Puerto Ricans Outraged Over Trump Remarks as Election Nears

28 Oct at 5:03 pm

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Puerto Ricans Outraged Over Trump Remarks as Election Nears \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ During a Trump rally in New York, a comedian’s disparaging comments about Puerto Rico ignited anger among Puerto Rican residents, who felt it highlighted longstanding mistreatment of the U.S. territory. Though Puerto Ricans on the island cannot vote in U.S. general elections, the incident is expected to influence their stateside relatives, especially in swing areas like Pennsylvania.

Anti-Puerto Rico Comments at Trump Rally: Quick Looks

Outrage at Rally Remarks: A comedian’s derogatory statements about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally sparked backlash.
Election Influence: While island residents can’t vote, their relatives on the mainland can sway key states.
High-Profile Reactions: Figures like Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin voiced disapproval, supporting Kamala Harris instead.
Historical Grievances: Trump’s previous handling of Hurricane Maria continues to resonate, adding to current tensions.
Local Political Fallout: Puerto Rican leaders from both major parties condemned the remarks.

Deep Look

A comedian’s derogatory comments about Puerto Rico at a Donald Trump rally in New York on Sunday have sparked widespread outrage among Puerto Ricans, who see the incident as yet another example of the U.S. territory’s mistreatment. The remarks, which characterized Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage,” have fueled frustrations over the longstanding disregard many Puerto Ricans feel from the mainland, even as they remain U.S. citizens. Though residents on the island are ineligible to vote in U.S. general elections, the backlash may influence relatives on the mainland, particularly in swing states where the Puerto Rican vote holds sway.

The incident unfolded when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe took the stage before a packed audience and joked, “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.” The comment, met with laughter and applause, quickly reached Puerto Rico through social media, with residents and diaspora members alike reacting with anger and disbelief. Phones across the island buzzed as residents shared their frustration with relatives on the mainland, many of whom reside in battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Florida.

In response, Puerto Rican superstar and reggaeton artist Bad Bunny voiced his disapproval by endorsing Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been actively courting the Puerto Rican community in swing states. The reaction underscores the potential impact of Puerto Rican voters on the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Hinchcliffe’s set reportedly included additional lewd and racially charged remarks about Latinos, Jews, and Black people, further alienating key voter demographics.

Historic Frustrations and Current Outrage

For many Puerto Ricans, the comedian’s remarks are a painful reminder of the territory’s second-class treatment. Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1917, and its residents hold U.S. citizenship. However, they are unable to vote in U.S. general elections and receive limited federal funding compared to U.S. states. This disparity is particularly evident in times of crisis. When Hurricane Maria struck in 2017, leaving devastating effects in its wake, then-President Trump visited the island and was widely criticized for his dismissive attitude, even tossing paper towels to a crowd of survivors. Trump’s denial of the storm’s official death toll—estimated at nearly 3,000—added to the hurt and frustration, with lingering resentment that was reignited by Hinchcliffe’s remarks.

Milagros Serrano, an 81-year-old resident of Puerto Rico, said she felt deeply offended by the comedian’s words. Her son, a Pennsylvania resident, immediately reached out after hearing the comments. “He can’t be talking about Puerto Rico like that,” Serrano said as she left for a medical appointment. “He’s the one who’s a piece of garbage.” For families like Serrano’s, the rally’s remarks are likely to play a role in how they encourage their relatives to vote, especially in swing states.

José Acevedo, a health worker from San Juan, also felt indignant, describing his anger as he watched footage from the rally. Acevedo promptly contacted family members in New York, including a relative who had intended to vote for Trump. “He told me that he was going to have to analyze his decision,” Acevedo said. “They couldn’t believe it.”

Political Leaders and Celebrity Reactions

Hinchcliffe’s comments quickly dominated Puerto Rican news sites and prompted statements from major political figures on the island. Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, Jenniffer González, who belongs to the pro-statehood New Progressive Party and is a Trump supporter, denounced the comedian’s remarks as “despicable, misguided and disgusting,” adding that they do not “represent the values of the GOP.” The comments also drew a sharp response from Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Pierluisi, a Democrat, who wrote on social media, “Garbage is what came out of Tony Hinchcliffe’s mouth, and everyone who applauded him should feel ashamed for disrespecting Puerto Rico.” Pierluisi’s statement highlighted the bipartisan condemnation of the remarks, reflecting the unifying effect of this controversy across Puerto Rico’s often divided political landscape.

Puerto Rican pop icons also weighed in. Ricky Martin, who has endorsed Kamala Harris, posted a video of Hinchcliffe’s joke, condemning it with the caption, “This is what they think of us.” Other Puerto Ricans shared images of the island’s beaches and turquoise waters online, accompanied by captions like, “I live where you vacation” and “Proud to be from the garbage island.” These posts were shared widely, rallying pride in Puerto Rican heritage in the face of disparaging comments.

Social and Electoral Impact

In Puerto Rico, political discourse is often dominated by debates over the island’s status—whether it should remain a territory, pursue statehood, or seek independence. For many Puerto Ricans, this status defines their identity as U.S. citizens who feel disenfranchised by their inability to vote in U.S. elections and limited access to federal benefits. The rally remarks are a stark reminder of these inequalities, especially as the territory remains underrepresented despite its large population of over 3 million.

Sonia Pérez, a 58-year-old parking lot attendant in San Juan, said she was moved to vote in Puerto Rico’s upcoming governor election after hearing the comments. Usually disinterested in politics, Pérez now plans to reject both main parties, which she feels have failed to address the island’s issues effectively. “It is outrageous that in the 21st century there is so much racism against Latinos when we have contributed so much to the country and it is not recognized,” Pérez said.

For Michael Meléndez Ortiz, a 33-year-old former janitor, the experience was one of disbelief and indignation. After initially thinking the video was fake, he said he felt compelled to express his pride in Puerto Rico, asserting that “we must be respected. We are good and upstanding people.” His reaction underscores the deep-seated pride and resilience that many Puerto Ricans feel for their island despite the challenges they face.

With both Democratic and Republican campaigns focused on securing Latino voters in swing states, the fallout from this incident could affect Puerto Rican voter turnout on the mainland. The insult has prompted many Puerto Ricans to rally around candidates who recognize their contributions and respect their identity. In a race where swing state votes are critical, the voices of Puerto Ricans—whether through their own voting or through their influence on relatives—could be a pivotal factor in the outcome.