As the year drew to a close, President Joe Biden embarked on his 418th vacation day, jetting off to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a New Year's respite.
Meanwhile, the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, found themselves grappling with a starkly different reality.
The small town, home to approximately 4,700 people, is still reeling from the aftermath of a Norfolk Southern train derailment in February. The incident, as reported by Breitbart News, resulted in the spillage of 1.6 million pounds of hazardous chemicals, wreaking havoc on the local community.
Eight months on, the townsfolk feel neglected by the administration, particularly by President Biden, who had positioned himself as a champion of the working class during his campaign. Jessica Conard, a local resident, expressed her disappointment to New York Times reporter Erica L. Green. "I feel like I don't matter," she lamented, expressing her disillusionment with the president she had voted for in 2020.
Conard's sentiments were echoed by others in the community, who felt slighted by Biden's absence. The president's lack of attention to their plight has led many to view him as another member of the Washington elite, indifferent to their suffering.
Krissy Ferguson, who resides within a mile of the derailment site, voiced her suspicion to the New York Times. "I believe that it is political for him," she said, referring to Biden's absence. She speculated that the president's response might have been different had the incident occurred in a Democratic stronghold. "I believe that if we were in a blue area, he would have come, and that hurts," she added.
In March, Biden had stated his intention to visit East Palestine "at some point." However, when questioned about the matter in September, he admitted, "I haven't had the occasion to go to East Palestine." He cited his busy schedule as the reason for his inability to visit the town.
The closest Biden has come to East Palestine was in August when his flight to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, flew over the town. The president was en route to promote his economic agenda, dubbed "Bidenomics."
In stark contrast, former President Donald Trump visited the town just three weeks after the derailment. As reported by Breitbart News, he personally delivered truckloads of bottled water to the beleaguered community.
"President Trump is meeting with the citizens of East Palestine, and he will never forget them and what they are going through," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told Breitbart News during the visit.
Despite the criticism, the White House insists that Biden still plans to visit East Palestine. "The President continues to oversee a robust recovery effort to support the people of East Palestine, and he will visit when it is most helpful for the community," White House spokesman Jeremy M. Edwards was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
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