Joy Behar suggested on Thursday that residents of East Palestine were getting what they deserved — or at least what they had voted for — in the wake of the disastrous train derailment that occurred nearly three weeks earlier.
In the days since the derailment and crash — involving a number of cars that were carrying toxic materials — residents have worried that chemicals seeping into the ground and fumes from subsequent fires could introduce those toxins into the air and water supply for months or years to come.
But as Behar stated on ABC’s “The View,” because former President Donald Trump favored deregulation across most industries and those residents overwhelmingly voted for Trump, they were simply seeing the natural result of their own choices.
WATCH:
Joy Behar says the residents of East Palestine got what they deserved because they voted for Trump.
"That's who you voted for!" she shouted at the camera. "In that district. Donald Trump, who reduces all safety. He did in those days." pic.twitter.com/brMUQfthQj— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) February 23, 2023
The conversation began with co-host Sunny Hostin, who first praise Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for not going to East Palestine until nearly three weeks after the train derailed. She claimed that it was obvious he was doing “the work” rather than simply going for a photo op.
Hostin then attacked former President Trump — who showed up in East Palestine a day ahead of Buttigieg with trucks full of supplies and clean drinking water in tow — suggesting that his visit reminded her of the time he threw paper towels to people in Puerto Rico and was just for show. Co-host Sara Haines pushed back, saying that if the people needed water, it shouldn’t matter who was bringing it in.
Behar then pivoted to attack Republicans, claiming that airlines were only safe because the government regulated them and mandated safety standards. “Otherwise where are we?” she asked. “We’re all going to go up in flames.”
Republican host Alyssa Farah Griffin pointed out that Norfolk Southern had lobbied both Democrats and Republicans for looser regulations — and had donated quite a bit to President Joe Biden’s campaign — but Behar was adamant.
“That’s who you voted for, in that district,” she said, pointing her finger at the camera. “Donald Trump, who reduces all safety. He did, in those days.”