President Joe Biden found himself at the center of a political controversy after remarks made during a call with the non-profit Voto Latino were interpreted as a criticism of Donald Trump's supporters. Initially reported as Biden stating, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” his comments followed a rally where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, as an “island of garbage.” This remark led to significant pushback from the Republican Party.
In an effort to clarify, the White House released a transcript indicating that Biden's comment was directed solely at Hinchcliffe’s statements. “The only garbage I see floating out there is (Trump's) supporters…his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it's un-American,” the transcript read. Biden took to social media to further explain that he was referring to the “hateful rhetoric” at the rally as garbage, emphasizing that such comments do not reflect American values.
The fallout from these comments has drawn parallels to Hillary Clinton's 2016 remark that referred to "a basket of deplorables," when describing a portion of Trump’s supporters. In response, Trump criticized Biden for a lack of love for the American people, stating, “You can’t lead America if you don’t love the American people.”
The rally at Madison Square Garden, which sparked the controversy, has been characterized by Trump as a “love fest,” despite acknowledging that “somebody said some bad things.” However, he stopped short of issuing an apology, further inflaming sentiments among Puerto Rican communities and prompting outrage from Republican leaders, particularly in areas with significant Latino populations.
Despite being disenfranchised in presidential elections, the Puerto Rican population in the U.S. is significant, and many expressed their indignation over Hinchcliffe’s joke, asserting it is memorable. As tensions continued to escalate, Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic candidate following Biden’s withdrawal from the race, delivered a rally address in Washington D.C., urging voters to focus on unity rather than division amidst the ongoing election drama.
