By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-10-30 03:11:08 | Updated at 2024-10-30 05:31:32
2 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump are “garbage” for backing such an “unconscionable” candidate.
The president’s remarks came after insult comic Tony Hinchcliffe made a joke about Puerto Rico being an island of “floating garbage“ during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden. While numerous conservative Puerto Ricans came forward to say they were not offended by the joke, Democratic operatives claimed it was malicious and tied it to Trump.
Puerto Ricans are “good, decent, honorable people,” Biden said in response to the controversy during a Zoom call with Voto Latino. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
Trump’s “demonization” is “unconscionable,” Biden added. “And it’s un-American.”
Numerous journalists reported Biden’s words about Trump supporters Tuesday evening, including NBC News White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez.
Pres. Biden tonight:
“Donald Trump has no character. He doesn't give a damn about the Latino community…just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage?…The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
Conservative organizations and commentators defended Trump supporters against Biden calling them “garbage” and decried the incumbent president’s insult.
The administration later seemed to attempt to walk back the president’s remark.
Gutierrez later Tuesday night reported that a White House spokesperson now claimed Biden was only referring to the comedian.
On Tuesday night, Biden’s official X (formerly Twitter) account attempted to clarify the president’s remarks
“Earlier today I 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,” the account stated. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable.”
“That’s all I meant to say,” Biden’s account continued. “The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
Earlier today I 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. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say. The…
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 30, 2024However, popular right-leaning X account End Wokeness did not seem to buy the explanation.
“No, you called us garbage. It’s on tape,” the account wrote, enclosing a clip of Biden’s remarks.
Biden’s comments even appeared to receive criticism from members of his own party.
Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said during a Friday night appearance on CNN, “I would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn’t support.”
A rising star in the Democratic Party, Shapiro was the runner-up to become the party’s 2024 vice-presidential nominee. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris instead selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
NEW from Gov. Josh Shapiro, reacting to Biden comments on CNN:
“I’m giving you my fresh reaction to it. I would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn’t support.”
