It’s as if the entire US election campaign has turned into a dumpster fire…
The chaos began on Sunday when a comedian, serving as a warm-up act at Republican candidate Donald Trump’s (78) New York rally, insulted Puerto Rico by calling it a floating trash heap. Outrage soon erupted, with Puerto Rican stars like Jennifer Lopez (55) and Ricky Martin (52) slamming the offensive joke.
Biden’s Blunder Sparks Backlash
Amid the uproar, President Joe Biden (81) weighed in, intending to condemn the offensive remark. However, in the heat of his response, he ended up referring to Trump supporters as “trash.”
The comment was a massive blunder, and suddenly the Democrats found themselves in the hot seat. Biden had inadvertently insulted nearly half the country, leaving the party vulnerable to criticism. Top Democratic candidate Kamala Harris (60) quickly moved to distance herself from Biden’s gaffe, while Trump, who had been under fire himself for the Puerto Rico jokes, seized the opportunity.
Trump Turns the Tables with “Trash Truck” Stunt
Trump wasted no time making the most of the situation. Ahead of a planned rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, he pulled off a dramatic stunt, arriving in the passenger seat of a garbage truck emblazoned with “Make America Great Again” slogans.
From the open window, Trump grinned as he launched into an impromptu press conference. “How do you like my trash truck? This truck is dedicated to Kamala and Joe Biden,” he said, taking a sharp jab at Biden’s comment. “It’s a disgrace the president said that!” he added.
Dressed in an orange safety vest, which he continued to wear during his rally, Trump denied knowing comedian Tony Hinchcliffe (40), the source of the controversial Puerto Rico joke. “I love Puerto Rico! And Puerto Rico loves me! I know nothing about this comedian,” he insisted.
The garbage truck, decked out with American and Trump flags, then rolled away.
Trump’s Latest Stunt: Fast Food Showdown
This wasn’t Trump’s first time breaking up the bitter campaign with theatrics. Recently, he served fries at a McDonald’s, poking fun at Harris’s story about a supposed summer job at the fast-food chain. Democrats denounced it as a “political stunt,” but videos of Trump handing out fast food quickly went viral.
Democrats on the Defensive as Election Day Approaches
With just five days to go until Election Day, the Democrats find themselves on the defensive. Biden’s slip is already being compared to Hillary Clinton’s (77) 2016 blunder, when she called Trump supporters “deplorables”—a comment that proved politically costly.
Now, Trump hopes Biden’s gaffe will deliver a similar blow to the Democrats’ campaign.