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President Biden still has no plans to visit residents of East Palestine, Ohio, after a toxic chemical spill there caused by a train derailment nearly three weeks ago, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday — one day after former President Donald Trump traveled to the state.
In response to repeated questions, Jean-Pierre reiterated that Biden, 80, has made no travel arrangements, but is “getting briefed pretty regularly” and taking the situation “very seriously.”
“He offered federal assistance and directed his team to stay on top of this,” the press secretary said. “At this time, I don’t have anything to read out or announce on travel to Ohio.”
Biden was criticized by Republicans and East Palestine’s mayor earlier this week for traveling to Ukraine to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of that country rather than visiting the site of the domestic disaster.
Trump, 76, went to East Palestine on Wednesday to meet with residents affected by the Feb.
