Social media commentators have raised concerns over Donald Trump's health after footage emerged of the Republican presidential candidate climbing into a campaign-branded garbage truck.
In Wisconsin on Wednesday, Trump was filmed getting into the truck while wearing an orange fluorescent safety vest, an apparent response to President Joe Biden appearing to call his supporters "garbage" earlier this week. The footage was taken during a campaign stop, and Trump later wore the fluorescent vest to a rally in Green Bay.
A seven-second clip was shared on X by Matt McDermott, a pollster who works on a range of progressive causes as senior vice president of Whitman Insight Strategies. It shows Trump reach toward, and appearing to miss, the garbage truck door before briefly looking unsure on his footing.
McDermott captioned the video: "Trump seems to be really struggling physically."
Trump seems to be really struggling physically. pic.twitter.com/yRk7ZB2kDx — Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) October 30, 2024
Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign for comment on Thursday by email outside of regular office hours.
McDermott's post went viral on X, racking up more than 7,900 reposts and 3.7 million views.
Responding to the clip, attorney Jeffrey Evan Gold, who has provided legal analysis on CNN, said: "Just gave right out there. I don't think he's going to pass the physical for the garbage job but at least he's trying."
Posting from her satirical "Mrs. Betty Bowers" account, Canadian comedian Deven Green wrote: "He's deteriorated so much that he now moves like a drunk."
Donald Trump holding a press conference from inside a trash hauler at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport on October 30, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A video of Trump getting into the garbage truck,... Donald Trump holding a press conference from inside a trash hauler at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport on October 30, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A video of Trump getting into the garbage truck, and appearing briefly unstable, went viral. More Chip Somodevilla/GETTY
Former NBA basketball player Rex Chapman also responded to the footage commenting: "Will this lead any networks this evening??"
The Art Candee X account, which has 114,000 followers on the platform, added: "Donald missed that massive door handle? He's not well."
Stuart Stevens, a political consultant and author of The Conspiracy to End America, posted: "The irony is that no city or state could hire Donald Trump as a garbage man, given he's a felon out on bail awaiting sentencing."
Other commentators commended Trump for his move on social media.
Posting on X, Breitbart News reporter Alana Mastrangelo said: "Joe Biden calls millions of Americans 'garbage.' The next day Trump gets picked up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, by a garbage truck. He's playing chess. They're playing checkers."
The popular "Libs of TikTok" account, run by Chaya Raichik, posted: "I love how the media are forced to cover Trump in a garbage truck. They must be losing their minds."
On Tuesday, Biden appeared to call Trump supporters "garbage" in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe labeling Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" at the former president's Madison Square Gardens rally on Sunday.
Speaking to Newsweek, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates insisted Biden was targeting the "hateful rhetoric coming out of the Madison Square Garden rally," rather than referring to Trump supporters collectively.
Addressing the media from the garbage truck, Trump compared Biden's comment to Hillary Clinton labeling "half" his supporters a "basket of deplorables" in 2016, branding the comment "a disgrace."
During his rally in Green Bay, Trump joked that his campaign team persuaded him to wear the orange vest by saying it made him look thinner.
The Republican nominee said his initial reaction to the suggestion was "no way," but they replied: "If you did, you know, it actually makes you look thinner."
Trump added: "They got me. I said, 'I want to wear it on stage'. I may never wear a blue jacket again."
Where Did Donald Trump Ride in the Garbage Truck?
Trump climbed into the garbage truck during a campaign stop at Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wisconsin, prior to a rally at the city's Resch Center.
The former president, wearing the fluorescent orange vest, sat in the passenger seat as the truck was driven across an area of tarmac.
Addressing reporters, he asked: "How do you like my garbage truck? This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden."
Update 10/31/24 09:04 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.
moldivore on October 31st, 2024 at 17:08 UTC »
He's physically and mentally incapacitated. He cannot be in control of our nations military. He's weak.
RoachBeBrutal on October 31st, 2024 at 17:08 UTC »
trump is in steep mental and physical decline. He is too old and too weak to lead.
CaptainNoBoat on October 31st, 2024 at 17:04 UTC »
Trump wanted to keep Biden's comments in the news, but instead - it just reminded everyone of MSG, and now we have what appears to be some sort of blackout drunk Oompa-Loompa in a safety vest trying to open a truck door.