President Joe Biden visited East Palestine, Ohio, 378 days after a toxic train derailment occurred, marking his first visit to the site. The visit, which took longer than his visits to other disaster sites such as Maui (13 days), comes amidst criticism and speculation about the delay. Biden's administration, through statements by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and EPA Administrator Michael Regan, emphasized his focus on the issue, with Regan noting Biden has been 'LASER FOCUSED'. Jean-Pierre stated that Biden has no concerns with drinking the water in East Palestine, reflecting confidence in the recovery efforts. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted congressional inaction on rail safety bills, despite bipartisan efforts to introduce legislation. Pennsylvania has reported no evidence of water or soil contamination from the derailment. During his visit, Biden pledged to support Ohio's recovery efforts to the very end and participated in a demonstration of confidence by drinking coffee made with local tap water, praising the 'Herculean' cleanup efforts. This act was seen as a gesture of assurance to the community about the safety of their water supply. The visit also underscores the nation’s widening and hardening political divide, as reported by business news outlets.
President Biden pledges help during first visit to East Palestine train derailment site https://t.co/nMWQNOpBen
One year since the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, what more can the Biden administration do to improve rail safety? “Our hand is very much limited without action from Congress,” @SecretaryPete tells @GeoffRBennett. https://t.co/tfhR70wzQl
"Biden drinks the water in Ohio and praises 'Herculean' cleanup after train derailment." (via @mcollinsNEWS) https://t.co/Ejsz3QaJPZ
A toxic cup of Joe? Biden drinks coffee made with the tap water from East Palestine a year after the chemical spill as resident tells Daily Mail why she was HAPPY to see the Democrat visit https://t.co/qOqx9CPQFj https://t.co/IcIsoo1QcK
Anybody see if Joe Biden drank any tap water in East Palestine, Ohio today? Maybe I missed that part 🤔 https://t.co/IIZyyLqRbz
Biden pledges to 'stay to the very end' in Ohio recovery from toxic derailment - https://t.co/hRgznQnQTb
President Joe Biden's visit to an Ohio town devastated by a train derailment last year illustrates the nation’s widening — and hardening — political divide https://t.co/EsJGb3OLOb
Ahead of President Joe Biden's visit to East Palestine, Ohio, Pennsylvania says it has found no evidence that the toxic train derailment near the border contaminated the state's water or soil. https://t.co/tQydE2TDeG
378 days later, President Biden is finally in East Palestine for his photo-op. However, you can expect the Administration’s lack of transparency with the American people to continue indefinitely. https://t.co/kWaX7tPhjY
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg swipes at congressional inaction on rail safety bill as Biden heads to East Palestine https://t.co/rdHU157Gkq https://t.co/JkPUL1qjpB
Reporter: Why did it take so long (378 DAYS) for Biden to visit East Palestine? Biden EPA Administrator Michael Regan: "The president has been LASER FOCUSED!" https://t.co/LbwVWO8JDj
A month after the East Palestine derailment, bipartisan rail safety bills were introduced in the House and Senate. 11 months later, neither have come to a vote. As Biden visits today, here is the story of how a seemingly commonplace reform got held up. https://t.co/g9ErqHagYJ
White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Biden has no concern drinking water in East Palestine, Ohio. https://t.co/7ZOwYPlyUf
Biden has ‘no concerns’ drinking East Palestine water, White House says https://t.co/t78h4BbHO1 https://t.co/t78h4BbHO1
“The president has no concerns with drinking the water in East Palestine.” — White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre, when asked about President Biden’s planned Friday trip to East Palestine, Ohio, and the optics of him drinking the water there https://t.co/Q8DdaWvSSt
Asked if President Biden will drink a glass of water tomorrow while in East Palestine, Ohio, @PressSec: "The president has no concerns with drinking the water."
NEWS 5 CLEVELAND: It took Biden just a week to survey damage from Hurricane Idalia, 13 days to visit Maui — but 378 days to visit East Palestine, Ohio. "There's been a lot of speculation about why the president took so long to visit..." https://t.co/c2k7yrM2A7