“Just the other day, the speaker at the public meeting called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Well, let me tell you something, I don’t, I don’t know the Puerto Rico that I know, Puerto Rico where I’m from – in my home state of Delaware.
The president then added: “The only garbage I see floating there are his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is untenable, and un-American. It’s completely contrary to everything he’s done, everything he’s done.”
White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Biden “referred to his hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as trash.'”
In calling Trump’s supporters “garbage,” Biden’s tone was inconsistent with the message Democratic candidate Kamala Harris said was aimed at making a broad appeal, including disaffected Republicans. Just minutes after Biden’s comments, Harris spoke from the Ellipse in Washington, vowing to be a president who will unite the country.
‘Sorry’: Trump after being informed of Biden’s ‘garbage’ statement about MAGA supporters
Donald Trump’s rally erupted on Tuesday after news broke of President Joe Biden calling Trump supporters “garbage” in a phone call with Latino voters. Florida Senator Marco Rubio took the podium at a Trump rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania and told the crowd that he had “new news” for them. “Just a moment ago, Joe Biden said our supporters are trash,” Rubio said, as the crowd began to boo and jeer. Biden referenced Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden in the call, particularly comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s description of Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” “You have, remember Hillary, she said deplorable, then she said irredeemable, right?” Trump said. “But he said deplorable, and that can not come out. Trash, I, worse, right? But he does not understand, you must please forgive him. Please forgive him, because he does not know what he said.”
“I promise to be president for all Americans,” said Harris, who is Biden’s vice president. Republicans were quick to highlight Biden’s remarks. Florida Senator Marco Rubio interrupted a Trump rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to tell them what happened.
“Last time, Joe Biden said that his supporters, our patriots, are trash,” Rubio said. “He spoke of every American who loves his country.”
Some prominent Democrats have also begun to distance themselves from Biden’s comments. Speaking on CNN, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he would “not insult the good people of Pennsylvania or the American people even if they choose to support a candidate I don’t support.”
The comments were reminiscent of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton dismissing Trump supporters during a 2016 fundraiser in New York by saying half would fit into the “basket of deplorables.”
Clinton later called the character “very common.” But it became a rallying cry for many Trump supporters who said the insult embodied the elitist attitudes of Clinton and Democrats.
With Election Day now just a week away, Biden has been working to stay relevant, furiously promoting his administration’s accomplishments as Harris races against Trump.
But his efforts to remain in the political spotlight may not be beneficial to the top of the Democratic ticket he is currently promoting. This is because, while Harris has been highly critical of Trump for months, repeatedly calling him “unstable” and “unhinged” and even suggesting he is a “fascist,” he has been careful not to condemn his supporters.
In fact, the vice president has campaigned extensively with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and other former GOP elected officials — hoping to woo conservative crossover voters. The Democratic convention — and Harris’ ad — have highlighted stories of everyday Americans who have talked about voting for Trump in the past but now say they support the vice president.
In Tuesday’s call, Biden also said Trump “doesn’t care about the Latino community” and called for the former president’s repudiation even as the Trump campaign said support is rising among Hispanics, especially men.
“Vote to keep Donald Trump out of the White House,” Biden said. “He is a danger, not only to Latinos but to everyone. Especially the people who are minorities in this country.”
