They Are Laughing at You
As we stumble toward the results of the 2024 election, we know that there will be a myriad of stunts before November 5. A rally in Madison Square Garden. A speech at the Ellipse. We are prepared for the show to really ramp up as it approaches its season finale. What we can’t always prepare for are the unexpected detours. A last-minute guest star that steals the spotlight. An older cast member that returns to foment a bit of chaos. Who knows what horrors will befall us in that final week?
On Sunday, the Trump campaign held a closing message event at Madison Square Garden; it was dark in tone and rhetoric. Each speaker gave a dystopian view of the United States. But the real news was a comic who made a distasteful (and not funny!) joke about Puerto Rico (in addition to other groups). He is a shock comic, so it shouldn’t shock us when he is true to form. However, he didn’t seem to get the message that he was at a political rally instead of a stand up night at the local comedy club, and Puerto Ricans were justifiably outraged at having their island referred to as a “floating pile of garbage”. The reaction was swift by stars like Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez. Even the Trump campaign had to walk it back a bit, and that almost never happens.
On Tuesday, the Harris campaign held their closing message event at the Ellipse in front of the White House; it is a notorious place now, as we recognize it from the images of January 6. This event had a more hopeful, brighter tone. Vice President Harris gave a speech where she tried to reach across the aisle and make sure people who don’t vote for her could still be heard. She ended with the idea of America’s promise. And then President Biden went on a Zoom call where he had a word salad that seemed to indicate he was calling Trump supporters garbage. Now, we can agree or disagree on his intent, but the message quickly lit the right-wing media on fire with grievance.
The Trump campaign, never one to miss an opportunity, jumped on this immediately. J.D. Vance spent time telling us to be outraged after he had just told us that we were too sensitive on Monday. Trump, being Trump, needed to make it a spectacle. So, he donned his darkest contouring makeup and his jolly neon orange and green vest, and took three attempts to open a garbage truck door and climb in. I’m not sure I get the metaphor. He’s taking out the garbage? He likes that his supporters are seen that way? What is happening?
Never one to be outdone, Vivek Ramaswamy also got in on the action; in his little green vest, he rode around on the back of a garbage truck before channeling all of his outrage as well.
The garbage comment dominated the media cycle on Wednesday, even as Trump has referred to left-leaning voters as “scum” and the “enemy within”. It’s hard not to think that the campaign was delighted at Biden’s last-minute gaffe. What a way to bring people together.
What’s fascinating about all of this is that Trump’s supporters love when he does things like this. They love when he dons an apron and “serves” fries at McDonald’s. They love when he gets in his big garbage truck and vrooms around the parking lot for a bit before keeping the vest on for the rally. They think it’s funny and “owns the Libs”. He’s funny! He’s laughing with them!
But, the thing is: he’s not.
Do we really think that a billionaire who has never faced a hardship can relate to those that do service jobs? How about Ramaswamy with his tech-bro persona and piles of money? Can they really understand what it is to pick up trash or serve fries from the drive-thru window? Of course they can’t. But it’s not just about relating. They are literally treating these jobs like a joke. They are a photo opportunity and a way to express more grievance. They don’t respect these workers. They aren’t on the side of labor. They are simply using these real jobs as a little prop in their side show.
It’s all funny to them. The idea of having to work those types of jobs is so below where they see themselves. Elon Musk is offering a “lottery” for those that sign his petition. He thinks it’s hilarious to offer money to desperate people. It’s nothing to him. They are only a means to an end of lower taxes and deregulation.
So, as we reach the end of this cycle, it is important to remember that the idea of Trump and his surrogates being on the side of the working class is laughable. That’s why the jokes were told at MSG. That’s why they engage in the cosplay as “real” Americans. It’s like dressing up on Halloween and then returning to the real world the next day. No empathy. No fighting for workers to have more rights. No thoughts on where those workers get healthcare or what costs they have to cut this month. It’s all just a big funny side show.
As Vice President Harris presented her pitch to the American people, one of her points stuck with me: aren’t we tired of this? Exhausted even? Aren’t we ready to turn the page? Can we live in a world where we don’t constantly hear about the antics and chaos? I suppose we will have to wait for the season finale on Tuesday to see what the next stage looks like. I hope it’s one that’s a little more joyful and a little less mean.
