Republican presidential Donald Trump delivered his vision to US voters at a major rally in New York City, but the event drew backlash over derogatory jokes about the Hispanic community.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe joked on stage about Hispanics in the US who "love making babies" and demeaned the Caribbean US territory of Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage."
Hinchcliffe's comments drew backlash from Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, Democratic lawmakers and popular celebrities of Puerto Rican origin.
"Puerto Ricans deserve a president who sees and invests in (their) strength," Harris said in a clip published on social media alongside Hinchcliffe's comments.
As a Puerto Rican, I'm tempted to call Tony Hinchcliffe racist garbage, but doing so would be an insult to garbage.
When casting their ballots at the voting booth, Latinos should never forget the racism that Donald Trump seems all too willing to platform.pic.twitter.com/Wlrulb5ygq
Singer Ricky Martin, one of the most successful artists from the island, shared a video of Harris's appeal to Puerto Rican voters, along with a clip of Hinchcliffe's remarks, writing in "this is what they think of us," in Spanish, urging his 18 million followers to vote for Harris.
Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, who is widely popular among younger Hispanics in the US, also showed support for the vice president by sharing one of her videos to his 45.6 million followers on Instagram.
But Hinchcliffe's remarks also drew criticism from Republican and Trump-affiliated politicians.
"Disgusted by "@TonyHinchcliffe's racist comment calling Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage.' This rhetoric does not reflect GOP values. Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!" Florida House representative Maria Salazar wrote on X.
Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez sought to distance the former president from the controversy, saying in a statement said "this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign."
The backlash comes as Puerto Rican voters have emerged as a key voting bloc in swing states like Pennsylvania, where 450,000 reside. Both campaigns are seeking their votes, as the margin of victory in the state remains thin in what is predicted to be a close contest, in a must-win state.
