Trump uses accident site visits for campaign appearances

Flanked by local politicians and his son, Donald Trump Jr., Trump appeared at a fire station in eastern Palestine on Wednesday (local time). In early February, highly toxic chemicals leaked from a derailed freight train in the small town on the border with neighboring Pennsylvania.

Trump took the opportunity to sharply criticize his successor Joe Biden’s crisis management. “What this community needs right now is not excuses, but answers and results,” Trump said.

On February 3, 38 cars of a 150-car train derailed, some of which caught fire. Large amounts of sometimes highly toxic chemicals, such as the carcinogenic vinyl chloride, ended up in the environment. The wrecks burned for days. To prevent an explosion, authorities released and burned the chemicals in a controlled manner. A huge cloud of smoke hung over the place. Nearby homes were temporarily evacuated.

Criticism of Biden’s crisis management

After the accident, local residents not only complained about the pungent smell, but also about health problems, including headaches, irritated eyes and skin rashes. According to initial findings, the cause of the accident was an overheated wheel bearing in one of the wagons, according to the US road safety service. The US environmental agency EPA blamed the railroad company “Norfolk Southern” for the accident and ordered the company to pay for the cleanup in full. Air and drinking water are harmless.

After the accident, criticism was leveled at the crisis management of President Joe Biden’s administration. One reason for the displeasure was the Fema Civil Protection Agency, which rejected an application from the governor of Ohio for the distribution of aid funds. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was also criticized for not being at the scene of the accident for more than two weeks after the accident. Buttigieg said he wanted to give investigators enough time to conduct an independent investigation into the accident. He announced his intention to travel to eastern Palestine on Thursday.

Small town mayor Trent Conaway called President Biden’s trip to Ukraine a slap in the face. “He doesn’t care about us,” Conaway told Fox News. Biden “gives millions of dollars to the people there, not us, I’m angry.” The White House announced on Tuesday that Biden was briefed on the situation in eastern Palestine during his stay in Poland.

Trump handed out water

Trump took the opportunity to sharply attack his successor. He hopes Biden has some money left over from his trip to Ukraine when he comes to eastern Palestine, Trump said. Trump claimed the administration did not pay attention to the small town until he announced his intention to travel to the scene of the accident.

Ohio is an important state for the former president, who wants to run again in the next election. The US Senate candidate he endorsed, JD Vance, won the November midterm elections. However, the Republican Party had to fight harder for victory than initially expected.

In the manner of a president, Trump presented himself as a benefactor during his visit. He had thousands of bottles of drinking water delivered to eastern Palestine, he announced from the lectern of the local fire station, wearing his trademark red baseball cap with his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” written in large white letters. But people should make sure they get one of the bottles with his name on it, “Trump water,” he said. That’s better.

(SDA)

Source: Blick