Joe Biden calls Trump supporters 'garbage', clarifies after backlash

President Joe Biden faced heavy backlash for apparently referring to former President Donald Trump's supporters as "garbage", in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" during Trump's Madison Square Garden rally.

Speaking during a Voto Latino get-out-the-vote call, Biden expressed solidarity with Puerto Ricans, emphasising their dignity and contributions.

He said, "I don't know the Puerto Rican that I knowâ€æor Puerto Rico where I'm - in my home state of Delaware - they're good, decent, honourable people." He then condemned Trump's rhetoric, saying, "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters," adding that Trump's "demonisation of Latinos is unconscionable, and it's un-American. It's totally contrary to everything we've done, everything we've been".

The backlash was swift and significant. Critics, particularly from the Republican Party, quickly connected Biden's comments to Hillary Clinton's infamous "deplorables" remark during the 2016 campaign, suggesting that Biden had similarly insulted millions of Americans.

Trump responded to Biden's comments during his rally in Pennsylvania, where he was informed about the controversy. "Wow. That's terrible. That's what it says," Trump remarked, drawing a parallel to Clinton's earlier comments by stating, "But she said deplorable, that didn't work out. Garbage I think is worse, right?"

Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign's national press secretary, issued a statement accusing Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of despising the "tens of millions of Americans who support him." She asserted that Trump "will be a president for ALL Americans," framing the issue as a fundamental divide between the two camps.

In an effort to clarify his remarks, Biden took to social media. He explained, "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."

He reiterated that the sentiments expressed at the rally did not reflect the values of the nation, reinforcing his commitment to inclusivity.

Addressing the ongoing row, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, an ally of Harris, was asked about Biden's comments during an interview.

He said, "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," highlighting a more conciliatory approach.

Furthermore, Donald Trump distanced himself from the comments made by Tony Hinchcliffe at the rally, asserting,
I still have - I have no idea who he is."

"Somebody said there was a comedian that joked about Puerto Rico or something, and I have no idea who he is, never saw him, never heard of him and don't want to hear of him," the former president explained.

When asked if the comedian should have been there at the rally, Trump said he didn't want anyone making "nasty jokes" about Americans.

The garbage row comes just a few days before the November 5 US Presidential elections.