Joe Biden’s historical visit to Ukraine did not sit well with his political opponents. Among them, most notably was former president Trump, who visited the East Palestine area a day after Biden met with Zelenskyy.
However, many saw this move as nothing but political propaganda. Among those in the crowd was Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who criticized the previous government for loosening safety rules.
Now, Buttigieg is under an investigation by House Republicans. In response, Buttigieg tweeted, “I am alarmed to learn that the Chair of the House Oversight Committee thinks that the NTSB is part of our Department.”
He added, “Still, we will fully review this and respond appropriately.”
Trump visited the area on Wednesday when he told the community they are “not forgotten.”
He continued, “We’re standing in America,” which many took as a dig at Biden, who was out of the country.
Before he took the stage, Trump’s volunteers handed out hats, flags, and other political materials, including “Trump water.”
Still, Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio said, “Leaders show up.” He added that Biden “hasn’t been here, and that is sending a big signal to this community that the administration just really doesn’t care, and that’s the message that they are receiving.”
Biden responded, “I have spoken with every single major figure in both Pennsylvania and Ohio, so the idea that we’re not engaged is simply not there.”
In the meantime, Buttigieg called out the former President, saying, “One thing he can do is express support for reversing the deregulation that happened on his watch.”
Trump’s administration overturned numerous rules Obama’s administration placed to keep safety measures at bay.
Some say that this disaster was not preventable, but Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, disagrees.
Homendy also said, “I don’t understand why this has gotten so political. This is a community that is suffering. This is not about politics. This is about addressing their needs and their concerns. That’s what this should be about.”
The political showdown did no good to those in affected areas. People are experiencing health issues and concerns, but there are still no answers to how extensive the damage really is. Neither do residents of the affected area know what their future will look like. At least not for now.
The costly clean-up is Norfolk Southern’s responsibility, and the EPA promised they would pay. But, apart from showing up, what are politicians doing to help the residents? They are already losing business, and false information from political parties and social media do not help.