By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-30 16:42:22 | Updated at 2024-10-31 01:23:29
8 hours ago
Vice President Kamala Harris broke her silence about President Biden's controversial 'garbage' comment on Wednesday saying she strongly disagrees with criticizing people based on who they vote for.
The Democratic presidential nominee was responding amid the fallout after the president appeared to call Trump supporters garbage on a call sparking outrage from the ex-president's campaign and allies.
‘He clarified his comments, but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,’ Harris told reporters before departing for North Carolina.
‘I will be a president for all Americans whether you vote for me or not,' she added.
'That is my responsibility and that's the kind of work I've done my entire career and I take it very seriously.'
The vice president said she spoke with Biden Tuesday night, but it did not come up.
Vice President Harris said she strongly disagrees with criticizing people based on who they vote for after Biden's garbage gaffe
The 81-year-old president set off a firestorm Monday night when he was discussing Trump rally comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's racist joke about Puerto Rico being a 'island of garbage' at Madison Square Garden.
‘The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,’ Biden said.
The White House immediately said the president was referring to the single supporter, Hinchcliffe.
The official White House transcript read 'supporter's -- his -- his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable.'
Soon after, Biden also tried to clarify his comment on social media writing he '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.'
Allies are being forced to clean up President Biden's 'garbage' comment
But Trump, his campaign and Republican allies seized on the remarks.
They are trying to tie the comment to Harris and other Democrats running with less than a week to go before Election Day.
The timing of the gaffe is also causing headaches for the Harris campaign.
It came just as the Democratic presidential nominee was delivering her closing argument speech before 75,000 people at the Ellipse on the National Mall on Tuesday.
During her speech, she said she would be a president for all Americans and to put country above party.
'Unlike Donald Trump, I don't believe people who disagree with me are the enemy,' Harris said. 'He wants to put them in jail. I'll give them a seat at the table.'
Harris' running mate Tim Walz was also asked about Biden's 'garbage' comment Wednesday morning.
He insisted in a CBS Mornings interview that the president's comments do not undercut the campaign's message of 'unity.'
