Former President, Donald Trump paid a visit to the village of East Palestine on Wednesday in reference to the recent train derailment disaster.

Trump was joined by J.D. Vance, Valley Congressman, Bill Johnson. East Palestine Mayor, Trent Conaway, Ohio Senator, Michael Rulli and his son, Donald Trump Jr.

During his visit, Trump addressed the village residents, calling the situation a "tragedy" and assured residents that they are "not forgotten" and praised officials such as Johnson, Vance and Mayor Conaway for their handling of the derailment.

The former president also criticized President Biden and FEMA for not sending federal aid to the village claiming that they "changed their tune" when he announced he was visiting.

Despite these statements, the U.S. EPA has been at the site monitoring air and water and the NTSB is investigating the derailment long before Trump had announced his visit.

Senator Vance also took the stage stating that cleanup efforts are far from over, and even months down the line, that East Palestine residents can't be forgotten even after these efforts are done.

"There will be a rebuilding effort. We need to finish the cleanup effort, that's the most important thing, but most of all we need to make sure that over the next six months, over the next year, over the next two years, that we don't forget the people of East Palestine who have been affected by this tragedy," Vance said.

Mayor Conaway praised fire officials not only from East Palestine, but neighboring communities who came to help during the derailment as well.

"The firemen saved this city. If it wasn't for them, this could have been a very different situation if we didn't have such quality firemen behind us," Mayor Conaway said.

Congressman Johnson took the stage stating that he believes this tragedy has made East Palestine stronger as a community.

"I have stood and watched and participated as this community has come together. I'm convinced that recovery is on the way. I believe that this community is not only going to recover, but they're going to be stronger than they were when they started," Johnson said.

Finally, East Palestine Fire Chief, Keith Drabick thanked Trump for his visit and praised his firefighters as well as neighboring fire departments for their help.

"I can't thank not only my men and women who did such an amazing job, but also the neighboring departments that came in to help us. Pennsylvania, multiple counties in Ohio [and] one resource out of West Virginia. Together we worked as a unified team to get this situation under control where we are and I can't thank those first responders enough," Chief Drabick said.

When asked about criticisms from folks like U.S. Department of Transportaiton Secretary, Pete Buttigieg and Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project regarding cuts to railroad regulations, Trump responded by telling local media he had "nothing to do with it."

Trump went on to criticize Buttigieg stating that "he should have been [in East Palestine] a long time ago."

"He was supposed to come today, but he heard I was coming today and he postponed it. But whenever he comes he has to do his job," Trump said.

Despite Trump's assertations that he did not have anything to do with the derailment, White House spokesman, Andrew Bates released a statement criticizing Trump claiming that Obama era railroad regulations could have prevented the accident.

The full statement reads as follows:

"Congressional Republicans and former Trump Administration officials owe East Palestine an apology for selling them out to rail industry lobbyists when they dismantled Obama-Biden rail safety protections as well as EPA powers to rapidly contain spills.” 

"Congressional Republicans laid the groundwork for the Trump Administration to tear up requirements for more effective train brakes, and last year most House Republicans wanted to defund our ability to protect drinking water."

"There is only one way they can prove that they are finally disowning their long history of giveaways to rail industry management at the expense of communities like East Palestine: work across the aisle with us to put Obama-Biden protections back in place and go further, including with higher fines for rail pollution and properly equipping the EPA.”