Trump's trash truck stunt: Mocking biden, defending Puerto Rico
Donald Trump, the former President of the USA, appeared in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he unusually mocked Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. After disembarking from a private plane, he donned a bright orange reflective vest, climbed into a garbage truck, and addressed the journalists: "How do you like my garbage truck?"
10:02 AM EDT, October 31, 2024
As reported by the "Independent," the upcoming election day has provided both candidates an opportunity to address racist comments about Puerto Rico made during Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden. A comedian called this US territory a "floating island of garbage." The remark sparked controversy and became a focal point in the campaign.
"I don’t know anything about the comedian. I don’t know who he is. I’ve never seen him. I heard he made a statement, but it was a statement that he made. He’s a comedian, what can I tell you. I know nothing about him," Trump said, sticking his head out the garbage truck's window. "I love Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico loves me. Nobody’s done more for Puerto Rico than me. I took care of them when they had the two hurricanes. And nobody gets along better with Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican people than me. They love me and I love them," he stated.
Trump, attempting to shift focus from the scandal, commented on Biden's slip-up, accusing him of labeling Trump's supporters as "garbage."
Reaction to "garbage" remarks
The controversy began with a performance by right-wing comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, known for the "Kill Tony" podcast, at Trump's rally.
Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico—an associated US territory—as a "garbage island." He also claimed that Latinos "love to make babies" and used stereotypes about African Americans and Jews in his jokes.
"The only garbage I see floating out there is [Trump's] supporter’s… his demonisation of Latinos is unconscionable, and it's un-American," Biden said on Tuesday during a Zoom videoconference with the Latino organization Voto Latino.
Biden's words caused a stir among Republicans. Commenting on the statement, Senator Marco Rubio said, "He's talking about Border Patrol, nurses, teachers, everyday Americans who love their country." Meanwhile, Trump's campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, "There’s no way to spin it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don’t just hate President Trump; they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him."
On Tuesday evening, Biden clarified on platform X that he referred to the hateful language towards Puerto Ricans, not Trump voters, as "garbage." "Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage - which is the only word I can think of to describe it," he said.
