President Joe Biden's attempt to explain why he hasn't visited the site of East Palestine, Ohio's train derailment has gone viral online, drawing much criticism.
The president was responding to a reporter's question regarding East Palestine, Ohio, which experienced a train derailment back in February that led to rail cars catching fire and authorities conducting a controlled burn at the site afterward, releasing substances such as hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air. The question came while Biden was visiting Live Oak, Florida, amid the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
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Biden claimed he hasn't "been able to break" because "I've got to go literally around the world." His comments aroused condemnation online.
"Joe Biden has spent 75 days on vacation the last 6 months, including 19 days in August alone," Republican National Committee Research Communications Director Tommy Piggott wrote in response to the video.
Joe Biden has spent 75 days on vacation the last 6 months, including 19 days in August alone. https://t.co/RFuH0y0JUl
— Tommy Pigott (@TommyPigott) September 3, 2023
"You’re literally going on vacation, AGAIN!" RNC spokeswoman Madison Gesiotto Gilbert wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Ohioans have given up on your supposed 'empathy' and visit to East Palestine."
You’re literally going on vacation, AGAIN! Ohioans have given up on your supposed “empathy” and visit to East Palestine. https://t.co/hwNoMGfZsn
— Madison Gesiotto Gilbert (@madisongesiotto) September 3, 2023
"Like ski trips and beach vacations?" Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) wrote. "Yeah you’ve been so busy."
Like ski trips and beach vacations? Yeah you’ve been so busy. https://t.co/RX5hOpXQ8u
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 3, 2023
"What an absolute garbage answer. East Palestine is a 1 hour flight from DC. You could drive it in five hours," user Radhee J. Shanker wrote "He has made the conscious choice to avoid the people of East Palestine, and there is a clear reason for this: because at this point they know he is a liar."
What an absolute garbage answer. East Palestine is a 1 hour flight from DC. You could drive it in five hours.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 3, 2023
He has made the conscious choice to avoid the people of East Palestine, and there is a clear reason for this: because at this point they know he is a liar. https://t.co/INAZ8O3Cci
"I would go to Ohio but I have to go check on India and Vietnam first so it's going to be awhile even though I just said I was thinking of going this week after 8 months and 23 days on the beach and dementia," podcaster Stephen Miller wrote.
I would go to Ohio but I have to go check on India and Vietnam first so it's going to be awhile even though I just said I was thinking of going this week after 8 months and 23 days on the beach and dementia. https://t.co/Sd0VI6oNaI
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) September 3, 2023
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The Bidens were initially slated to spend Labor Day weekend at their home near Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, so the president left for the beach from Florida. In addition to the president, Hunter Biden, his wife Melissa Cohen, their son Beau, and first lady Jill Biden are fresh from a vacation in Lake Tahoe while Congress was out of session last month.
Biden also recently visited Maui due to the wildfires that broke out on the island. The president was vacationing in Delaware when the fires first broke out in early August, and he waited two weeks before visiting the island.