Vivek Ramaswamy took to the streets on Wednesday to join Sanitation workers In CharlotteNorth Carolina, saying: “We are not the trash, we take out the trash.” His appearance was a pointed response to recent comments from President Joe Biden, who called Trump's base “trash” in a phone call with Latino supporters.
In a statement, the gesture was accompanied by a statement: “America is ready for us to take out the trash in this election.” He also promised to deliver that message at an upcoming Trump campaign rally.

At the Charlotte rally, Ramaswamy further amplified his message, bringing a sanitation worker on stage to highlight what he described as the dedication of “real” American workers.
“I drove around with Leo today. He would be better at leadership than at least half the mayors or governors in this country,” Ramaswamy said in a follow-up post.

Trump boards garbage truck
Ramaswamy's act came hours before a similar move by Donald Trump, when he climbed into a garbage truck during a rally in Wisconsin. Trump, wearing a high-visibility vest, sat in the passenger seat and addressed reporters with a joke: “How do you like my garbage truck?” This is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.”

Trump also referenced comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's recent controversial joke about Puerto Rico, made at a Trump rally, in which he described the territory as “a floating island of trash.” Biden defended Puerto Ricans during a virtual event, making it clear that he was condemning that rhetoric and not Trump supporters themselves. Still, Trump seized on Biden's words and compared them to Hillary Clinton's 2016 “basket of deplorables,” which became a rallying cry for Republicans.
Biden's faux pas and Kamala's reaction
President Biden later clarified his words, explaining that his use of “garbage” referred solely to the comments made at Trump's rally. “The only garbage I see circulating out there is the hateful rhetoric against Puerto Rico and Latinos,” Biden said on social media. However, Biden's clarification did little to stem the backlash, and Republicans seized the opportunity to express their perceived contempt for Trump supporters.
Vice President Kamala Harris tried to defuse tensions by discussing the incident in her own campaign messages. “I object to any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” she noted, reaffirming her commitment to representing all Americans. However, the damage had already been done, and the comparison to Clinton's “deplorable” comment brought back memories of the 2016 presidential election.