Comments on Puerto Rico: Republicans are trying to limit the damage
Donald Trump saw the big picture on Sunday when he filled Madison Square Garden in New York with red caps. Elon Musk, Robert Francis Kennedy Jr, wrestler Hulk Hogan and former ultraconservative Fox News host Tucker Carlson put on the show, warming up the room before the arrival of the tribune.
And then… there was Tony Hinchcliffe’s slip-up. The Texan comedian, host of the podcast “Kill Tony”, generally considered racist, distinguished himself by comparing Puerto Rico – although an American territory –, many of whose natives reside in New York, to “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” et stating that Latinos were having too many children
These remarks were well received by Donald Trump’s supporters, reports CNN, which points out that the former president has made a habit of describing the United States as “trash for the world” when he attacks undocumented immigrants. Yesterday, as the daily reminds us USA Todayhe offered his supporters a variation on his favorite theme, recalling that, for him, the United States “are now an occupied country”, repeating his plan to launch the “largest deportation program in American history”.
The sequence was quickly denounced on social networks, in particular by the campaign team of the Democratic candidate, who went to a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia on Sunday. Several Puerto Rican stars, such as Jennifez Lopez and her 250 million subscribers on Instagram, the prince of reggaeton Bad Bunny (45 million subscribers on Instagram) and Ricky Martin (18 million subscribers), have given their support to Kamala Harris by relaying videos of the Democrat in their stories on Instagram. “This is what they think of us”wrote Ricky Martin, referring to Donald Trump’s meeting. And to add for his fans: “Vote for @kamalaharris. »
However, after the rally, and faced with the controversy which risks seeing part of the Latino electorate turn away from Donald Trump, the Republican candidate’s campaign team sought to distance itself from Tony Hinchcliffe: “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign”said his campaign spokesperson, Danielle Alvarez, in a statement sent to the media. The entourage of the former president, cited by Politicoclaims that the speakers’ remarks were not read by the campaign team before the event.
Tony Hinchcliffe tried to get away with a pirouette, in the tone of “we can’t say anything more”. In a message posted on X, he wrote about Democrats who want to ride this boat: “These people have no sense of humor. It’s crazy that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his “busy schedule” to analyze a joke taken out of context and make it seem racist. I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone… Watch the whole show. I’m a comedian, Tim [Walz]… It might be time to change your tampon. »
Latino elected officials from the Grand Old Party react
A few voices were raised against yesterday’s slip-ups at Madison Square Garden. In a message posted on “disgusted” by his rhetoric “racist” Who “does not reflect GOP values [surnom du Parti républicain] ». She added that more than 48,000 Puerto Rico residents served in the Vietnam War and more than 345 received the Purple Heart. “This courage deserves respectwrote Maria Elvira Salazar. Find out! » Carlos Gimenez, Republican Representative from Florida, wrote in a post on X: “It’s not a joke. It’s completely devoid of class and in bad taste. » He added that Tony Hinchcliffe « n’[était] clearly not funny and does not reflect[ait] certainly not [s]“nor those of the Republican Party”.
Florida Senator Rick Scott denounced the ” joke “ as “not funny” et ” false “. Anthony D’Esposito, another New York elected official, wrote on X: “I’m proud to be Puerto Rican. My mother was born and raised in Puerto Rico. It is a beautiful island with a rich culture and is an integral part of the United States. The only thing that is “zero” was this bad show. » David Urban, a Republican strategist and Trump ally, posted on X: “I understand that his podcast “Kill Tony” is extremely popular, but I didn’t find it funny and it unfortunately offended many of our friends in Puerto Rico. »
In a press release, Angel M. Cintron, the chairman of the Puerto Rico Republican Party, called Tony Hinchcliffe’s remarks “poor attempt at humor (…). Whether we are Republicans or Democrats, we are proud American citizens and Puerto Ricans, with deep roots and invaluable contributions to American democracy for over a hundred years.”.
However, everyone seems to have forgotten that in September 2017, after the passage of Hurricane Maria, Donald Trump, then president, attacked the « leadership » local authorities in Puerto Rico and his administration had been accused of considering the island’s inhabitants as second-class citizens. When he finally got there, his visit was punctuated by awkwardness, like throwing paper towels at the survivors.
Related News :