Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's 'Garbage' Remark About Puerto Rico at Trump MSG Rally Sparks Backlash

Oct 28, 2024, 01:40 AM

At a rally for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 27, 2024, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sparked controversy by referring to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage." During his opening act, Hinchcliffe also made crude jokes about Latinos "love making babies" and derogatory comments about African Americans, Palestinians, and Jews. He added, "But the fucking illegals, they get whatever they want." The remarks drew widespread backlash, including condemnation from Puerto Rico's Governor Pedro Pierluisi, who called Hinchcliffe's words "garbage" and stated he should be ashamed. The Trump campaign, aiming to court Latino voters, distanced itself from the remarks, with senior adviser Danielle Alvarez stating, "This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign." The incident has raised concerns amid Trump's efforts to win over Puerto Rican voters in key states like Pennsylvania, which hosts the third-largest Puerto Rican diaspora in the United States.