On Tuesday afternoon, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump delivered a campaign speech in front of what appears to be an enormous pile of garbage. For the record, Trump’s chosen speaking venue is located at the Alumisource plant in Monessen, Pennsylvania, which the company built in 1980 to supply “specialized raw materials, material processing and blending solutions to the aluminum and steel industries.” So, what the New York real estate mogul is actually standing in front of is a wall composed of metal tubing, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other recycled goods. Technically, it isn’t trash.
Not that this distinction would ever convince everyone on social media, which mostly ignored the details of Trump’s economy-focused speech. Instead, everyone with a Twitter handle and access to CNN, Fox News, Right Side Broadcasting or any other news outlet willing to carry the feed, spent their time pondering whose bright idea Trump’s placement and backdrop were.
Who chose the backdrop for this speech? pic.twitter.com/04Oeb4jF2w
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 28, 2016
Who told Donald Trump it was a good idea to speak in front of an actual wall of garbage? pic.twitter.com/e72txR0Iq5
— Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) June 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Rob_Flaherty/status/747858001520922624
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/747859431799554048
“Mr. Trump needs a backdrop.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“It’s gotta be on-brand. Obviously.”
“A giant pile of garbage?”
“Genius.”— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) June 28, 2016
Some responded with disbelief.
https://twitter.com/JasonKirkSBN/status/747862986581172225
While the majority relished the opportunity to celebrate the televised, metaphorical garbage fire.
Trump speech, close up and wide view pic.twitter.com/letXbWTYI7
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 28, 2016
Is this backdrop advance success or failure? pic.twitter.com/nJpAxMlN45
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) June 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/AndrewKirell/status/747858372108632064
Much to Oscar's surprise pic.twitter.com/gry9IC2cXM
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) June 28, 2016
someone spark this shit pic.twitter.com/BMcjVldpUN
— Jared Keller (@jaredbkeller) June 28, 2016
I keep waiting for Wall-E to show up and dump a cube of garbage on Trump.
— The Rude Pundit (@rudepundit) June 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/747861030336892928
https://twitter.com/kashanacauley/status/747859841406861313
So… does someone light the garbage behind Trump on fire after the speech? I'm assuming it's performance art, no?
— Jackie Kucinich (@JFKucinich) June 28, 2016
A few even offered guesses about what Trump would do to up the ante at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Considering that GOP organizers are struggling to plan the contested event, the Donald will need to do something drastic.
https://twitter.com/petersuderman/status/747863188973068288
Check out the entire speech below.