'Offensive' jokes at Trump MSG rally launches wave of criticism from Latinos

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe came nether occurrence for comments made astir Latinos and Puerto Rico astatine erstwhile President Donald Trump's Sunday run rally successful New York City's Madison Square Garden.

After making a vulgar joke astir really Latinos "love making babies," Hinchcliffe turned to nan Caribbean island.

"I don't cognize if you guys cognize this, but there's virtually a floating land of garbage successful nan mediate of nan water correct now. I deliberation it's called Puerto Rico."

That joke came aft Trump made a akin remark past Thursday, calling nan U.S. a "garbage tin for nan world" successful an escalation of his anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Hispanic groups connected some sides of nan aisle called Hinchcliffe comments "derogatory," "offensive" and "disrespectful."

An estimated 36.2 cardinal Latinos are eligible to vote this year, making up astir 15% of nan electorate, according to Pew Research Center. Puerto Ricans who unrecorded successful nan U.S. territory do not person nan correct to ballot successful nan statesmanlike predetermination -- but cardinal plaything states for illustration Florida and North Carolina are location to salient Hispanic and Latino communities.

Tony Hinchcliffe speaks earlier Republican statesmanlike nominee erstwhile President Donald Trump during a run rally astatine Madison Square Garden, Oct. 27, 2024, successful New York.

Evan Vucci/AP

"The Trump campaign's tolerance for violative humor, particularly against Puerto Rico and its residents, highlights a disturbing shape of disregard toward nan island's group and its challenges," nan League of United Latin American Citizens said successful a connection to ABC News. "Such sloppy words not only deepen wounds but besides normalize harmful rhetoric."

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly besides condemned nan remarks.

"Such ignorant comments not only neglect to seizure Puerto Rico's resilience but besides misrepresent nan committedness shown to nan land by President Trump and his administration," its connection read. "Puerto Ricans merit respect and nickname for their resilience and contributions to this awesome Nation."

Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of Hispanic Federation, noted successful a connection to ABC News that nan Trump run gave Hinchcliffe a level to make his remarks connected nan aforesaid time nan Vice President Kamala Harris' run introduced a scheme for resolving issues impacting Puerto Rico.

Melania Trump applauds her hubby Donald Trump aft he said astatine a run rally astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York, October 27, 2024.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

"Millions of Puerto Ricans successful states for illustration Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida and New York whitethorn nary longer unrecorded connected nan island, but they still revere it arsenic their ancestral and taste home, and you cannot proceed to disrespect america and deliberation that we are not going to retrieve that erstwhile we spell to nan ballot box," Miranda said.

Hinchcliffe besides made jokes targeting different group aliases belief minorities, including some nan Black and Jewish communities. He defended his jokes online successful a consequence to disapproval from Democrats for illustration Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Harris' moving mate Tim Walz.

"These group person nary consciousness of humor," Hinchcliffe wrote successful an X post. "Wild that a vice statesmanlike campaigner would return clip retired of his 'busy schedule' to analyse a joke taken retired of discourse to make it look racist. I emotion Puerto Rico and picnic there. I made nosy of everyone … watch nan full set. I'm a comedian Tim … mightiness beryllium clip to alteration your tampon."

The Trump run distanced itself from Tony Hinchcliffe's joke against Puerto Rico.

"This joke does not bespeak nan views of President Trump aliases nan campaign," Trump run elder advisor Danielle Alvarez wrote successful a connection to ABC News.

Other GOP figures, including María Elvira Salazar, denounced nan jokes online.

"This rhetoric does not bespeak GOP values," Salazar said connected X.

The joke came soon aft Harris announced an "Opportunity Economy" scheme for Puerto Rico, which was applauded online by salient Hispanic figures pinch tens of millions of followers, including singers Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Luis Fonsi.

Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to takes nan shape to speaks during a run rally astatine The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center connected October 27, 2024 successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Her scheme includes nan creation of a caller task unit for Puerto Rico pinch nan extremity of rebuilding and modernizing nan territory's power grid, expanding entree to cleanable energy, building affordable lodging and more.

Trump has been criticized for really he handled Hurricane Maria successful 2017, during his first term. He's agelong overstated really overmuch disaster backing Puerto Rico received aft nan storm and besides came nether occurrence for infamously tossing insubstantial towels into a crowd of Puerto Ricans astatine a alleviation halfway successful nan hurricane-ravaged territory aft Maria hit.

Additionally, FEMA mislaid way of much than a quarter-billion dollars successful nutrient and supplies intended for Puerto Rico complete nan people of its consequence to 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria, according to a Department of Homeland Security study that found delays and mismanagement successful nan disaster consequence efforts.

However, Trump's White House approved astir $13 cardinal successful national aid to thief rebuild Puerto Rico's electrical grid strategy and nan acquisition strategy successful 2020.