Former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine, Ohio on Wednesday, where he delivered truckloads of bottled water following a train derailment earlier this month that left the small town awash in toxic chemicals.
The incident resulted in about half of the town’s population being ordered to evacuate. While residents have since been told they are allowed to return to their homes, many are still concerned and want answers — but Biden and Buttigieg are nowhere to be found, reported Breitbart's Alana Mastrangelo.
Both President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg have yet to visit East Palestine, despite the train disaster having occurred nearly three weeks ago.
And the entire Trump visit looked like the 2016 Trump was back on the campaign trail fighting for the forgotten little guys in America’s heartland.
"To the people of East Palestine and to the nearby communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, we have heard you loud and clear,” Mr. Trump, wearing his signature “Make America Great Again” hat, said during brief remarks at the local fire department reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “You are not forgotten. We stand with you."
“What this community needs now are not excuses,” Trump said. “Norfolk Southern needs to fulfill their obligations. It means the affected communities beyond (East Palestine’s) borders will be taken care of.
“If they don’t come back and give you the treatment you need, we’ll be back,” reported WTOV9.com.
John Rourke, the CEO of Blue Line Moving, which transported the pallets of water to East Palestine, told Breitbart News the company moved 13 pallets of water, which comes to over 14,000 bottles for the small town.
“Joe Biden/Pete Buttigieg stay away! The real President is here taking care of American Citizens. Make sure those Ukrainian pensions are take care of,” Rourke told Breitbart News.
Ohio’s 21 WFMJ reported former President Trump was joined by Senator J.D. Vance, Valley Congressman Bill Johnson, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, Ohio state Senator Michael Rulli and his son, Donald Trump Jr.
During his visit, Trump addressed the village residents, calling the situation a "tragedy" and assured residents that they are "not forgotten" and praised officials such as Johnson, Vance and Mayor Conaway for their handling of the derailment.
In his remarks Trump criticized Biden’s Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg charging that "he should have been [in East Palestine] a long time ago."
"He was supposed to come today, but he heard I was coming today and he postponed it. But whenever he comes he has to do his job," Trump said.
The former president also criticized President Biden and FEMA for not sending federal aid to the village claiming that they "changed their tune" when he announced he was visiting. East Palestine Fire Chief, Keith Drabick thanked Trump for his visit and praised his firefighters as well as neighboring fire departments for their help.
“Unfortunately, as you know, in too many cases your goodness and perseverance were met with indifference and betrayal in some cases,” Trump said. “And Biden and FEMA said they would not send aid to East Palestine under any circumstance.”
“When I announced that I was coming, they changed their tune. It was an amazing phenomenon,” he continued, later adding that he “opened up the dam and we got them to move.”
Pittsburgh’s WTAE 4, reported crowds of East Palestine residents were joined by visiting supporters of former President Trump, standing for hours in the rain to get their glimpse of his passing motorcade during his visit to the town on Wednesday. Some got an even closer look.
"We are here in East Palestine to show love and support for our fellow Americans in this hour of need," Mr. Trump said in his afternoon appearance. After shaking hands with people lining a street before his speech, he praised the town’s police chief, mayor and other officials for doing “incredible work.”
"I sincerely hope that when your representatives and all of the politicians get here, including Biden, they get back from touring Ukraine, that he's got some money leftover," Trump said before departing East Palestine on Wednesday.
"He definitely checked out the creek behind where all the contamination is right now. And then he walked the whole creek and then he came over a little bit. Don Jr. is here," Crystal Nackall, of East Palestine, Ohio, told Pittsburgh's Action News. "We all chanted USA to him, and he gave us a thumbs up as he pulled up."
"I wanted to see Trump. I wanted to see Trump, our next president, hopefully," said one visitor who traveled from West Virginia.
"I think it's amazing that he's here. I think it will give East Palestine a peace of mind and hope that somebody cares, because he does care," Theresa Hoon-Willsey, an East Palestine resident.
Before departing East Palestine Trump also made an impromptu stop at the local McDonalds to order a “nice array” of food. “I know this menu better than you do. I probably know it better than anybody in here,” Trump told the McDonald’s employees before indicating that he would take care of meals for the town’s police and fire departments, and everyone in the restaurant.
Tucker Carlson summed-up our take on the event telling his viewers to “treat yourself” to footage of the ex-president deftly handling the cashier’s counter at a McDonald’s.
“Whatever you think of Donald Trump, when he’s unleashed in a crowd of people, he’s unbelievable,” Carlson said of the former president. “If you haven’t seen the tape of him ordering in McDonald’s in East Palestine, treat yourself.”
“He wows everyone in the room. Again, you don’t have to love Trump to know he’s really good at this. And it’s real. He feels it. That’s why he’s so good at it.”
Yup, the 2016 Trump was back on Wednesday, and even CNN had to admit “Trump’s visit to Ohio derailment scene poses risk for Biden”.
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Trump visit East Palestine
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