Trump Rally Joke Ignites Fury in Puerto Rico, Potentially Hurting Campaign
A joke at a Donald Trump rally in New York targeting Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” has sparked outrage on the island, potentially impacting the upcoming presidential election, The Associated Press reports.
While Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the general election, their powerful influence through relatives on the mainland could be significantly swayed by this incident.
The joke, delivered by stand-up comic Tony Hinchcliffe, followed a pattern of lewd and racist remarks targeting Latinos, Jews, and Black people, all key constituencies in the election. The comment came just days after Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris announced her campaign to win over Puerto Rican communities in swing states like Pennsylvania.
The incident has sparked widespread anger and resentment among Puerto Ricans, who feel marginalized and treated as second-class citizens despite being American citizens. They point to their lack of voting rights in presidential elections, limited federal funding compared to US states, and the inadequate response to Hurricane Maria in 2017, which resulted in the deaths of thousands.
Trump’s visit to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria was widely criticized, with his throwing paper towels into a crowd and denial of the storm’s official death toll further fueling resentment.
While a senior adviser for the Trump campaign, Danielle Alvarez, distanced the campaign from Hinchcliffe’s joke, it is unlikely to quell the growing anger among Puerto Ricans.
