One year on, Biden’s ‘consoler in chief’ reputation tested by East Palestine

More than a year after a toxic train derailment rattled the small community, President Joe Biden is making his highly anticipated trip to East Palestine, Ohio.

But with East Palestine’s Columbiana County being reliably Republican, Biden’s response has been criticized amid his promise to be a president for all of America.

Biden taking a year to travel to East Palestine is “surprising” and has provided Republicans with the opportunity to scrutinize him and his administration as residents continue to have concerns regarding their water, air, health, and even property prices, said David Cohen, University of Akron political science professor and Applied Politics program director.

“One responsibility of modern presidents is that they be consoler in chief, to speak to the American public during times of crisis and/or physically visit places where tragedies or disasters have occurred in order to show understanding and empathy to people who have been affected,” Cohen told the Washington Examiner. “The perceived delayed response by President Biden makes his role as consoler in chief less credible.”