Trump’s Garbage Truck Stunt Sparks Mixed Reactions Amid ‘Garbage’ Controversy

In a spectacle drawing both support and ridicule, former President Donald Trump arrived at his Wisconsin rally on Wednesday riding in a garbage truck emblazoned with his campaign logo. The unusual stunt was aimed at highlighting his grievance over President Joe Biden allegedly referring to Trump supporters as “garbage.”

Trump’s camp took the opportunity to visually punctuate their reaction to the comment — even as controversy lingers around what Biden actually said. The dispute centers around remarks Biden made on a campaign call, which were interpreted by some to label Trump’s supporters as “garbage.”

However, the White House later clarified that Biden’s comment was directed at the rhetoric of right-wing comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who had caused backlash by describing Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden. The comedian’s comment sparked outrage, further stirring a political firestorm.

Trump appeared delighted with his exhibition, addressing reporters from the truck while donning an orange safety vest. “Two hundred fifty million people are not garbage,” he declared. The source of this figure remains unclear, as it far exceeds the number of people who voted for him in the 2020 election.

MAGA supporters on social media hailed the stunt as another example of Trump’s flair for theatrical campaigning, with some calling him a “genius” for leaning into the “garbage” controversy. However, reactions from the left were markedly different, with many commentators expressing both amusement and confusion over the spectacle, questioning why Trump would continue to stoke a controversy that may not be working in his favor.

“Hold the f— on… did Donald Trump actually cosplay as a garbage man, in an actual f—ing garbage truck, while taking questions from the press about the speaker at HIS rally, who said Puerto Rico was garbage?” tweeted political commentator “JoJoFromJerz.”

Progressive journalist Aaron Rupar commented on the irony, saying, “As Americans are outraged by someone at his rally who compared Puerto Rico to garbage, Trump thought it would be cute to take questions from a gigantic garbage truck.”

Others noted the humorous and somewhat surreal quality of the display. National security attorney Bradley Moss joked, “It takes some real ‘let’s just do it and be legends’ thinking to stick Trump in a damn garbage truck,” adding, “I’m sorry, everyone else saw him straight up miss the door handle and nearly fall over, right?”

Further poking fun at the stunt, commentator Art Candee observed, “Donald Trump, in an orange vest sitting in a garbage truck (?), says he doesn’t know anything about Tony Hinchcliffe, the comedian who told horribly racist jokes at his disastrous rally at Madison Square Garden. All of this is super weird & desperate.”

“Right Wing Cope,” an account known for highlighting embarrassing moments within the GOP, added, “Trump, shortly before calling Kamala Harris unwell, nearly busted his ass while trying to get in a garbage truck. The stable genius is stable geniusing again.” Trump’s garbage truck appearance is emblematic of his willingness to lean into spectacle, even when it risks backfiring.

While some supporters see it as a clever, symbolic gesture pushing back against perceived insults from Biden, critics argue it is another instance of Trump drawing unnecessary attention to controversies that could harm his image. As Election Day approaches, the stunt underscores the unconventional tactics Trump is willing to employ to engage his base — and the wide range of reactions these tactics provoke across the political spectrum.