WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden found himself quickly clarifying remarks after Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, accused him of labeling Trump supporters as “garbage.” The controversy stemmed from Biden’s response to offensive remarks made at a Trump campaign rally, where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe had referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” sparking backlash.
During a fundraising call, Biden said, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s – his – his demonisation of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American,” according to a transcript. Following a misinterpretation of his statement, Biden clarified on social media: “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporters… That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
Trump and his allies seized on the comment, drawing parallels to Hillary Clinton’s infamous 2016 “deplorables” remark. Trump, trailing Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by a single percentage point in the polls, said on X, “You can’t lead America if you don’t love the American people.” His running mate, JD Vance, criticized Biden’s response as divisive, while defending Hinchcliffe’s remarks as “not something to be so easily offended by.”
The November 5 election is shaping up to be tightly contested, with both campaigns keenly aware of the potential impact of such heated exchanges on voter sentiment.