Advertisement

Donald Trump climbs into garbage truck in stunt to call out Biden, Harris

Click to play video: 'Trump drives MAGA trash truck at rally in response to Biden ‘garbage’ gaffe'
Trump drives MAGA trash truck at rally in response to Biden ‘garbage’ gaffe
At his Wisconsin rally on Wednesday, former U.S. president Donald Trump responded — both literally and figuratively — to a recent gaffe by President Joe Biden in which he mistakenly called Republican supporters 'garbage.'

Donald Trump, no stranger to trash talk, climbed into a garbage truck decked out with his campaign decals Wednesday, an apparent response to President Joe Biden appearing to call his supporters “garbage” earlier this week.

The day-before-Halloween cosplay took place during a campaign stop in Wisconsin. Trump departed his private plane in Green Bay and, donning a bright orange safety vest, shakily climbed into the sanitation vehicle, which was labelled with Trump’s “Make America Great Again!” slogan.

Speaking to press who had gathered at the photo op, Trump asked, “How do you like my garbage truck?” adding that it was “in honour of Kamala (Harris) and Joe Biden.”

He proceeded to say the president “should be ashamed of himself.”

Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump holds a press conference from inside a garbage truck at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport on Oct. 30, 2024 in Green Bay, Wis. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

In case you’re confused, Trump was reacting to Biden’s response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at the former president’s Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend.

Story continues below advertisement

When addressing the racist joke Tuesday, Biden appeared to turn the insult back on Trump’s supporters, calling them “garbage” during a Zoom call with a Latino voters organization.

“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s – his – his – his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American,” Biden said on the call, although the president later walked back the comment and clarified that he meant to target “the hateful rhetoric” against Latinos seen at Trump’s Sunday rally in New York City.

The White House, too, has attempted to clean up the mess, insisting Hinchcliffe was the sole target of Biden’s comments. They pointed to a transcription of the call, with showed Biden saying “supporter’s” – in singular – not “supporters.”

Click to play video: '‘We’re not garbage’: Trump supporters call out Biden gaffe, WH clarifies context'
‘We’re not garbage’: Trump supporters call out Biden gaffe, WH clarifies context

Harris also addressed the Biden comments on Wednesday, telling reporters, “I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.”

Story continues below advertisement

“I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not,” Harris said at a campaign stop at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. “And as president of the United States, I will be a president for all Americans, whether you vote for me or not.”

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

As for Trump, he doubled down on the assertion that he did not know Hinchcliffe or how he got booked for Sunday’s rally.

“I don’t know anything about the comedian. I don’t know who he is. I’ve never seen him,” Trump said from the cab of the garbage truck. “He’s a comedian, what can I tell you? I know nothing about him. I don’t know why he’s there.”

Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump speaks to the media at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport on Oct. 30, 2024 in Green Bay, Wis. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Biden’s comment, regardless of intent, has given Republicans plenty of fodder for outrage and became a talking point that spilled over into Wednesday’s rally in Green Bay.

Story continues below advertisement

“I can assure you, we’re not garbage. How dare you say that,” said Brett Favre, the former quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, who appeared on stage in support of Trump.

“Looking out, I see police officers, teachers, nurses, grandparents, students. I see everyday Americans that make this country great.”

Click to play video: '‘Nobody loves’ Puerto Rican community ‘more than I do’: Trump indirectly references MSG joke scandal'
‘Nobody loves’ Puerto Rican community ‘more than I do’: Trump indirectly references MSG joke scandal

Trump, still wearing the high-vis safety vest, went on at length about his garbage truck stunt.

“One of my people came in and said, ‘Sir, you know the word ‘garbage’ is the hottest thing right now. Out there, the hottest thing out there. Sir, would you like to drive a garbage truck?” Trump said. “They pulled up this garbage truck. I don’t know how the hell they did it so fast. I have very capable people. They put a big sign on the truck. Did you see it?”

Story continues below advertisement

He also spoke about the garbage truck driver’s looks – “He looked like Cary Grant in his prime” – and shared that he was worried about his ability to climb up into the truck (at one point, he appeared to grab at, and miss, the door handle a couple of times).

“I said, ‘Man, if I don’t get up there, this is going to be very embarrassing.’ These stupid people, they’ll say he’s cognitively and physically impaired,” Trump told the Wisconsin crowd. “So the stair, the first stair’s like up here. I’m saying, sh-t – so I had the adrenaline going, and I made it.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices