WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden criticized former President Donald Trump’s supporters on Tuesday, reacting to negative comments made at Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden that included offensive and racially charged language.
During a call hosted by the Hispanic advocacy organization Voto Latino, Biden reacted to a comedian’s remarks at the rally who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” His initial remarks were somewhat unclear. Biden stated, “Recently, a speaker at his rally mentioned Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage. Honestly, I don’t recognize the Puerto Rican community I know, the Puerto Rico I’ve been familiar with from my home state of Delaware. They are good, decent, and honorable people.”
He continued by asserting, “The only rubbish I see floating around is coming from his supporters. His attacks on Latinos are unacceptable and un-American. This goes against everything we stand for and everything we have been as a nation.”
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates clarified that Biden labeled the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden event as ‘garbage.’
Biden’s derogatory reference to Trump’s supporters conflicted with the message that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is trying to convey, which aims to resonate with a broad audience, including disillusioned Republicans. Shortly after Biden’s remarks, Harris spoke at the Ellipse in Washington, emphasizing her vision of a united nation.
“I promise to be a president for all Americans,” asserted Harris, who serves as Biden’s vice president.
In response to Biden’s comments, Republicans quickly seized the opportunity to highlight his words. Florida Senator Marco Rubio interrupted Trump’s rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to recount Biden’s statement.
“Just now, Joe Biden claimed our supporters, our patriots, are garbage,” Rubio stated. “He is referring to ordinary Americans who are proud of their country.”
Some Democrats also distinguished themselves from Biden’s statements. On CNN, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he would “never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans, regardless of their political choices.”
Biden’s remarks drew parallels to then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s infamous comment during a 2016 fundraiser in New York, where she described a portion of Trump supporters as fitting into a “basket of deplorables.” Clinton eventually called that statement “grossly generalistic,” but it became a rallying cry for many of Trump’s supporters, who felt it captured the condescending views of Clinton and the Democratic Party.
With Election Day rapidly approaching, Biden has been trying to stay relevant by promoting his administration’s achievements while Harris composes her campaign against Trump.
However, Biden’s efforts to maintain a leading role might not always be beneficial for the Democratic ticket he supports. While Harris has been vocally critical of Trump, labeling him as “unstable” and “unhinged,” she has chosen not to attack his supporters directly.
In fact, she has collaborated extensively with former Republican Representative Liz Cheney and other ex-GOP officials, aiming to attract conservative voters who may cross party lines. The Democratic convention and Harris’s advertisements have featured testimonials from individuals who previously supported Trump but are now backing her candidacy.
During Tuesday’s call, Biden also commented that Trump “doesn’t care about the Latino community” and called for a collective rejection of the former president, even as Trump’s campaign claimed increasing support from Hispanic voters, particularly male constituents.
“Vote to keep Donald Trump out of the White House,” Biden urged. “He poses a real threat, not just to Latinos but to all individuals, especially those in minority groups in this country.”