The View host Joy Behar left the audience in disbelief as she took a dig at the residents of East Palestine, Ohio as they struggle to recover from a toxic train crash. A train carrying chemicals derailed at the start of the month, leaving locals fearing for their health and homes. But Behar questioned Ohio residents for their voting record as she suggested their support for Donald Trump – who delivered major cuts in safety measures – could have played a role in the incident.
Both in the 2016 and the 2022 presidential elections, a majority of the state cast a vote for Trump.
The View presenter said: “I don’t know why they would ever vote for him, somebody who, by the way, he placed someone with deep ties to the chemical industry in charge of the EPA’s chemical safety office.
“That’s who you voted for in that district — Donald Trump, who reduces all safety.”
The live studio audience could be heard gasping after Behar’s comment. And her former co-host Meghan McCain took to social media to rage at the “evil” dig.
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McCain, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump who used to serve as the conservative panellist on the show, slammed the comment as “evil” as she raged on social media.
McCain said: “The people of East Palestine are currently in fear that they and their children will be getting cancer or worse from the derailment toxins in their land and water.
“This is just an evil thing to say. I would say I can’t fathom this level of cruelty and elitism but sadly… I can.”
iHeart presenter Buck Sexton accused the presenter of “psychotic contempt” towards Trump supporters as he hit out at Behar’s comments.
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Behar’s comments came after Donald Trump personally headed to East Palestine to meet with residents.
The former president donated a dozen of pallets of water and cleaning supplies to the community as he insisted the country would keep on supporting them.
He said: “You are not forgotten. We stand with you. We pray for you. And we will stand with you and your fight to help ensure the accountability that you deserve.”
Despite reassurances from authorities, residents have expresses concerns about drinking water from local wells and have reported experiencing headaches, dizziness and coughing blood since the train crash.
They also lamented the federal government has not been forthcoming with financial support to aid affected families and businesses.
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