Vice President Kamala Harris sought to distance herself from President Joe Biden’s comment that appeared to refer to Trump supporters as “garbage,” as the former president told supporters at a Trump rally that Harris and Biden “mean it.”
During a Zoom call with Voto Latino, a nonprofit aimed at registering Latinos to vote, Biden on Oct. 29 referenced comments made about Puerto Rico by a stand-up comedian during Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden earlier this week.
“Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage,” Biden said.
The president then added: “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.”
Later, on Oct. 30, at a Trump rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the former president rhetorically linked Biden’s comments to Harris.
“And now, speaking on a call for her campaign last night, Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called them garbage,” Trump said. “And they mean it. ... My response to Joe and Kamala is very simple: You can’t lead America if you don’t love Americans. ... And you can’t be president if you hate the American people.”
Harris distanced herself from Biden’s comment when speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on the morning of Oct. 30.
“Listen, I think, first of all, he clarified his comments, but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for. You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career. I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people whether they support me or not,” Harris said.
The vice president reiterated what she has said in previous campaign appearances: “I am sincere in what I mean: When elected president of the United States, I will represent all Americans, including those who don’t vote for me, and address their needs and their desires.”
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Oct. 30 sought to downplay Biden’s comments in an ABC News interview. When asked about the president’s comments, Walz told “Good Morning America” that “the president clarified his remarks.”
Biden wrote later that evening, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it.
“His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
On social media, however, Trump’s campaign and Republicans highlighted Biden’s comment and called on the Harris campaign to denounce it. Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), wrote that “there’s no excuse” for Biden’s remarks and that he hopes “Americans reject it.”
A Harris surrogate, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, whose state is a key battleground, told CNN on the evening of Oct. 29 that he denounces Biden’s comment.
“I would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn’t support,” Shapiro said when asked about Biden’s remark.
“It’s certainly not words that I would choose, and I think it’s important that we remain focused on the contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump and not attacking supporters of either candidate.”
Hinchcliffe responded to the criticism of his Madison Square Garden set by saying that “people have no sense of humor.”
During his Oct. 27 set, Hinchcliffe took a shot at Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth whose residents cannot vote for president.
“I don’t know if you guys 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,” he said.
