Latest Trump Rally Defined by Racist Jokes: Is Anyone Surprised?

Calling Puerto Rico a “Floating Island of Garbage”

In one of the most incendiary moments of his set, Hinchcliffe referenced Puerto Rico by saying, “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now.” He quipped, “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” This remark was met with a mixed reaction of laughter, clapping, and boos from the audience, reflecting how divisive his comments were.

Hinchcliffe’s comment hit a particularly sensitive nerve for Puerto Ricans and Latinos in the U.S., especially those with ties to the island. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, home to over 3 million American citizens who have long grappled with inadequate federal support, particularly in the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria, which left thousands dead and many more struggling. Many saw Hinchcliffe’s “garbage” remark as an attempt to minimize the island’s struggles and disparage its residents.

The remarks prompted Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a vocal advocate for Latino communities and a Puerto Rican herself, to voice her disgust. On a live Twitch stream where she was joined by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, she said, “When you have some a-hole calling Puerto Rico floating garbage, know that that’s what they think about you.”

Walz, on the other hand, who is Harris’s running mate in the 2024 election, responded to the comments by calling Hinchcliffe a “jack-wad” and pointing out that “People in Puerto Rico are citizens. They pay tax and they serve in the military at almost a higher rate than anybody else.”

On Monday, October 28, Ocasio-Cortez went on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” where she denounced the Trump rally as “a hate rally.” She went on to say, “I think it’s very important for people to understand that these are mini Jan. 6 rallies.”

U.S. Senator from Connecticut, Chris Murphy, shared a similar sentiment on Twitter. “Not long ago, this kind of stuff would be shocking even from a fringe political movement. Now the Republican Party's closing campaign message is basically hate and racism. Just vile stuff,” he shared.

Perpetuating Offensive Stereotypes About Latinos

Hinchcliffe’s set continued to lean into blatant racism with jokes that perpetuate offensive stereotypes about Latino communities. At one point, he said, “These Latinos, they love making babies… there’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They come inside, just like they did to our country.” Such stereotypes, which frame Latino communities as irresponsible, particularly about family planning, have been used historically to justify discriminatory policies and to scapegoat immigrant populations.

The remarks sparked reactions across the board. Erika Andiola, immigrant rights advocate, took to Twitter to say: “This is no joke. They mean this. Every single word. But this hate towards our people goes beyond rhetoric.”

Sunny Hostin, lawyer, journalist, author, and co-host on ABC's morning talk show “The View,” used her platform to speak her mind. "This Puerto Rican has something to say about the island that I love, where my family is from. Puerto Rico is trash? We are Americans, Donald Trump." Hostin concluded her message by saying, "My fellow Puerto Ricans, trash collection day is November 5, 2024. Don't forget it."

Julio Ricardo Valera, founder of The Latino Newsletter, brought attention to the fact that comedy is often used this way. On Twitter, he stated, “So tired of the continued American tradition of using "comedy" to insult Puerto Ricans. From West Side Story to Seinfield to Work It to the Trump comedian today. It's raw and insulting.”

Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival, was quick to denounce the comments through her campaign, releasing a video in which she addressed the importance of Puerto Rico to her platform and criticized Trump’s treatment of the island.

Puerto Rican celebrities, including rapper Bad Bunny, weighed in by sharing Harris’s remarks and promoting her commitment to Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny posted several videos on social media condemning the rhetoric and urging his millions of followers to vote. Ricky Martin, another well-known Puerto Rican celebrity, weighed in by telling his followers, “This is what they think of us,” in reference to Hinchcliffe’s remarks.

Racist Tropes Targeting Black and Jewish Communities

Hinchcliffe didn’t limit his offensive jokes to Latinos. He referenced anti-Black stereotypes by talking about one of his Black friends, saying, “We carved watermelons together.” The stereotype of Black people and watermelons dates back to post-Civil War America, where such associations were used to belittle Black citizens and portray them as lesser or unsophisticated. Hinchcliffe’s use of the trope was met with groans from the audience. The comedian also made antisemitic comments, stating that “Palestinians are rock-throwers” and in the same breath implying that “Jews would never spend money.”

Moreover, Hinchcliffe’s remarks were just one element of a rally that featured other controversial speakers. David Rem, a close friend of Trump’s, referred to Kamala Harris as “the devil” and “the antichrist,” while Rudy Giuliani accused Harris of supporting “terrorists” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Radio host Sid Rosenberg attacked Hillary Clinton, calling her a “sick son of a b*tch” and accusing Democrats of being “Jew-haters and lowlives.” These comments added to the tone of divisiveness and hostility that defined the evening’s events, amplifying the national conversation around Trump’s campaign.

Trump’s Campaign Response

Amid the controversy, a Trump campaign spokesperson, Danielle Alvarez, reportedly issued a statement saying, “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.” However, critics pointed out that Trump’s track record on Puerto Rican issues has often drawn similar criticism.

In 2017, Trump was famously filmed tossing paper towels to Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria, an act widely seen as dismissive. As reported by NBC Philadelphia, Philadelphia councilmember Quetcy Lozada referenced the incident, saying, “Trump wants to act like he doesn’t hate Puerto Ricans, but his record says otherwise.”

A Potential Misstep in the Final Stretch

With around 36 million eligible Latino voters in 2024, the fallout from these comments could impact Trump’s outreach to the Latino community, especially in key battleground states. Pennsylvania, for instance, has a sizable Puerto Rican population, as do other critical states like Florida.

The Madison Square Garden rally was intended as a rallying cry for Trump’s supporters as the election approaches. Yet, it became a focal point of criticism due to offensive jokes and inflammatory rhetoric. Although Trump’s campaign attempted to disassociate itself from Hinchcliffe’s comments, the divisive impact of the evening remains clear. With the Latino vote playing a crucial role in this election, this event could have far-reaching consequences for Trump’s campaign in the days ahead.