After President Joe Biden labeled Trump supporters as “garbage,” President Donald Trump responded in a unique way — by joining a sanitation crew in Wisconsin. Trump’s ride-along highlighted his support for everyday Americans and was a direct jab at Biden’s controversial comment.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "How do you like my garbage truck? This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden." pic.twitter.com/7UwMZ8syvx
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 30, 2024
In a playful but pointed moment, Trump addressed reporters from the passenger seat of a garbage truck. “How do you like my garbage truck? This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden,” he said, while wearing a safety vest. In a separate video from Air Force One, Trump looked into the camera and firmly stated, “250 million people are not garbage.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I have to begin by saying, 250 million Americans are NOT "garbage!" pic.twitter.com/cxOQ8ji0OK
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 30, 2024
The controversy started during a Zoom call Tuesday night, when Biden, responding to a comedian’s joke, said, “The only garbage I see floating out there are his supporters.” The backlash was swift, with many drawing comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” comment from 2016. Critics called Biden’s words dismissive and disrespectful toward millions of Americans who support Trump.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tried to mitigate the fallout by clarifying that Biden “was not speaking about Trump supporters as a whole.” However, the damage appeared done, with Trump turning the incident into a symbolic moment of solidarity with his base.
https://t.co/1JybikjOC2 pic.twitter.com/PEzlrCyRj7
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 30, 2024
Trump’s decision to join the garbage crew resonated with many supporters, who praised him for standing with working-class Americans. The gesture not only mocked Biden’s remarks but also reinforced Trump’s ongoing appeal as a defender of the ordinary citizen against political elites.