In a high-energy display, former President Donald Trump arrived at his Wisconsin rally on Wednesday night riding a MAGA-branded garbage truck. His entrance appeared to be a jab at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris following a week of heated exchanges that have disrupted the final stretch of the presidential campaign.
Upon his arrival in Green Bay, Trump leaned out of the truck window to address reporters, answering questions on the tarmac before proceeding to the rally. The event took place in Wisconsin, a key battleground state, where Trump was joined by NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre.
Favre, a retired quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, voiced his support for Trump, telling the crowd, “Just like the Packers, Donald Trump and his team are winners. The United States thrived under his leadership. I can assure you, we’re not garbage,” he said, adding that the audience was made up of hardworking Americans, including teachers, police officers, and students. “You are the heart and soul of this country,” he concluded to loud applause.
Taking the stage in an orange reflective vest, Trump quickly followed with his own remarks, declaring, “I have to start by saying, 250 million Americans are not garbage.” He continued, “Kamala and Joe call us that, but I call you the heart and soul of America. You built our country.” His statement elicited a strong response from the crowd, who cheered in agreement.
Trump, who was neck-and-neck with Biden in the Wisconsin polls, aimed to underscore his stance on Biden’s comments from earlier in the week, which Trump interpreted as disparaging his supporters. “How do you like my garbage truck? This truck is dedicated to Kamala and Joe Biden,” he told reporters. Trump went on to call Biden’s remarks “a disgrace,” while Biden’s team has since clarified the statement, stating it referred specifically to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s offhand comment about Puerto Rico, which Hinchcliffe referred to as a “floating island of garbage.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at a separate event in Wisconsin, did not directly address Trump’s criticism but has since worked to distance herself from Biden’s controversial remarks.
Trump’s truck, emblazoned with his campaign logo and an American flag, was a striking image as he leaned out the window to take questions from the press. When asked about his relationship with Puerto Rico following the comedian’s remarks, Trump responded, “I love Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico loves me. I don’t know anything about a comedian’s comment.” He added, “Nobody has done more for Puerto Rico than me.”
As one of the closest elections in recent history comes to a head, Wisconsin remains a critical state, with both candidates making last-minute appeals in hopes of swaying undecided voters.
