(The Hill, NewsNation) — A speaker at former President Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday spent a portion of his time attacking Puerto Rico, drawing backlash from Democrats and the Harris campaign.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who goes by Kill Tony, delivered a set to the crowd ahead of the former president’s speech.
“There’s a lot going on. Like, 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. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” Hinchcliffe said, eliciting mixed reactions from the crowd.
At another point, Hinchcliffe said Latinos “love making babies.”
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“They do. There’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They c** inside. Just like they did to our country,” he said.
Trump campaign senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that Hinchcliffe’s “joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
The remarks, particularly about Puerto Rico, were swiftly condemned by Democrats, as well as some Republicans.
“As a Puerto Rican, I am tempted to call Hinchcliffe racist garbage but doing so would be an insult to garbage,” Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) posted on the social platform X. “When casting their ballots at the voting booth, Latinos should never forget the racism that Donald Trump seems all too willing to platform.”
Harris campaign aides noted Hinchcliffe’s remarks came as Vice President Harris was in Philadelphia speaking at a Puerto Rican restaurant, where she detailed her plans to assist the island and bolster its electrical grid.
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Other Democrats pointed out that hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans live in Pennsylvania, which is shaping up to be one of the most critical battlegrounds on Election Day.
“Who wants to tell these guys there are ~ HALF A MILLION Puerto Ricans living in Battleground PA, whose votes are up for grabs?” Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House official who is an outspoken critic of the former president, posted on the social platform X.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is up for reelection in November, said Hinchcliffe’s comments were “not funny” and “not true.”
“Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans! I’ve been to the island many times. It’s a beautiful place. Everyone should visit!” Scott posted on X. “I will always do whatever I can to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island.”
Former Puerto Rico governor demands Trump denounce comments
Former Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on “NewsNation Prime” called on Trump to denounce “egregious” and “insulting” comments made by the comedian.
“We were just called garbage in Madison Square Garden, no less, the home state of over a million Puerto Ricans,” said Rosselló, who currently serves as a congressional delegate. “This is egregious. It’s insulting, and it will cost President Trump if he does not address this.”
Rosselló emphasized Puerto Rico’s contributions to the United States, noting the territory has one of the highest per capita military participation rates in the nation. He called the island “an incubator that generates innovation and art” with a legacy of patriotism.
“If you do not denounce this strongly, this is what you’re saying, this is what you’re supporting,” Rosselló said, urging Trump to use his social media platforms to “reject the statement of a comedian then recall his love for the people of Puerto Rico.”