Ohio train derailment: Biden to visit East Palestine

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (NewsNation) — In his first visit to East Palestine since the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment, President Joe Biden on Friday said the incident was the result of corporate “greed,” but stopped short of making a disaster declaration.

“Norfolk Southern failed its responsibility,” said Biden. “We know, multimillion-dollar railroad companies transporting toxic chemicals have a responsibility to do it safely. And again, Norfolk Southern failed.”

Biden also defended his administration’s handling of the cleanup following the release of toxic chemicals in the derailment’s wake.

“My administration was on the ground within hours, working closely with the governor, the mayor, the senators, House members and community leaders to make sure you have everything you need. My administration ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the mess it created and ensure it was done right,” Biden said.

Biden announced six grants from the National Institutes of Health that will research and track the “short and long-term impacts” of what happened in East Palestine. It was not immediately clear if Biden was referring to environmental testing or health testing for residents.

NewsNation has been committed to investigating the fallout of the East Palestine train derailment over the last year. Here are the most recent updates:

Upon arrival, the president received briefings on the ongoing recovery efforts and spoke with members of the community.

Photo of the Norfolk Southern train derailment aftermath in East Palestine, Ohio, provided by Ashley McCullom.
FILE – In this photo taken with a drone, portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the previous night in East Palestine, Ohio, remain on fire at mid-day on Feb. 4, 2023. Lawyers and unions who represent rail workers say there is a clear pattern across the industry of railroads retaliating against workers who report safety violations or injuries on the job. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
FILE – This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio are still on fire at mid-day Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Regulators say Norfolk Southern has made improvements since a fiery Ohio derailment but still falls well short of being the “gold standard for safety” it is striving to be. The Federal Railroad Administration released a report on the railroad’s safety culture Wednesday, Aug. 9. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
FILE – Cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio, continues on Feb. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Smoke rises from a derailed cargo train in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 4, 2023. – The train accident sparked a massive fire and evacuation orders, officials and reports said Saturday. No injuries or fatalities were reported after the 50-car train came off the tracks late February 3 near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state border. The train was shipping cargo from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania, when it derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. (Photo by DUSTIN FRANZ / AFP) (Photo by DUSTIN FRANZ/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE – Norfolk Southern locomotives are moved in Norfolk Southern’s Conway Terminal, June 17, 2023, in Conway, Pa. Norfolk Southern has installed the first of what will be more than a dozen automated inspection portals on its tracks in Ohio — not far from where one of its trains derailed in February and spilled hazardous chemicals that caught fire. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
FILE – This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the night before in East Palestine, Ohio, still on fire at mid-day on Feb. 4, 2023. The railroad industry is trying to make sure that emergency responders can quickly look up what is on a train when they respond to a derailment. In the chaos after a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio in February, firefighters couldn’t find that information for roughly 45 minutes. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Biden has faced criticism for not visiting sooner, but the White House continues to assert Biden wanted to go when the “time was right.” The administration contends Biden avoided visiting immediately after the derailment to allow emergency crews to work, and they say federal assistance was swiftly provided.

Now, the White House aims to show they’re holding Norfolk Southern accountable and aiding the community in its recovery and progress forward.

A White House official told NewsNation, “The president pledged he would make Norfolk Southern clean up its mess in East Palestine, and his administration is delivering.”

Republicans have blasted Biden for not visiting sooner, and there are some enduring tensions in the community.

Biden’s visit coincides with the ongoing 2024 presidential campaign, which could potentially lead to a rematch with his 2020 challenger former President Donald Trump.

Weeks after the toxic train derailment, Trump visited East Palestine, criticizing Biden’s timing as an insult and suggesting he should have gone earlier, saying, “I can’t believe anyone wants him there.”

The county voted heavily in favor of Trump in 2020.

Many are questioning Biden’s timing, asking why he’s choosing to visit now. The White House has faced repeated inquiries about Biden’s visit to East Palestine.

When asked if Biden would drink the water in East Palestine, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not directly respond, saying, “I can say this, that the president has no concerns with drinking the water in East Palestine. The EPA is confident that the drinking water is safe.”

Some residents remain skeptical the drinking water is safe.

There is a continued expectation to hear specifics on how the administration plans to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and address the serious health issues facing the community in East Palestine. Ohio’s senators are advocating for the establishment of a disease registry to track and fund the long-term effects of the derailment.