Biden praises ‘Herculean efforts’ to rebuild at the site of last February’s Ohio train derailment

President Joe Biden on Friday surveyed the federal cleanup in East Palestine, Ohio, more than a year after an explosive fire following the derailment of a train loaded with hazardous chemicals and saw up close the lingering hostility from victims still angry that he waited so long to visit them.

The White House has said Biden was waiting for the right moment to make the trip. He visited after being invited by the village’s mayor.

Addressing residents, Biden said he wants them to understand “that we’re not going home, no matter what, until this job is done, and it’s not done yet.” He did not explain why he didn’t visit sooner nor did he address the community’s collective hurt.

He praised what he said were “Herculean efforts” and announced federal grants to study the short- and long-term effects of what happened.