President Joe Biden has been criticized for his lack of presence at the disaster site in East Palestine, Ohio, with the President attributing his absence to a packed schedule.
However, a recent report suggests that the President has been taking an unprecedented number of vacation days.
On Saturday, President Biden visited areas in Florida impacted by Hurricane Idalia, departing before 6 p.m. for his latest vacation at his residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The President's visit to Live Oak, Florida, located approximately 65 miles northeast of Keaton Beach where Hurricane Idalia made landfall, has raised questions about his absence in East Palestine.
During a press conference in Live Oak, the President was questioned about his decision to visit the Big Bend region of Florida, while neglecting the victims of the East Palestine train derailment disaster. In response, Biden stated, "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."
The President, aged 80, further explained, "I was thinking whether I'd go to East Palestine this week, but then I was reminded I've got to go literally around the world. I'm going from Washington to India to Vietnam. And so, it's gonna be awhile." He assured, however, that East Palestine was being provided with the necessary resources to address their issues.
On February 3, a freight train derailed in East Palestine, resulting in the spillage of toxic chemicals into the soil and waterways. Independent testing revealed alarming levels of carcinogenic dioxins in the area. Despite promising on March 2 to visit the disaster site "at some point," Biden has yet to fulfill this commitment 184 days later.
On the same day that Biden claimed his busy schedule prevented him from visiting East Palestine, a report emerged suggesting that the President has spent 40% of his presidency on vacation.
According to data calculated by the Republican National Committee and confirmed by The New York Post, "As of last Sunday, Biden has spent all or part of 382 of his presidencys 957 days or 40% on personal overnight trips away from the White House."
This record surpasses that of George H.W. Bush, who spent 36% of his presidency on personal trips, and significantly exceeds the percentages of Donald Trump (26%), Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama (11%), and Jimmy Carter (5%).
The President is expected to spend Labor Day weekend at his Delaware beach house. Earlier this month, Biden faced criticism for being on vacation and remaining silent about the deadly wildfires in Maui.
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