Doocy on Biden's East Palestine Excuse: 'So, He Was Not on a Break When He Was in Lake Tahoe?' (September 5, 2023)

Seven months after a toxic train derailment upended East Palestine, Ohio, President Joe Biden still had not gone. Asked why, he said: “Well, I haven’t had the occasion to go to East Palestine. There is a lot going on here, and I just haven’t been able to break” [2].

Three days later, Fox News’ Peter Doocy put that excuse to the White House. “The derailment was on February 3rd. President Biden has not had a break since February 3rd?” he asked press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. When she promised a visit, he cut in: “So, he was not on a break when he was in Lake Tahoe?” [1][3]

The video above shows the exchange from the Sept. 5, 2023, White House briefing. Quotes are from the official transcripts published by the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”I Just Haven’t Been Able to Break”

Biden gave the answer on Sept. 2, 2023, while touring damage from Hurricane Idalia in Live Oak, Florida. A reporter reminded him of his own promise: “You had said in March that you would go to East Palestine, Ohio. You came here. How come you haven’t gone to East Palestine yet?” [2]

After saying he had not “been able to break,” Biden explained his calendar. “I was thinking whether I’d go to East Palestine this week, but I then was reminded I’ve got to go literally around the world. I’m going from Washington to India to Vietnam to—and so I—it’s going to be a while,” he said [2].

“But we’re making sure that East Palestine has what they need materially in order to deal with their problems,” he added [2].

”Not on a Break When He Was in Lake Tahoe?”

Doocy’s question went straight at the excuse. Jean-Pierre answered with a promise, not a date. “The President will go to East Palestine. He promised that he would, and he will. You saw him —” she began, before Doocy asked about Lake Tahoe [1].

“I will say this again: The President is going to go to East Palestine, as he has said that he is committed to do,” Jean-Pierre replied. She pointed to Biden’s Florida trip: “You saw him just this Saturday visit a rural area — right? — that was devastated — some parts were devastated by Hurricane Idalia” [1].

Then she repeated it a third time. “So, the President is going to go to East Palestine. I don’t have a time or a — or a date to announce at this time, but he will go,” she said [1].

The Lake Tahoe Vacation

Doocy’s point was on the record. On Aug. 18, 2023, the White House announced that “the President and the First Lady will travel to Lake Tahoe, Nevada where they will remain over the weekend,” leaving Monday for Maui to see the impact of “the devastating wildfires” there [4].

By Aug. 26, the pool reporter was writing from outside “the gated Glenbrook community where the president has stayed for his weeklong vacation on the Nevada side.” Biden was “expected to return to Washington tonight,” the report said [5].

”Too Old”

Moments before the East Palestine question, Jean-Pierre had been asked about Biden’s age. “Why do you think it is that, in a Wall Street Journal poll, two thirds of Democrats think President Biden is too old to run again?” [1]

“Look, here’s what I know. Here’s what I can speak to. I can speak to that — a president who has wisdom. I can speak to a president who has experience,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

Trump Went in February

Former President Donald Trump did not wait. He arrived in East Palestine on Feb. 22, 2023, toured a river still being treated with filtration machines and brought thousands of bottles of water for residents, Spectrum News reported. “19 days ago, tragedy struck this wonderful village and rocked the lives of people throughout this area, along with beyond this area,” Trump said [6].

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, traveled with him and took aim at the railroad’s cleanup. “They threw the railroad tracks basically the next day over when they should have been cleaning that site,” Vance said [6].

That evening, Biden was in Poland. According to the White House, “The President made five calls this evening from Warsaw” for updates on East Palestine [7].

By the Numbers

19 days: from the derailment to Trump’s visit [6].
211 days: from the derailment to Biden’s “haven’t had the occasion” answer.
378 days: from the derailment to Biden’s visit on Feb. 16, 2024 [8].
38: rail cars that derailed, 11 of them tank cars carrying hazardous materials [9].
5: tank cars of vinyl chloride that were vented and burned [9].

What Happened Next

Biden finally went. On Feb. 16, 2024, more than a year after the crash, Biden visited East Palestine. “You’ve been through hell,” Biden said after thanking Mayor Trent Conaway. “Let me be clear: While there are acts of God, this was an act of greed that was 100-percent preventable,” he said [8].

Investigators said the burn was unnecessary. On June 25, 2024, the National Transportation Safety Board found that a defective wheel bearing caused the derailment. The decision to vent and burn the vinyl chloride cars “was based on incomplete and misleading information provided by Norfolk Southern officials and contractors,” the NTSB said, and “the vent and burn was not necessary to prevent a tank car failure” [9].

Biden left the race. On July 21, 2024, Biden announced he would not seek reelection, writing that “it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down” [10].

For the White House’s first answers on East Palestine, see HYGO News’ page on Jean-Pierre and the East Palestine mayor.