Former President Donald Trump, no stranger to racial controversies, is once again at the center of public outcry after a comedian at his recent New York rally referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
With just days left before the critical November 5 election, Republicans find themselves scrambling to control the fallout, fearing the potential loss of support from Latino voters—a crucial voting bloc in the upcoming race.
Latino Voter Shift: Swing States Hang in the Balance
As the deadlocked race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump tightens, key swing states like Pennsylvania and Arizona are in the spotlight. Both states hold significant Latino populations, making their vote pivotal to securing the White House. Trump’s gains with Hispanic voters this cycle—particularly among young men—are notable, with a recent poll showing his support within this group up by 9 percentage points since 2016. Analysts suggest these gains may reflect broader trends in voter gender and education, with 47% of Latino men now supporting Trump compared to Harris’s strong 26-point lead with Latina women, who are more likely to hold college degrees.
Trump Distances Himself Form Comments as Star Endorsements Rally Latino Voters for Harris
Team Trump is trying to distance the former President from the controversy. “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
Following the inflammatory remarks at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, Puerto Rican celebrities Ricky Martin and Bad Bunny voiced public endorsements for Kamala Harris, condemning Trump’s stance toward Puerto Rico.
In Pennsylvania, a critical battleground, local Democrats are counting on these endorsements to sway undecided Latino voters. Bad Bunny’s endorsement, in particular, has been seen as a major win, especially among younger Latino men—a group the Harris campaign has struggled to connect with. Some strategists are even calling it a potential “game-over moment” for Trump in this demographic, potentially tipping the scales as the race heads to the finish line.
