Former President Donald Trump was on the ground in East Palestine, Ohio on Wednesday to deliver a message of hope to those in need. The community has been reeling since the February 3rd Norfolk Southern derailment and subsequent chemical fire that bathed the village in a toxic stew of vinyl chloride and other harmful chemicals.
The 45th president of the United States transported a shipment of water and supplies with him, according to The Daily Mail.
As the Trump Team boarded the president’s personal jet, dubbed ‘Air Trump One,’ Donald Trump Jr. recorded a brief video describing the trip and excoriating the lack of response from “the people in government.”
Newsmax’s Benny Johnson reported the contrast in response between Trump and President Joe Biden, “Tens of thousands of pounds of goods, food, water being delivered to the people of East Palestine, Ohio right now before Trump’s visit. Trump paid for all of it. Number of goods delivered from the Biden Administration: 0.”
After landing in Trump Force One, the former president spoke at the local fire department, showering the response from law enforcement and emergency services with praise. He also lauded the “strength and courage” of the residents telling them “You are not forgotten.”
“We stand with you,” Trump told the gathered crowd, “we pray for you, and we’ll stay with you in your fight to help answer and [get] accountability that you deserve.”
When asked if he had a message for Biden, Trump said simply:
“Get over here.”
Trump arranged the visit to the Ohio community after outcry grew from the response, or perceived lack thereof, from Biden and his administration.
While representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency such as Administrator Michael Regan told the local citizens to “trust the government,” Federal Emergency Management Agency leaders vacillated on whether or not Ohio qualified for federal aid only to reverse course once Trump announced his visit.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the recipient of massive criticism following the disaster, has yet to visit the community. He told the Daily Mail that he acknowledged “I could have spoken out sooner.” Buttigieg is set to visit the community on Thursday, one day after President Trump.
