Biden suggests Trump supporters are ‘garbage’ after comic’s insult of Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden took a swipe against Donald Trump’s supporters connected Tuesday arsenic he reacted to nan Republican statesmanlike nominee’s weekend rally astatine Madison Square Garden, which was overshadowed by crude and racist rhetoric.

In a telephone organized by nan Hispanic defense group Voto Latino, Biden responded to a comic astatine Trump’s rally who called Puerto Rico a “floating land of garbage.” Biden’s first comments were garbled.

“Just nan different day, a speaker astatine his rally called Puerto Rico a floating land of garbage. Well, fto maine show you something, I don’t, I don’t cognize nan Puerto Rican that I know, nan Puerto Rico wherever I’m fr -- successful my location authorities of Delaware. They’re good, decent honorable people,” he said.

The president past added: “The only garbage I spot floating retired location is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s wholly contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.”

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said Biden “referred to nan hateful rhetoric astatine nan Madison Square Garden rally arsenic ‘garbage.’”

Biden past took to societal media to personally explain what he said.

“Earlier coming I referred to nan hateful rhetoric astir Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s protagonist astatine his Madison Square Garden rally arsenic garbage — which is nan only connection I tin deliberation of to picture it,” he posted connected X. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s each I meant to say. The comments astatine that rally don’t bespeak who we are arsenic a nation.”

In referring to Trump’s supporters arsenic “garbage,” however, Biden’s reside was astatine likelihood pinch nan connection that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is seeking to coming arsenic she intends to formed a wide appeal, including to disaffected Republicans. Shortly aft Biden’s comments, Harris said from nan Ellipse successful Washington, vowing to beryllium a president who would merge nan country.

“I promise to beryllium a president for each Americans,” said Harris, who is Biden’s vice president.

Republicans quickly highlighted Biden’s remark. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio interrupted Trump’s rally successful Allentown, Pennsylvania, to recount what happened.

“Moments agone Joe Biden stated that our supporters, our patriots, are garbage,” Rubio said. ”He’s talking astir mundane Americans who emotion their country.”

Some salient Democrats besides began to region from Biden’s comments. Speaking connected CNN, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he would “never reproach nan bully group of Pennsylvania aliases immoderate Americans moreover if they chose to support a campaigner that I didn’t support.”

The comments recalled then-Democratic statesmanlike nominee Hillary Clinton dismissing Trump supporters during a 2016 fundraiser successful New York by saying that half would fresh into a “ basket of deplorables.”

Clinton later called that characterization “grossly generalistic.” But it became a defiant rallying outcry for galore Trump backers who said nan reproach encapsulated nan elitist attitudes of Clinton and nan Democrats.

Even arsenic reactions to Biden’s guidance began to fly, Trump was asked successful an question and reply Tuesday nighttime pinch Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity astir nan racist and vulgar joke astatine his New York rally. He responded: “Somebody said location was a comedian that joked astir Puerto Rico aliases something. And I person nary thought who he is.”

The erstwhile president added, “I can’t ideate it’s a large deal.”

With Election Day now conscionable a week off, Biden has worked to maintain relevance, furiously promoting his administration’s accomplishments while Harris successful her title against Trump.

But his efforts to stay successful nan governmental spotlight mightiness not ever beryllium truthful adjuvant for nan apical of nan Democratic summons he’s now promoting. That’s because, while Harris has been sharply captious of Trump for months, many times calling him “unstable” and “unhinged” and moreover suggesting that he was “ fascist,” she has been observant not to decry his supporters.

In fact, nan vice president has campaigned extensively pinch erstwhile Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and different erstwhile GOP elected officials — hoping to woo blimpish crossover voters. The Democratic normal — and Harris ads — person highlighted nan stories of mundane Americans who talked astir having voted for Trump successful nan past but now opportunity they are supporting nan vice president.

On Tuesday’s call, Biden besides said that Trump “doesn’t springiness a damn astir nan Latino community” and urged rejection of nan erstwhile president moreover arsenic Trump’s run says its support is rising among Hispanics, peculiarly men.

“Vote to support Donald Trump retired of nan White House,” Biden said. “He’s a existent threat to, not conscionable Latinos but to each people. Particularly those who are successful a number successful this country.”