A Trump-allied comedian’s controversial comments at a recent rally in New York have sparked bipartisan outrage and backlash from prominent Puerto Rican celebrities. The controversy erupted after Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian and podcast host, described Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, where he performed ahead of Donald Trump’s address.
Hinchcliffe’s comments didn’t stop at Puerto Rico. He followed up with offensive remarks about Latino families, saying that Latinos “love making babies” and do not “pull out,” leaning into a harmful stereotype about Latino cultural attitudes toward family planning. These remarks quickly drew condemnation from both Democratic and Republican leaders, as well as Puerto Rican celebrities, who labeled the statements as blatantly racist.
The Democratic campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside various lawmakers, were swift in their criticism. “There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now,” Hinchcliffe said during his act, “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” In response, some Trump allies were quick to distance themselves from Hinchcliffe’s performance. However, the Trump campaign maintained that these statements do not reflect Trump’s personal views. Trump himself has yet to address Hinchcliffe’s comments directly, though he has frequently employed divisive rhetoric on the campaign trail, framing various groups as adversaries within the country.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign downplayed the issue, dismissing it as “a comedian making a joke in poor taste” when speaking to Fox News on Monday. However, Puerto Rican community members were far from amused, with some expressing feelings of betrayal. Ed Rosa, a 60-year-old New York resident of Puerto Rican descent, announced he had decided not to vote in the upcoming election as a result. “I really believe it was racist,” Rosa said. “And I was a very strong supporter of Trump until yesterday.”
The comments carry political weight, particularly as Puerto Ricans, though U.S. citizens, lack congressional representation and cannot vote in presidential elections. Yet, Americans of Puerto Rican heritage are an important demographic in key swing states, such as Pennsylvania. The Latino vote, increasingly influential, has been trending toward the Republican party, although it remains a demographic largely supportive of Democrats.
Reflecting on this, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk expressed his own disapproval. “This was a wake-up call for people who might have thought that things would not be that bad under Trump,” he told reporters, echoing a sentiment that could impact upcoming polls.
As if to counter Hinchcliffe’s remarks, Harris addressed his comments in a video on X, defending Puerto Rico as “home to some of the most talented, innovative, and ambitious people in our nation.” Her sentiments were echoed by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Bad Bunny, both of Puerto Rican descent, who shared her post. Bad Bunny’s endorsement marked his first public gesture of support for the Democratic candidate, adding further momentum to the issue.
Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin joined in, posting a video of Hinchcliffe’s comments on Instagram with the caption, “This is what they think of us,” a sentiment that resonated with his millions of followers.
Unrepentant, Hinchcliffe later tweeted that critics “have no sense of humor,” dismissing objections from figures such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who both openly condemned his act. Meanwhile, Hinchcliffe’s set included additional offensive jokes aimed at other minority groups, such as Black Americans and Jewish people, adding to the already inflammatory nature of his performance.
In a separate statement at the rally, senior Trump advisor Stephen Miller amplified similar sentiments, declaring that “America is for America and Americans only,” which Democrats were quick to critique for its apparent anti-immigrant message.
Even among Trump’s circle, there was division over Hinchcliffe’s remarks. Republican U.S. Senator Rick Scott of Florida, a state with a significant Puerto Rican population, tweeted that “it’s not funny and it’s not true.” Other Republicans, including Representatives Anthony D’Esposito, Maria Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Gimenez, also condemned the comedian’s remarks. D’Esposito, himself partly of Puerto Rican heritage, represents a fiercely competitive Long Island district, where such comments may influence voters’ perspectives.
Despite some within his circle viewing the incident as a non-issue, with political commentator David Tamasi remarking that “an undecided voter is very unlikely to be swayed by a remark… made on a Sunday night by an unknown comic,” others are keenly aware that the comedian’s comments have brought Puerto Rico’s political concerns to the forefront.
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