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Trump answers garbage truck’s questions as campaign hits back at ‘garbage’ comments

Posted on by Bobb
Trump answers garbage truck’s questions as campaign hits back at ‘garbage’ comments

Topline

Former President Donald Trump boarded a garbage truck Wednesday to answer questions from reporters and criticize President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris over a comment Biden made about what Trump supporters this week seemed to suggest that they’re trash, marking the latest comeback and forth between Trump, Biden and Harris, which was initially provoked by a comedian at Trump’s Sunday rally who joked that Puerto Rico was a “floating island of trash.”

Key facts

Wearing a reflective vest in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which he later wore to a rally there, Trump said the garbage truck he sat in, with his campaign slogan and American flag, was “in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.”

Trump, speaking about Biden’s comment this week in which the president appeared to call Trump supporters trash, said the president’s remark was “truly disgraceful.”

Biden made the comment in response to a remark made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at Trump’s rally on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, when Hinchcliffe described Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”

Biden said during a call with Latino voters this week: “The only trash I see out there are his supporters, his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable,” later at the White House trying to make it clear this remark and say it was directed at Hinchcliffe, not Trump supporters.

Trump distanced himself from controversial remarks Hinchcliffe made at his rally, telling reporters while still sitting in a garbage truck that he had never met Hinchcliffe and knew nothing about the comedian – although he did not directly condemn the Puerto Rican remark.

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Key background

Hinchcliffe and Trump got some backlash for the comedian’s comments Sunday as the Trump campaign said in a statement that the remark about Puerto Rico “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.” Hinchcliffe, A. comedian and podcaster who appeared on Comedy Central’s popular celebrity compilation, stood by himself despite the backlash and said critics “have no sense of humor.” Harris distanced herself from Biden on Wednesday, despite the White House’s attempt to clarify his comment by saying she strongly disagreed “with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.” However, she first noted that Biden had “clarified his comments.”

What to pay attention to

Wisconsin is one of seven key swing states that could decide the election. Recent studies show that Harris has slight advantage over Trumpbut many polls there and in other swing states are within the margin of error. Harris leads Trump by 0.7 percentage points in Wisconsin, according to FiveThirtyEight ratings survey weighted average.

Tangent

Trump’s appearance at the rally, an apparent effort to pay tribute to sanitation workers, came 10 days after he made his widely publicized announcement. appearance at McDonald’s in Pennsylvania prepares orders of French fries and hands out food to supporters at a gas station window. Video clips and images of Trump at McDonald’s went viral on social media.

Further reading

Harris on Biden’s ‘trash’ gaffe: ‘I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for’ (Forbes)

Biden tries to clear up ‘trash’ comment as Republicans say it insults all Trump supporters (Forbes)

Who is Tony Hinchcliffe? Comedian calls Puerto Rico ‘trash island’ at Trump rally (Forbes)