Biden Trump rally comment/ Biden calls Trump rhetoric garbage/ Biden Trump Latino vote/ Biden Puerto Rico remark/ Biden Harris campaign 2024/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In a recent call with Voto Latino, President Joe Biden criticized Donald Trump’s supporters following a controversial rally in New York where a comedian insulted Puerto Rico. Biden labeled the rhetoric at the rally as “garbage,” igniting a response from Trump’s campaign and sparking debates over the president’s tone in the campaign’s final stretch.
Biden’s “Garbage” Remark About Trump Rally: Quick Looks
- Context of remark: Biden criticized rhetoric from Trump’s New York rally, which included a crude joke about Puerto Rico.
- Clarification: Biden later clarified that his comments targeted hateful rhetoric, not all Trump supporters.
- Harris and Walz’s unity message: VP nominee Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz emphasized a unifying campaign.
- GOP response: Republicans seized on Biden’s remark, likening it to Clinton’s 2016 “deplorables” comment.
- Campaign implications: Biden’s remark sparked conversations on civility and voter outreach.
Biden Calls Trump Rally Insults ‘Garbage,’ Spurs Debate
Deep Look
President Joe Biden recently sparked backlash by criticizing rhetoric from Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, where a comedian made a disparaging remark about Puerto Rico, referring to it as a “floating island of garbage.” Biden, addressing this during a call with Voto Latino, condemned the rally’s tone and, in his own words, suggested “the only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.” This sparked an immediate response from Trump’s campaign and a broader conversation around campaign rhetoric.
Biden’s Reaction to Rally Remarks
Trump’s New York rally over the weekend drew criticism due to inflammatory and racially charged comments from several speakers, including comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who made an offensive joke about Puerto Rico. Biden addressed this during his call with Voto Latino, initially stammering before clarifying, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.” He condemned the “demonization of Latinos” at Trump’s event as “un-American” and “contrary to everything we’ve been.”
Following the call, Biden took to social media to clarify his comment, stating, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage… His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable.” White House spokesman Andrew Bates also clarified that Biden’s language was directed specifically at the “hateful rhetoric” from the rally.
Harris’ Unity Message and Democratic Response
While Biden’s comments attracted mixed reactions, Kamala Harris, his running mate, focused on delivering a message of national unity. In a speech from the Ellipse in Washington, Harris vowed to be a president for “all Americans.” Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, reiterated on national news that Biden’s remarks did not undermine the campaign’s message, emphasizing that Biden’s critique was aimed at rhetoric, not people.
However, some Democrats distanced themselves from Biden’s phrasing. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he would “never insult…any Americans, even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn’t support,” indicating discomfort with the remark.
Republican Reaction and Fundraising Rally
Republicans quickly seized on Biden’s comment, using it to rally Trump supporters. At a subsequent event, Florida Senator Marco Rubio criticized Biden’s statement, saying, “Moments ago Joe Biden stated that our supporters…are garbage.” Trump’s campaign also amplified the statement, sending a fundraising text message declaring, “KAMALA’S BOSS JOE BIDEN JUST CALLED ALL MY SUPPORTERS GARBAGE!” The campaign’s message framed Trump as supportive of all Americans, contrasting Biden’s statement as divisive.
The GOP compared Biden’s remark to Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” comment from 2016, which energized many Trump voters who felt demeaned by the label. Clinton later walked back her comment, calling it “grossly generalistic.” The backlash against Clinton’s phrasing became a rallying cry for Trump’s supporters and may have contributed to his successful outreach to disenfranchised voters in 2016.
Biden’s Effort to Court Latino Voters Amid GOP Gains
On the call with Voto Latino, Biden urged Latino voters to reject Trump, whom he accused of neglecting the Latino community. He warned that Trump “doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community” and urged Americans to “vote to keep Donald Trump out of the White House,” citing Trump’s policies as dangerous to minorities and the country at large.
Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, has reported growing support among Hispanic voters, particularly men, signaling a shift in the voting demographics both campaigns are aiming to influence. Trump has emphasized anti-immigration stances in his outreach, often framing Biden’s immigration policies as weakening American security.
Impact on the Campaign’s Final Stretch
Biden’s comment has raised questions about the effectiveness of his campaign tone in appealing to undecided voters. The incident underscores the delicate balance Biden must strike between critiquing Trump and retaining a unifying stance, especially as Harris works to appeal to disaffected Republican voters by campaigning alongside former GOP officials like Liz Cheney. Harris’ campaign messaging has included stories from former Trump voters who now support her, as she aims to frame herself as an inclusive leader.
At his own rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a city with a sizable Hispanic population, Trump countered by reiterating claims that Biden’s policies have turned the U.S. into “a giant garbage can” for other countries. His remarks signal an effort to align with voters who may feel alienated by Biden’s critique and to fortify his support within minority communities.
As Election Day approaches, Biden’s remarks and the subsequent responses from both campaigns demonstrate how rhetoric remains a potent force in shaping public perception. In a polarized landscape, Biden’s clarification may be critical in conveying his intent to unite rather than divide, as both sides grapple with balancing critique and outreach in the election’s final days.
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