-term health issues need to be addressed, but air and water quality has been determined to be safe. The state of Ohio oversees water testing, and “we trust the methodology and believe the water is safe to drink,” he said.
Mr Regan added that 45,000 air quality tests had been carried out around the region, as well as aircraft surveillance and mobile trucks. Federal agents are also entering private homes to conduct air quality assessments.
“We believe and we know, based on science and data, that the air is safe,” he said.
Biden was briefed on the ground and spoke about how his administration is trying to hold Southern Norfolk accountable. He also called on Congress to pass bipartisan rail safety legislation that would phase in newer, safer tank cars and increase fines for railroads for safety violations.
While the town center was mostly filled with protesters, Biden sought to create more unity a few miles away. He was joined by East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, who last year called Biden’s willingness to visit Ukraine but not East Palestine “the biggest slap in the face.” Weeks after the derailment, Mr. Biden undertook a secret train trip to war-stricken Kiev, which drew worldwide praise but stoked tensions locally.
Mr. Conaway was more conciliatory Friday. “I would like to welcome President Biden,” he said. “Our village has faced many challenges, but we have shown resilience as a community. We are not defined by this single event, but rather our response to it and our perseverance.” It is defined by.”
He added: “President Biden, your long-awaited visit to our village today allows us to focus on what we agree to, recognize that this disaster should never have happened, and help other communities like this happen.” We can prevent this from happening again.”
Biden did not respond to intense questions about why it took so long to visit East Palestine.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent. What matters is that we’re all Americans,” Biden said in his remarks. “Guys, guys. We’re going to look out for each other and we’re not going to leave anyone behind. And we’re going to come back stronger than before. That’s what you’re doing here.”