Seven months since a train derailment devastated East Palestine, Ohio and the excuse from President Joe Biden on why he hasn’t visited was worsened only by recent events.
(Video: Fox News)
On Saturday, the president’s trip to Florida to survey the damage from Hurricane Idalia left one reporter wondering at the disparity in response when compared to the disaster from February. While speaking to the press from Live Oak, Florida, Biden was asked directly about his own claim from six months earlier that he would visit Ohio and had yet to do so.
“You said in March that you would go to East Palestine, Ohio — you came here. How come you haven’t gone to East Palestine yet?” wondered the reporter.
“Well, 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,” claimed Biden in defense.
“I was thinking whether I’d go to East Palestine this week, but I then was reminded I’ve got to go literally around the world,” he continued. “I’m going from Washington to India to Vietnam to — and so it’s gonna be a while. But we’re making sure that East Palestine has what they need materially in order to deal with their problems.”
However, despite his claims to be too busy to see directly to the troubles of American citizens, the president’s boast at being booked was belied by a report on his personal time released the same day by the New York Post.
“As of last Sunday, Biden has spent all or part of 382 of his presidency’s 957 days — or 40% — on personal overnight trips away from the White House, putting him on pace to become America’s most idle commander-in-chief, according to date calculated by the Republican National Committee and confirmed by The Post using White House reports of Biden’s movements,” indicated the newspaper.
In fact, as had been reported, even the wildfires that swept across Maui, Hawaii, thus far taking a confirmed 115 lives making it the worst such tragedy in American history, had only been graced with the presence of the president after he had been seemingly cajoled into interrupting his vacation to Lake Tahoe.
Biden pours salt in the wounds of fire-ravaged Maui residentshttps://t.co/cqMKapm0En
— American Wire News (@americanwire_) August 22, 2023
Thursday, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (R) spoke to Biden’s failure to visit the area of his state ecologically devastated by toxic chemicals from the derailment, a trip initially superseded for a journey to Ukraine, and told Fox News host Sean Hannity, “Well, it’s shameful and disgraceful…What happened is that over 100 days ago, Biden promised that he would visit East Palestine. He has broken that promise…more importantly, he has refused to actually employ the services of his government to help.”
“I was there just a couple weeks ago and let me tell you, the people there feel abandoned and forgotten because their own government, their own president who promised to show up didn’t show up and they really feel it,” continued Vance.
WATCH: Senator @JDVance1 BLASTS Joe Biden for failing the people of East Palestine
“Over 100 days ago, Biden promised that he would visit East Palestine. He has broken that promise. More importantly, he has refused to actually employ the services of his government to help.” pic.twitter.com/fd25UYQU11
— Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) August 31, 2023
“When you compare what’s happening in East Palestine and Maui, you see a guy who promised — he ran for president saying that he would bring decency and empathy back to the Oval Office,” the senator remarked. “Well, Donald trump showed up in East Palestine and Joe Biden never did and he has not showed up anywhere else either.”
Here are a few other responses to the story, as seen on X:
I would go to Ohio but I have to go check on India and Vietnam first so it’s going to be awhile even though I just said I was thinking of going this week after 8 months and 23 days on the beach and dementia. https://t.co/Sd0VI6oNaI
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) September 3, 2023
There’s a lot going on pic.twitter.com/gCa9fITZK1
— TopSecretK9 (@TopIsMyNamek9) September 3, 2023
I haven’t had the occasion to go to East Palestine. There’s a lot going on. pic.twitter.com/MwLtRJcorh
— Edward (@edwardrussl) September 3, 2023
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