To explain away why the Biden administration hasn’t rushed to the scene of the major train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and note why former President Donald Trump is so eager to visit this week, two journalists appeared on CNN to characterize the town as “Trump country.”
New York Times reporter and CNN analyst Maggie Haberman called the town part of a “Trump-plus 20 district” on Wednesday morning, noting that the former president is merely going there to capitalize on good publicity.
In the afternoon, CNN senior national correspondent Miguel Marquez characterized the region as “hardcore Trump country” to explain away some of the negative reactions to U. S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s handling of the train derailment disaster.
Buttigieg has received a torrent of criticism for having not yet visited the site of the catastrophic train derailment. Responding to the accusations of his inaction, the federal official eventually admitted he “could have spoken out sooner” on the catastrophe.
He will reportedly visit East Palestine on Thursday.
Meanwhile, former President Trump is visiting the devastated town on Wednesday. Haberman took shots at his trip during her appearance on “CNN This Morning” prior to Trump touching down in the Ohio town.
CNN anchor Poppy Harlow prompted the discussion, saying, “Let’s switch gears here, because former President Trump is going to Ohio today. East Palestine, to be specific, the site of the toxic train wreck in a county where he won more than 70 percent of the vote in 2020… the transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg hasn’t been yet. Trump capitalizing on that?”
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