In an attention-grabbing stunt, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump found himself in the spotlight again—this time, inside a garbage truck. The former president, dressed in a high-visibility vest, attempted to climb into a dump truck on the tarmac of Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport, Wisconsin, as part of a campaign aimed at resonating with working-class voters. However, the spectacle did not sit well with many labor advocates, including the Durham Workers Assembly, a prominent worker group in North Carolina.
The Durham Workers Assembly, which advocates for working-class rights in the Southern U.S., criticized Trump’s stunt, calling it a “slap in the face” to genuine working-class Americans. “A billionaire sleazeball acting like he is a worker is beyond gross,” they posted, urging workers to unite against what they called “MAGA fascism.” The organization pointed out that Trump’s appearance in the garbage truck was just one in a series of similar stunts, including a previous event where he flipped burgers and worked a fryer at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.
As Trump sat inside the garbage truck, he addressed reporters with a pointed remark aimed at his Democratic opponents, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: “How do you like my garbage truck? This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.” The Durham Workers Assembly took to social media to highlight that the event marked a trend in the Trump campaign, showing the billionaire “acting like he is a worker.”
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Adding fuel to the criticism, billionaire and Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy staged a similar event, arriving at a campaign stop in Charlotte, North Carolina, aboard a sanitation truck. This move was also criticized by workers’ groups, who see these stunts as a far cry from the reality faced by working-class Americans, especially those struggling with stagnant wages and limited benefits.
The garbage truck scene unfolded shortly after Biden responded to comments made at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, where a comedian labeled Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Addressing the offensive remark, Biden’s retort suggested that Trump’s demonization of certain groups was “garbage.” Republican leaders swiftly seized on Biden’s remarks, fueling further tensions between the two campaigns.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, winning the favor of the working-class voter has become central for both parties. However, a notable split remains: many major unions, including the United Auto Workers (UAW), have endorsed Harris, while others, like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, have yet to offer formal support for any candidate. Speaking on behalf of the UAW, President Shawn Fain urged unity among workers against Trump, referring to him as a “scab” and asserting that unions engage in political action to champion economic and social justice.
Meanwhile, Harris has strengthened her appeal to labor advocates by selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. A former public school teacher, Walz has consistently criticized Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, for their alleged detachment from working-class interests. Walz emphasized that “the only thing those two guys know about working people is how to work to take advantage of them.” Known for his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance has frequently come under scrutiny for his portrayal of the poor and marginalized, and his comments in 2024 have further cemented his controversial stance.
During a rally Thursday, Walz addressed Trump’s dump truck stunt and took aim at the former president’s tariff plans. “This dude’s nearly 80 years old. He damn near killed himself getting in a garbage truck,” Walz quipped. His speech also highlighted opposition from CEOs who warn that Trump’s tariff proposals would ultimately raise consumer prices.
