One particular moment from former President Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally Sunday night is causing a stir. Before Trump took the stage, comedian and podcaster Tony Hinchcliffe was one of the speakers who addressed the crowd.
In his remarks, Hinchcliffe focused his attention on the United States territory of Puerto Rico.
“There’s a lot going on. I don’t know if you know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now,” Hinchcliffe said, “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
In response to the comedian’s comment, Trump campaign senior adviser Danielle Alvarez issued a statement saying, “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
Gov. Walz and @AOC react to this clip: “When you have some a-hole calling Puerto Rico ‘floating garbage,’ know that that's what they think about you. It's what they think about anyone who makes less money than them… I want every Puerto Rican in Philadelphia and Reading and… https://t.co/L5GdSvLJWT pic.twitter.com/y9DQTABM0v
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 27, 2024
Hinchcliffe’s comment drew instant criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, including the chairman of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico.
In response, prominent Puerto Rican figures including entertainers, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin all posted support for Kamala Harris on social media.