Joe Biden finally reacted to comments recently made about Puerto Rican and Latino communities by Tony Hinchcliffe at Donald Trump's Madison Square rally. Tony Hinchcliffe had called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage' as a 'joke' at the rally, among other racial jokes about the Latino communities.
This comment by Tony Hinchcliffe has faced ire from not only Democrats but several Republicans and Puerto Rican celebrities like Ricky Martin and Bad Bunny as well.
In his recent speech, Joe Biden referenced Hinchcliffe's speech and defended Puerto Ricans, saying they’re “good, decent, honorable people.” Biden went on to say that:
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his (Trump's) supporters – his – his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”
The White House quickly worked to clarify Biden's remarks, with spokesperson Andrew Bates explaining that Biden was criticizing the “hateful rhetoric” at the rally, not Trump’s supporters.
Anticipating political fallout, Biden addressed the issue directly on social media. He wrote on X, saying he was only referring to “hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico” heard at Trump’s rally, calling it “garbage” and asserting that such remarks don't reflect American values. He wrote:
"Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don't reflect who we are as a nation."
However, Biden’s comment quickly drew comparisons to Hillary Clinton's 2016 “basket of deplorables” remark, which labeled some Trump supporters as holding prejudiced views. This statement became a rallying cry for Trump supporters, who saw it as proof of Democratic elitism and disdain for their values.
How did Trump's camp react to Joe Biden's comments?
Trump’s campaign seized on Biden's words, claiming it showed Democrats’ disrespect for Trump’s diverse supporters—including Latinos, Black voters, union workers, and law enforcement. Campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt argued:
“There’s no way to spin it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don’t just hate President Trump, they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him.”
Trump's running mate, JD Vance, also voiced his anger at Biden's comments on Trump's supporters by writing:
"This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country. There's no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it."
Trending
In the past two weeks, Biden has sparked controversy again, potentially overshadowing Harris’ message of unity. During a campaign event in New Hampshire, Biden remarked, “We need to lock him up,” before quickly clarifying that he meant “politically lock him up” and “lock him out.” This statement ignited backlash from conservatives online, who interpreted it as evidence of the Justice Department being misused against Trump.
Reply
