President Biden clarifies comments about Trump supporters after backlash over perceived insult during address to Latino supporters

In a recent address, President Joe Biden stirred controversy by seemingly referring to supporters of former President Donald Trump as “garbage,” following a racist remark made by a Trump supporter at a rally. This incident has ignited criticism from Republican lawmakers, who swiftly capitalised on the situation to question Biden’s respect for Trump’s base.

Biden’s remarks were made during a video address to Latino supporters, where he condemned the racist rhetoric that surfaced at a Trump rally held at Madison Square Garden. He highlighted a specific incident where Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian and Trump supporter, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Biden asserted, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his, his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”

The White House quickly responded to the backlash, clarifying that Biden was specifically denouncing Hinchcliffe’s language as “garbage,” not the supporters themselves. A transcript was released indicating that Biden aimed to emphasise the hateful rhetoric rather than disparage Trump supporters directly.

Despite the clarification, the backlash was swift. Republican leaders drew parallels between Biden’s comments and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s infamous “deplorables” comment during the 2016 campaign. Senator JD Vance from Ohio expressed outrage, stating, “This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country.” Vance had previously downplayed Hinchcliffe’s comments, suggesting that society should not be overly sensitive.

In an effort to mitigate the fallout, Biden took to social media to clarify his intentions: “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,” he wrote. He reaffirmed his stance that such comments do not represent American values.

The timing of Biden’s comments was particularly impactful, occurring just as Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her campaign’s closing arguments. The remarks inadvertently shifted focus away from her message, prompting campaign officials to consider whether Biden’s comments necessitated a public disagreement from Harris. Some Democrats voiced concerns, including Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who stated, “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.”

While Biden aimed to call out the inflammatory comments made at the Trump rally, the incident provided a politically advantageous moment for Republicans, particularly in light of recent remarks at the rally that included misogynistic and racist sentiments. This backlash against Biden’s language comes after Trump faced criticism for his contentious relationship with Puerto Rican leaders, especially during his presidency when he resisted providing disaster aid following hurricanes in 2017.