Donald Trump was ahead in the polls early last year, but his numbers were stuck at around 42 or 43 percent, just 10 points ahead of Ron DeSantis, who had not yet launched his campaign.
Then a train carrying dangerous chemicals derailed in rural Ohio—Trump country.
The former president knew what to do. He took his campaign to Eastern Palestine. So, while the federal government was accused of reacting slowly, the former president handed out red MAGA hats, popsicles and a message.
“What this community needs now is not excuses and all the other things you’ve been hearing, but answers and results,” he told his audience at the local fire station.
Insiders say that was the day, February 22, that he secured the Republican nomination for the 2024 elections.
Former President Donald Trump delivered water and extensive media attention to the people of East Palestine, Ohio, on February 22 of last year.
The drone photo shows parts of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed outside the East Palestine town last year.
“That’s quintessential Trump,” said Chris LaCivita, a senior campaign adviser.
And he reminded everyone what he does. And that’s when we saw the first real separation.
Within a week, Trump’s lead was up to 16 points and he never looked back.
The place is in the news again. President Joe Biden will finally visit the country, more than a year after the disaster, and residents say they still need help to rebuild their community.
Back then, frustrations in East Palestine, with its population of nearly 5,000, were even greater, fueled by anger after the 150-car Norfolk Southern Corp. train derailed.
Democrats said the problems arose from railroad deregulation under Trump. Republicans wanted to know why they were still waiting for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to visit three weeks later, and why the president had prioritized a trip to Europe over the crisis in rural Ohio.
Locals simply wanted to know about the dangerous chemicals, including the carcinogenic vinyl chloride, that were leaching into the soil and air.
What they got on the day of Trump’s visit was attention.
“Have fun, everyone,” he told fans after signing autographs at a McDonald’s where he bought Big Macs for first responders.
He toured the area with state and local leaders in a motorcade, giving the impression of a presidential visit.
Trump flew to East Palestine on Trump Force One three weeks after massive chemical spill
Trump speaking to residents of East Palestine, Ohio, during his visit last year
Trump handed out pallets of his own branded water to residents after streams were contaminated
President Joe Biden will visit East Palestine on Friday, more than a year after the disaster.
And the He used the occasion to deploy his well-known politics of grievances not to rebuke his personal opponents but to speak up for people in need.
“The community has demonstrated the tough and resilient heart of America,” he said.
‘That’s what it is… this is really America right here. We are standing in the United States.
“Unfortunately, as you know, in too many cases your kindness and perseverance were met with indifference and betrayal.”
Josh Martin, whose father-in-law’s ice cream shop was used as a staging area for the former president, said it was exactly the morale boost the community needed.
“I think people knew it wasn’t going to change things overnight for him to show up here,” said Martin, assistant superintendent of the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
“The streams, the water were not going to be cleaned nor the air going to be purified overnight, but at least there was a national figure who was here, willing to lend his support and his name to the cause.”
A large plume of smoke rises over East Palestine, Ohio, last year after a controlled detonation of a portion of a derailed Norfolk Southern train to burn dangerous chemicals.
This is crucial territory for Republicans with presidential aspirations. Ohio may no longer be the political swing state it once was, but a strong showing here is vital for Republicans hoping to win the White House.
And at times Trump’s speech veered much further into rally territory rather than communal pep talk. As he thanked the staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he couldn’t help but boast that he had a “great relationship” with them when he was president.
There was also a digression about how Trump saved Ohio State’s football season with his response to COVID-19 and a phone call to the head of the Big 10 football conference asking him to resume games.
“I called the commissioner and he did a good job,” he said.
But the point, LaCivita said, was that he reminded forgotten parts of the country that he was their champion.
“Here’s a part of the country that’s just being ignored,” he said. “And that’s not how it’s supposed to be.”