(CLO) On Wednesday, Mr. Donald Trump stepped off the Boeing 757 bearing his name and then suddenly climbed into the passenger seat of a white garbage truck also bearing his name. The controversy related to his statements about "garbage" is very "hot" in the US election.
The former US president, a former reality TV star known for his acting skills, wanted to draw attention to a remark by Democratic President Joe Biden referring to Trump supporters as “trash”. Mr. Trump used the remark as a tool against his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“How do you like my garbage truck?” Mr. Trump said, wearing an orange and yellow utility vest over a white shirt and red tie. “This is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden,” he told a packed audience of reporters as he touched down in Wisconsin for a campaign stop.
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Video of Mr. Trump getting off the airport and getting on a garbage truck (source: AP)
Related to this “waste” issue, Mr. Trump and the Republican campaign previously faced opposition for comments from comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally over the weekend, who disparaged Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory) as a “floating trash island.”
Mr Trump has actually tried to distance himself from the comedian, whose joke sparked a social media firestorm. However, he has also said he does not need to apologize to Puerto Ricans because he had nothing to do with the remark, as he does not know Mr Hinchcliffe.
Mr. Trump sits on a garbage truck bearing his name as he lands at the airport in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA on October 30, 2024. Photo: AP
Mr Trump then turned the situation into an opportunity, seizing on a comment Mr Biden made late Wednesday in response to comedian Hinchcliffe's comment: "The only garbage I see floating around is his supporters."
The US president tried to clarify the comment, saying he intended to criticize comedian Hinchcliffe's support for Trump's denigration of Latinos and his comments about Puerto Rico being "floating trash", but it appears to have been too late.
On Thursday, after arriving in Wisconsin for an evening rally, Mr. Trump also climbed aboard a garbage truck and chatted briefly with reporters. He ended the brief appearance by telling reporters, “I hope you like the garbage truck. Thank you very much.” He then continued wearing his janitor’s uniform to attend a campaign rally in the battleground state.
Mr. Trump wore a janitor's uniform to a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA on October 30, 2024. Photo: AP
In the wake of the controversy, Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to distance herself from her comments on the “garbage” issue, telling reporters that she “absolutely” disagrees with criticizing people based on who they voted for.
Asked if she had spoken to the US president about his comments, Ms Harris said Mr Biden had called her on Tuesday night but the US president's "garbage" comments "were not mentioned".
Kamala Harris speaks out about President Joe Biden's 'trash' comments. Photo: AFP
“Look, I think, first of all, he clarified his comments, but let me be clear: I absolutely disagree with any criticism of people based on who they voted for,” Ms. Harris said on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.
The US Vice President also reiterated what she said during the election campaign, including that she would "represent all Americans" if elected.
Hoang Anh (according to CNN, Fox News, AP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lum-xum-vu-rac-thai-trong-bau-cu-my-ong-trump-vao-vai-lao-cong-ba-harris-co-tranh-xa-post319267.html
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