Puerto Rico responds to insults at Trump rally: ‘Garbage is what came out of Tony Hinchcliffe’s mouth’

This time, the insult was not uttered by Donald Trump. There was no need: the Republican has already made his opinion of Puerto Rico very clear on previous occasions. From questioning the number of deaths in the wake of Hurricane Maria to considering selling the island when he was president, his contempt for the U.S. territory has always been evident. It is therefore not surprising that during a rally Sunday in New York City — where more than a million Puerto Ricans live — one of his guests took the opportunity to insult the island even more. “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,” said comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, a comment that, although not surprising, is still outrageous. The statements have triggered a wave of condemnation throughout the country and on the island.

“Garbage is what came out of Tony Hinchcliffe’s mouth, and everyone who applauded him should feel ashamed for disrespecting Puerto Rico,” wrote the island’s governor, Pedro Pierluisi, on social media. Pierluisi, from the New Progressive Party (PNP), which advocates for the incorporation of Puerto Rico as the 51st state of the United States, recalled in his post that Puerto Ricans are also American citizens and deserve leaders who “treat them with respect.” “Let’s show our strength, both in this election and every day,” he added, showing his support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

By endorsing Harris’ candidacy, Pierluisi is addressing the six million Puerto Ricans who reside in the United States. It will be them who will be able to vote on behalf of their three million compatriots who, because they reside on the island, do not have the right to participate in federal elections. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States and all its citizens are Americans, but only those who live in the continental diaspora can vote for the president. Meanwhile, those who remain on the island can only participate in local elections for positions in the island’s government, including governor.

This year, in view of the presidential election on November 5, the Puerto Rican vote has become especially relevant due to its size and influence in states that will be key in deciding who will be the next tenant of the White House. Both Trump and Harris have tried to appeal to this electorate, especially in Pennsylvania, one of the seven swing states and where there are one million Puerto Rican citizens. Trump, for his part, campaigned there a few weeks ago alongside Puerto Rican reggaeton artists such as Anuel AA and Justin Quiles. “All Puerto Ricans are going to vote for Trump now,” said the Republican then.

Hinchcliffe’s remarks at Trump’s rally could be damaging to the Republican campaign. Indeed, the former president’s team seemed aware of the potential political fallout from the insult and quickly issued a statement attempting to distance itself. “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” it said.

But the damage was already done. In addition to Governor Pierluisi, the entire political class on the island was mobilized. Jenniffer González, the island’s current representative in the U.S. Congress and PNP candidate for governor after having defeated Pierluisi in the party’s primaries, called Hinchcliffe’s comments “despicable, misguided, and revolting.” “There can be no room for such vile and racist expressions. They do not represent the values of the GOP,” said the politician, who nevertheless supports Trump’s candidacy.

For his part, Juan Dalmau, candidate for governor for the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) — which advocates for the sovereignty of the island as an independent country outside the United States — denounced the fact that González continues to support the Republican.

“The problem is not the so-called comedian. The problem is Donald Trump. The same one who despises Puerto Ricans, the one who threw paper towels at us like basketballs at the worst moment in our history after Hurricane Maria,” Dalmau posted on his social media. The candidate was referring to when the former president visited the island after the deadly cyclone, which left over 4,600 people dead, and threw rolls of kitchen paper to the victims. “He is the same one that Jenniffer supports unconditionally,” he added.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the highest-ranking Puerto Rican politicians in the federal government, also joined the chorus of voices refuting Hinchcliffe’s comments. “You’re opening for Trump by calling Puerto Rico a floating pile of garbage. Over 4,000 Puerto Ricans died under him” the New York representative wrote on X in response to a tweet by the comedian in which he claimed that his joke had been “taken out of context” to make him seem racist.

Bad Bunny takes sides

Beyond politicians, the Puerto Rican artistic class, both on the island and in the diaspora, has stepped up to defend its homeland. Following Hinchcliffe’s comments, global superstar Bad Bunny shared a video from the Harris campaign on his Instagram stories, in which the vice president pointed out that, as president, Trump failed to help the island after Maria. “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader,” Harris says in the video. It was the first time that the reggaeton singer has spoken out so openly in favor of the Democrat.

Singer Jennifer Lopez, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican origin, reposted the same Democratic campaign video on her X account.

In addition, singer-songwriters Luis Fonsi and Ricky Martin shared a video on Instagram of Hinchcliffe mocking Puerto Rico. Fonsi, for his part, called it “disrespectful,” while Martin wrote: “This is what they think of us. Vote for Kamala Harris.”

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