PALESTINE, OH—On Wednesday, February 22, former President, Donald J. Trump, traveled to Palestine, Ohio to bring relief to those impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment. On February 3, approximately 50 railroad cars derailed, spilling 115,580 gallons of vinyl chloride.
Trump brought pallets of bottled water, food, and cleaning supplies to the residents after learning that their request to have a state of emergency declared was denied by the Biden Administration. He exited his plane at Youngstown/Warren Regional Airport to a cheering crowd of supporters shouting and chanting “We love you, Trump, Trump, Trump!” and “USA!”
He spoke to the crowd telling them, “You are not forgotten.” He reminded them that no one came to Ohio until after they heard he was coming. He recalled that initially FEMA was not called in for support. He chastised the Biden Administration for “Not taking action sooner.”
Trump gave tribute to those who have been a great support system to Ohioans in crisis including freshman Ohio Senator JD Vance and Fox News correspondent Tucker Carlson.
After his speech, the former POTUS bought McDonald’s for all of the first responders.
Following the February 3rd train derailment, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio wrote a letter to Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) encouraging him to request a state of emergency.
On February 16, DeWine’s office indicated he was in touch with FEMA daily since the accident, and “a request was made for assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Emergency Response Team and the CDC to provide on-the-ground assistance.”
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said:
“Secretary Buttigieg in my view, instead of engaging in politics should be focused on the job he has now and addressing the very serious transportation crisis we are seeing playing throughout the country.”
“USDOT will hold Norfolk Southern accountable for any safety violations found to have contributed to the disaster that has upended lives in East Palestine, OH. We respect the independence of NTSB’s investigation, and its findings will inform all of our actions going forward,” posted Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigied on Twitter.
Buttigieg arrived to the derailment site in Ohio on Thursday, February 23.
