WASHINGTON — Leaders from both Republican and Democratic parties, as well as Puerto Rican celebrities, criticized a comedian's remarks at a major Donald Trump event in New York, where he referred to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage."

The comedian and podcast host, Tony Hinchcliffe, made the comments while speaking before Trump at a Sunday night rally at Madison Square Garden, where he also stated that Latinos “love making babies” and “don’t pull out,” perpetuating a harmful stereotype that Latinos prioritize childbearing and avoid contraception.

“There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the ocean right now,” said Hinchcliffe. “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

A woman stands photographing a gate painted with the Puerto Rican flag in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 28, 2024.

PHOTO: Reuters

Prominent Puerto Rican figures, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, Democrats, and even some congressional Republicans condemned Hinchcliffe’s comments, labeling them as overtly racist.

The Trump campaign clarified that these statements did not reflect Trump’s views, though the candidate himself has not addressed Hinchcliffe's comments. Trump has frequently employed inflammatory language during his campaign, recently cautioning about a supposed "enemy from within" aiming to harm the nation, which Harris has argued poses a risk to democratic principles.

“It was a comedian who made a joke in poor taste,” campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday.

Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens but do not have voting representation in Congress nor vote in presidential elections, took offense at the comments.

‘It wasn’t funny’

Ed Rosa, 60, a Trump supporter from New York with Puerto Rican roots, said he’s decided to sit out this election due to Hinchcliffe's remarks, removing the Trump signs he had displayed in his home in North Bronx.

“I really believe it was racist,” Rosa said. “And I was a very strong Trump supporter until yesterday.”

Americans of Puerto Rican descent are a significant voting bloc in some battleground states like Pennsylvania. Both Trump and Harris are actively courting the Latino vote, which has recently trended more Republican but remains largely Democratic.

Matt Tuerk, Democratic mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania—a city with a large Latino population, including many Puerto Ricans—told Reuters that he felt “disgusted” by the comments.

“This was a wake-up call for people who might have thought that things wouldn’t be this bad under Trump,” he said.

Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Allentown on Monday. Both he and Harris have concentrated their recent efforts on Pennsylvania, a critical state in determining the election outcome.

In a video posted on X, Harris responded directly to Hinchcliffe's remarks, stating, "Puerto Rico is home to some of the most talented, innovative, and ambitious people in our country."

Puerto Rican celebrities, including actor and singer Jennifer Lopez and rapper Bad Bunny, shared Harris’ video on social media in apparent support for her stance. This marked Bad Bunny’s first public endorsement of Harris.

Puerto Rican singer and actor Ricky Martin posted a clip of Hinchcliffe’s comments, captioning it in Spanish, “This is what they think of us.”

Hinchcliffe dismissed the criticism on X, responding to comments by Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, saying, “These people have no sense of humor.”

During his set, Hinchcliffe also made derogatory references to Black Americans and Jewish people, saying he and a Black audience member “carved watermelons together” and that Jewish people “struggle to let go of money,” referencing a harmful stereotype.

Additionally, Trump adviser Stephen Miller addressed the audience, stating “America is for America and Americans only,” which Democrats criticized as a rejection of all immigrants.

Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott, whose state has a large Puerto Rican population, expressed his disapproval of Hinchcliffe's remarks, saying on X, “It’s not funny and it’s not true.”

Other Republican representatives, including Anthony D’Esposito, Maria Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Gimenez, also condemned the remarks. D’Esposito, who has Puerto Rican ancestry, represents a competitive district in Long Island.

Some Trump allies, however, showed less concern. Although Trump and his supporters have increasingly resorted to personal and racially charged attacks in recent weeks, his poll numbers remain largely unaffected.

“Politically, it’s a non-issue,” said David Tamasi, a Republican fundraiser. “An undecided voter is unlikely to be influenced by an off-color remark made on a Sunday by an unknown comedian.”

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters