Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, spoke to reporters yesterday as Joe Biden posed for photographs in the city more than a year after a devastating train derailed, leaking hazardous materials that burned into the atmosphere.
Local Kayla Miller responded to his visit, saying: “He didn’t help us. It's too little, too late.
Misty Allison, who met with Biden on Friday, also raised concerns about the “long-term health ramifications” as many residents are still suffering from health complications resulting from the incident. “Is this going to be a cancerous group in 10, 20, 30 years?” Alison asks.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, Biden was also greeted by angry protesters.
He didn't care much when the accident happened, so what was he doing there now? Even if Biden takes some form of action by issuing a disaster declaration, as some have called for, why now and not a year ago?
On February 3, 2023, just before 9 p.m. ET, a Norfolk Southern train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, a small Midwestern town of about 4,800 people near the Ohio border with Pennsylvania.
At least 11 of the derailed train cars contained hazardous materials. Several cars were carrying vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic substance.
Government officials decided to burn the chemicals rather than let them dry on the ground. The chemical explosion was massive. The chemicals formed a huge toxic plume over the area.
The waters in East Palestine, Ohio were completely polluted with toxic chemicals, and thousands of fish were reported to have died from the waste.
Residents also reported that pets and livestock died suddenly, and that humans were suffering from rashes and headaches after the explosion.
Remember, it was President Trump who visited eastern Palestine last February, not Joe Biden. Trump stepped up immediately after the disaster occurred to provide food, clean water, and hope to the residents of eastern Palestine after the chemical leak that contaminated groundwater and streams.
One year ago: Trump bought a McDonald's for first responders in East Palestine, Ohio pic.twitter.com/7EtngV76Xs
– Johnny Maga (@_johnnymaga) February 17, 2024
However, speaking yesterday during his first visit to eastern Palestine since the train derailment, Joe Biden falsely claimed that “my administration was on the ground within hours… making sure you have everything you need.”
More from Biden's trip to East Palestine a year after toxic chemical explosion: Biden lies that 'my administration was on the ground within hours' – East Palestine mayor who endorsed Trump takes subtle jab at Joe Biden (Video)
The aloof Biden, who was severely slurring his words and, at one point, even spoke for seven minutes, struggling to read his script.
Biden's entourage then forced reporters out of the room as they tried to ask him why it took a whole year to visit the city and why he came at this point.
More from CBS:
Miller: And it didn't help us. It's too little, too late. At this point, I'll accept anything. You know we're crying for someone to help get us out of the situation or come back and clean this up properly.
Alison: Long-term health effects. Will this be a cancerous mass in 10, 20, or 30 years?
President Biden visited East Palestine, Ohio, on Friday, more than a year after a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed there, sparking a toxic chemical fire. The president pledged to hold Norfolk Southern Railway accountable. pic.twitter.com/coq6FmxN5V
– CBS Evening News (CBSEveningNews) February 17, 2024
