Dressing like a sanitation worker and even climbing into the cab of a garbage truck, US presidential nominee Donald Trump aimed to convince voters in battleground state Wisconsin on Wednesday that Democrats consider those who support him to be “garbage.”

This spectacle followed a verbal gaffe by Joe Biden the night before, which the president claimed was meant to criticize a comedian for his racist comments during a large rally Trump held at Madison Square Garden over the weekend.

Trump and his allies have taken Biden’s words to argue that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is not sincere in her promise to be a president for all Americans, including those who do not support her. Speaking in Green Bay, a Republican-leaning area in a closely contested state, Trump opted for a reflective orange vest instead of his usual suit jacket as he addressed a packed arena of red-hatted supporters.

“I have to begin by saying 250 million Americans are not garbage,” Trump declared at the start of his nearly 90-minute speech. He did not clarify how he calculated the 250 million figure, which seems to approximate the US population minus those who voted for Biden in 2020.

“This week, Kamala has been comparing her political opponents to the most evil mass murderers in history, and now, speaking on a call for her campaign last night, crooked Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called them garbage. No way!”

The big picture

Biden’s gaffe, one of many during his nearly four years in office, complicates Harris’ campaign, especially after she sought to win over Latino voters following comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s comment at the Madison Square Garden rally, describing Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean.”

Puerto Rican stars Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin have since voiced their support for Harris, while reggaeton singer Nicky Jam, who has ties to the island, withdrew his endorsement of Trump in response to the remarks.

Biden inadvertently provided the GOP with a new line of attack when he said during a Tuesday evening Zoom call with a Latino voter organization: “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s – his – his – his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.” The President later clarified that he intended to criticize “the hateful rhetoric” against Latinos at the Madison Square Garden event, but the Trump campaign insisted he was insulting those who voted for the former president.

Earlier on Wednesday, Harris defended her position, stating, “I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they voted for.” The vice president has been focusing on outreach to moderate Republicans and independents and has campaigned alongside Republicans who have distanced themselves from Trump.

However, at the Green Bay rally, Biden’s comments dominated the conversation.

“I can assure you, we’re not garbage. How dare you say that?” stated Brett Favre, the former quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, who received a warm reception from the crowd.

“Looking out, I see police officers, teachers, nurses, grandparents, students. I see everyday Americans that make this country great.”

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Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson, who has withstood numerous attempts by Democrats to unseat him, remarked, “He called you garbage, but, let’s face it, that’s not the first time the Democratic leaders have told half of Americans what they thought about them.” He referenced Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment shortly before her loss in the 2016 election.

While he had condemned Biden over the "garbage" comment at a rally in North Carolina earlier that day, Trump turned to political theatrics in Green Bay, stepping off his private plane wearing the orange vest and hopping into a garbage truck with “Trump” written in blue letters on the side.

Later in the arena, the 78-year-old expressed his concern about climbing the steep steps into the truck, noting that if he fell, it would be caught by “all the fake news” waiting on the tarmac. “The first stair’s like, up here, and I’m saying, shit,” he told the crowd. “So I had the adrenaline going, and I made it.”

When questioned while sitting in the truck’s cab, he declined to apologize for Hinchcliffe’s comments about Puerto Rico, insisting, “I don’t know anything about the comedian. I don’t know who he is. I’ve never seen him. He’s a comedian, what can I tell you? I know nothing about him. I don’t know why he’s there.”

Harris distances herself from Biden following 'garbage' comment

US reports published on Wednesday suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris has minimized joint campaign appearances with President Joe Biden in the final days of her election push, especially following his controversial comment that seemed to describe Trump supporters as "garbage."

The remarks, which Biden later tried to clarify, have reignited concerns that the outgoing President's public missteps may undermine Harris' election chances, especially as she seeks to project a unifying message.

Since bowing out of the White House race in July, 81-year-old Biden has supported Harris on the campaign trail, promoting his administration's achievements.

However, US media reports indicate that Harris's campaign has opted to keep Biden at a distance, even politely declining his offers for additional joint appearances.

The 'garbage' controversy