Former President Donald Trump is amplifying his rhetoric with a dramatic show of defiance following a contentious remark by President Joe Biden, who referred to Trump supporters as “garbage.” In a bold campaign maneuver, Trump steps off his branded Boeing 757, crosses a rain-soaked tarmac, and climbs into a white garbage truck adorned with his name. Donning a neon-orange safety vest over his signature white dress shirt and red tie, Trump addresses the gathered crowd and press, quipping, “How do you like my garbage truck? This is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.”
This stunt follows Biden’s comment in which he reportedly called Trump’s supporters “garbage,” a statement the White House later attempted to clarify, saying Biden meant “supporter’s” with an apostrophe, referring to a singular possessive. However, Trump’s campaign swiftly used the remarks to fuel his narrative, alleging Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hold disdain for his supporters. The former president’s eye-catching stunt has sparked conversations and video reactions nationwide, underscoring his readiness to embrace theatrical campaigning.
Not to be outdone, tech entrepreneur and Trump supporter Vivek Ramaswamy mirrored Trump’s garbage truck stunt at a North Carolina rally. In a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ramaswamy drives a garbage truck, loading trash bins in a symbolic “taking out the trash” move. His accompanying caption reads, “America is ready for us to TAKE OUT THE TRASH in this election,” an allusion to removing what he and Trump label as political corruption and failed Democratic policies. Ramaswamy, like Trump, sees Biden’s comment as a pivotal talking point, rallying Republican voters who feel increasingly alienated.
In another display of campaign strategy and crowd engagement, Trump hosted a rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he declared confidently, “We’re going to win New Mexico!” Republicans haven’t carried New Mexico since 2004, yet Trump reassured his audience of his strategy to expand Republican appeal in states Democrats have historically dominated. Trump took this opportunity to live-poll the audience on preferred ethnic terms—“Hispanics” or “Latinos”—a move met with mixed reactions but reflective of his campaign’s focus on messaging that resonates with targeted communities.
The latest campaign events mark Trump’s intensified push to capture media attention through strategic and symbolic gestures, with his use of the garbage truck becoming a viral image. Analysts suggest Trump’s tactic effectively reinforces his portrayal as a champion of “everyday Americans” against an elitist opposition. Both he and Ramaswamy emphasize a narrative of “cleaning up America,” suggesting that Biden’s recent remarks may have given their campaigns fresh traction.
