Latino political strategist responds to Puerto Rico jokes at Trump MSG rally

Luis Miranda is simply a governmental strategist, organization organizer, founding president of nan Hispanic Federation and chairperson of nan Latino Victory Fund, an statement dedicated to building governmental powerfulness successful nan Latino community.

Originally from Puerto Rico, he's besides nan begetter of musician, writer and character Lin-Manuel Miranda.

ABC News' Linsey Davis sat down pinch Luis Miranda connected Monday to talk astir nan comments made astir Latinos and Puerto Rico astatine erstwhile President Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden run rally connected Sunday, Trump's disapproval of erstwhile first woman Michelle Obama and his prediction for Puerto Rican voters' guidance to this rhetoric.

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe speaks during a rally for Republican statesmanlike nominee and erstwhile U.S. President Donald Trump astatine Madison Square Garden, successful New York City, Oct. 27, 2024.

Andrew Kelly/Reuters

ABC NEWS: Luis, convey you truthful overmuch for joining us. First, I conscionable want to get your guidance from, from those comments astir Puerto Rico, from nan comedian astatine past night's rally.

MIRANDA: It's not nan first clip that Puerto Ricans are insulted by Trump aliases his people. We retrieve erstwhile Hurricane Maria deed Puerto Rico, really he withheld assistance that Congress had appropriated to thief Puerto Rico and utilized arsenic an excuse that we were lazy and they wanted everything done for us.

So I deliberation we're going to mobilize immoderate much and we're going to spell to those battleground states and make judge that we beryllium him wrong. We are not garbage and we are not lazy and we're each American citizens fresh to ballot successful this election.

ABC NEWS: The Trump run says nan comedian's words do not bespeak its views. Do you judge that this has nary base connected nan erstwhile president's run platform?

MIRANDA: Listen, I listened to 5 minutes, while I was waiting for you, of nan rally that it's taking place, spot successful Georgia correct now. And successful those 5 minutes, he criticized Michelle Obama. I wondered if she's now included successful nan database of enemies that he's going to prosecute afterwards.

Republican statesmanlike nominee, erstwhile President Donald Trump arrives to speak astatine a run rally astatine McCamish Pavilion, Oct. 28, 2024, successful Atlanta.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

He past talked astir transgender and really that it's horrible. He talked astir group coming from nan border, being criminals. He's talking astir Latinos. He helped nan crowd chant "Lock her up." She, he criticized nan clone news.

This is successful 5 minutes, which intends erstwhile you, that's what is coming retired of his mouth. When you organized a rally, erstwhile you organized a governmental arena for yourself, for your party, each connection that is said astatine that arena represents who you are and nan aspirations of your statement and what you want to put successful spot if you were to beryllium elected. This is precisely who Donald Trump is.

ABC NEWS: Do you deliberation that this infinitesimal will galvanize Puerto Rican voters who were possibly going to beryllium this 1 out, aliases alteration nan mind of those who were readying connected voting for Trump?

MIRANDA: Listen, astir group are going to ballot for policies. We're nary different, Latinos. But what Trump did successful this rally, it's that he, nan reproach entreaty to our heart, wounded our heart.

And those insults past mobilized people, group who were astir apt supporting nan Democrats and Vice President Harris now said to themselves, "You cognize what? I was going to beryllium it retired because I didn't deliberation it was important. But I don't want this feline successful nan White House."

I deliberation nan vice president said it champion -- we are exhausted, exhausted of this rhetoric, exhausted of this man perpetually pitting 1 group against each other. And, and I deliberation we are fresh to move guardant and adjacent this page forever.

ABC NEWS: Mr. Luis Miranda, we convey you truthful overmuch for your clip and insight. Appreciate it.

MIRANDA: Thank you.