A comedian at a Donald Trump rally sparked outrage by calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” inciting criticism from both Republicans and Democrats and accusations of racism.
Tony Hinchcliffe, the comic, performed at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, where he made additional jokes relying on racial stereotypes. A Trump adviser distanced the former president from the comment about Puerto Rico, which was also condemned by Trump’s Democratic rival, Kamala Harris. Harris herself was targeted by another warm-up speaker who drew controversy.
The uproar followed as Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, one of the world’s top Latin celebrities, publicly endorsed Harris for president.
In his routine, Hinchcliffe, known for his comedy podcast Kill Tony, remarked: “There’s a lot going on. I don’t know if you know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
The joke met a mixed reception. Two Florida Republicans, representing a state with a significant Puerto Rican community, criticized the joke.
US Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar expressed her disgust on X, calling it a “racist comment” and stating that it did not “reflect GOP values.” She highlighted the thousands of Puerto Ricans serving in the military.
US Senator Rick Scott stated: “The joke bombed for a reason. It’s not funny, and it’s not true.” He added that “Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans.”
Puerto Rico, a US territory in the Caribbean, is home to citizens who cannot vote in presidential elections, though a large diaspora across the mainland can.
Hinchcliffe went on to suggest that Latinos “loved making babies,” then invoked stereotypes about Black people and watermelons, which prompted groans from the audience. He also referenced antisemitic stereotypes, implying Palestinians throw rocks and Jews won’t spend money.
A source familiar with the event told CBS, a BBC partner, that Trump’s team had vetted Hinchcliffe’s material, but the comments on Puerto Rico, Latinos, and Black people were reportedly ad-libbed. The campaign also reportedly cut two profane jokes.
Trump has remained silent on the controversy, though he has faced calls to apologize from Puerto Rican leaders, including the island’s archbishop and the head of its Republican Party.
Hinchcliffe defended his routine, saying on X: “These people have no sense of humor,” in response to criticism from Democratic lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz.
He added, “I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone… watch the whole set.”
Ocasio-Cortez responded, “You don’t ‘love Puerto Rico.’ You like drinking piña coladas. There’s a difference.” She had previously called his comments “super upsetting,” noting her Puerto Rican heritage.
Other speakers that evening also generated controversy. David Rem, a longtime friend of Trump, referred to Harris as “the devil” and “the antichrist.”
Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani falsely claimed that Harris was “on the side of the terrorists” regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Despite the focus on his guest speakers’ comments, Trump used the rally to announce tax credits for those caring for a parent or loved one. “It’s about time they were recognized,” he stated.
Trump also reiterated plans for mass deportation of illegal immigrants, vowing to “rescue” communities he described as “invaded and conquered” by “vicious and bloodthirsty criminals.”
Earlier Sunday, Harris revealed policies aimed at aiding Puerto Rico, garnering support from Jennifer Lopez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, and Bad Bunny. Other celebrities have also voiced support for her.
Bad Bunny shared videos of Harris discussing Puerto Rico, highlighting her plans to support residents and her critique of Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria, which killed nearly 3,000 people in 2017.
According to CBS, a source close to Bad Bunny confirmed his endorsement of Harris, marking a rare foray into national politics for the singer.
Puerto Rico has experienced a major exodus over the past seven years, with many relocating to states like Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, which have growing Puerto Rican communities. In these swing states, Puerto Ricans now represent the second-largest Latino group.
Although Bad Bunny refrained from addressing Hinchcliffe’s comments, fellow Puerto Rican artist Ricky Martin responded, urging his fans to vote for Harris and saying, “this is what they think of us.”
Pew Research Center estimates that around 36 million Hispanic voters will be eligible this election. While typically a cornerstone of the Democratic coalition, Republicans have made gains with this demographic.
Madison Square Garden, near the center of New York City, is one of the world’s most renowned venues with a capacity of about 20,000.
New York, solidly Democratic and not crucial to the election outcome, is also Trump’s hometown, where he recently faced a historic criminal conviction.
Who is Tony Hinchcliffe?
Tony Hinchcliffe is a comedian from Austin, Texas, best known for his podcast Kill Tony, where comics audition in one-minute sets before Hinchcliffe and his co-host, Brian Redban.
The podcast has 1.89 million YouTube subscribers.
Hinchcliffe grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was known as “the class clown.” He began his comedy career working for Joe Rogan and writing jokes for Comedy Central Roasts.
Controversial for past remarks, in 2021 he faced backlash for using a racial slur toward Chinese-American comedian Peng Deng and refused to apologize.
“When asked by Variety, he stated, “It was so dumbfounding to me because it was a joke, and my stance is that comedians should never apologize for a joke.”
Hinchcliffe also recently appeared in Tom Brady’s Netflix comedy roast.