Puerto Rican reggaeton star Nicky Jam has done a swift about-face, retracting his support for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race. His change of heart comes just weeks after a vocal endorsement that, to many fans, seemed to be about economic policy. But the catalyst? A comic’s throwaway line about Puerto Rico as “garbage” at a recent Trump rally.

Jam un-endorses Trump

Explaining his decision in a video posted to Instagram, Nicky Jam expressed initial support for Trump based on his economic stance.

“I thought [Trump] was best for the economy in the US, where so many of us Latinos live, including myself,” he said. “But never in my life did I expect someone to come and criticize my country.” For Jam, this incident crossed a line, and his reaction was swift: “Respect Puerto Rico,” he stated, renouncing his political endorsement.

Jam, who’d previously stood onstage with Trump, joins a growing list of Puerto Rican artists voicing concerns about the remark. Singer Ricky Martin and actress Aubrey Plaza both took to social media to defend Puerto Rico, while Grammy-winner Bad Bunny used the moment to rally his followers. Bad Bunny’s post, highlighting the island’s history and resilience, ended with a single word: “garbage.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s rally gaffe wasn’t the only awkward moment involving Jam. At an earlier event, Trump mistakenly introduced the reggaeton icon as “Nicky,” adding, “She’s hot!” The artist didn’t address the comment publicly, but fans online were quick to notice.

In a final twist, Mexican pop-rock band Maná announced they’ve pulled a past collaboration with Jam, noting simply, “Maná does not work with racists.” The group is now rallying with Kamala Harris, adding further dimension to the ripple effects of a comment that may have gone unnoticed in another room, at another time.

Nicky Jam’s supporters seem to be backing his decision, with many echoing his call to “respect Puerto Rico.”

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