In the hotly contested U.S. election, interactions between political figures are often filled with drama. Recently, an unusual scene became the focus of media and public discussion: former U.S. President Donald Trump rode in a garbage truck in response to incumbent President Joe Biden’s “garbage theory”. This behavior not only sparked a lot of discussion on social media, but also became a landmark event in the election.
Event Background
According to the latest news, at an Oct. 27 rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, comedian Sinclair (Sinbad) described Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a speech. Two days later, Biden mentioned at an online event that the Puerto Ricans he met in Delaware were kind, decent and respectable, said the only trash he saw were Trump supporters, and criticized Trump’s demonization of Latinos as unconscionable and un-American. CNN said Biden’s comments gave Trump a “godsend”. Originally, Trump himself has a lot of controversial statements, but Biden’s statement is to help Trump get rid of the controversial hot spots.
Rather than remain silent, Trump responded to Biden’s comments in a visually stunning way, wearing a sanitation worker’s orange undershirt and plunging into a garbage truck emblazoned with his name and the “Make America Great Again” logo after flying into the Midwestern battleground state of Wisconsin on October 30th. He sat in the passenger seat and asked a reporter if he had any questions. He sat in the passenger seat and asked reporters, “What do you think of my garbage truck?” He said the garbage truck was a tribute to Harris and Biden.
Trump then rode the garbage truck directly to a campaign rally in Wisconsin and wore this orange undershirt throughout the rally. At the rally, he said, “I must begin by stating that 250 million Americans are not trash.” He defended his supporters by saying they are “much higher quality than Joe Biden who distorts the truth and Kamala Harris who lies.”
For his part, Harris was quick to disassociate himself from Biden’s comments. The Wall Street Journal said Harris 30 days at Joint Base Andrews in an interview with reporters, Biden has “clarified his remarks”, she personally “strongly opposed to any criticism based on who the voters voted for, I will be the president of all Americans “. Biden’s comments caught Harris’ allies off guard and upset, according to the report. Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro told CNN that campaigns shouldn’t attack supporters of another candidate, “I certainly wouldn’t say something like that”.
The race between the two candidates has intensified as the election approaches. Trump’s ride in the garbage truck is undoubtedly a direct counter to Biden’s comments and a satire of the current political climate. This incident is not only a symbol of the contest between the two candidates, but also a microcosm of political polarization and social division in the United States. Trump’s behavior, undoubtedly a famous scene in the election, not only demonstrates the fierce competition between the candidates, but also reflects the new trend of modern political communication.
The impact of this incident goes far beyond the argument between the two candidates. It touched on deeper issues of free speech, political correctness, and how politicians communicate with the public. Trump’s garbage truck action may be seen as a new tactic of political communication and may become a new normal in future political campaigns. Regardless of the ultimate effect of this act, it has become an indelible part of the history of the election.
In future retrospect, this scene may be seen as a turning point in the 2024 U.S. election, and may become a case study in the history of political communication. It serves as a reminder that in the age of digitalization and social media, every action and statement made by a political figure can be amplified and disseminated, thus having a profound impact on public opinion. Trump’s behavior of riding in a garbage truck undoubtedly added more uncertainty and drama to the election, and provided a window for global observers to study American politics and culture.
Ultimately, regardless of the outcome of the election, this event will be recorded in history as an indelible memory of the American election. It is not only a moment in Trump’s personal political career, but also an iconic scene in American political history. As the dust settles from the election, we may be able to see more clearly the far-reaching impact of this event on American politics and culture.