- Pete Buttigieg said he will visit the site of the train derailment that released hazardous material into East Palestine, Ohio on February 3
- Suggested that Trump’s upcoming trip to the small town is just a photo-op
- The Transportation secretary’s trip comes in response to intense backlash after neither Buttigieg or Biden visited the derailment site for nearly three weeks
Pete Buttigieg revealed Tuesday he will go to East Palestine, Ohio after intense backlash ensued when he did not visit – and President Joe Biden instead headed for Ukraine in the aftermath of a train derailment releasing hazardous materials in the community.
East Palestine’s mayor, Trent Conaway, tore into President Joe Biden’s trip to Ukraine in the midst of the derailment, claiming his refusal to focus on domestic issues and instead parade around in the war-torn Eastern European country was a ‘slap in the face.’
Buttigieg, however, downplayed the need for an administration official to come survey the damage and visit the community disrupted by the toxic derailment.
He also suggested that former President Donald Trump’s upcoming trip to Ohio on Wednesday is just a photo-op as part of his 2024 campaign again bidding to take the helm at the White House.
The derailment on February 3 spewed toxic chemicals into the community and caused residents to complain of headaches and other symptoms.
“Ever since I came into this job I have seen the power that multibillion dollar railroad companies wield and they fight safety regulations tooth and nail. That's got to change. The future cannot be like the past…” — @SecretaryPete on Ohio train derailment. pic.twitter.com/pDW9oVCJKx
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 21, 2023
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg said that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the agency which is responsible for investigating civil transportation accidents, should be able to work independently to address the mishap without his presence.
‘I am planning to go and our folks were on the ground from the first hours,’ he insisted to Good Morning America on Tuesday when asked why he has not visited East Palestine in the 18 days since the derailment.
He did not give a timeline for when he will make it to the ground of the disaster.