President Joe Biden is set to travel to East Palestine, Ohio, on Friday, marking his first visit to the site where a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caused a hazardous chemicals spill a year ago. The White House announced on Saturday that the president's visit aims to ensure that both state and local officials hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the incident.
East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, who holds conservative views and does not support President Biden, extended the invitation to the Democratic president, believing that his visit will bring positive attention to the community. The derailment, which occurred on February 3, 2023, led to the evacuation of thousands of residents in the area near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.
