Comments made by President Joe Biden during a virtual campaign event on Tuesday sparked backlash after many online accused him of referring to Trump supporters as trash.

These remarks followed those of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday, who referred to the US colony of Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage.” The speech motivated many Puerto Rican artists to come forward and endorse Kamala Harris; names include Bad Bunny, Luis Fonsi, Jennifer Lopez, and Don Omar.

Trump distances himself from Hinchcliffe’s racist remarks

Former President Trump has attempted to distance himself from the speaker, whom he says was not vetted before being asked to speak. During his interview with Sean Hannity on Tuesday night, Donald Trump did not blame any member of his team for allowing Hinchcliffe to speak, but admitted that his remarks had not been vetted.

Did President Biden call Trump supporters garbage?

President Biden responded to the attacks on Puerto Rico, saying that he knows many Puerto Rican people who are “good” and “decent” and that the only “garbage [he] sees floating out there are his supporters.” 

The comments from the president highlight a significant problem with Democrats who attack Trump voters, which only further alienates them from the party’s message. Donald Trump’s campaign aims to show many in Middle America that the Democratic elites in Washington do not care about them or the problems they face, and these comments from Biden can be used as evidence to make that point. 

However, President Biden’s took to social media to correct the record.

The president clarified that he was referring to those at the rally that were “spewing” racism, not all Trump supporters. He also called attention to Trump’s continuous demonization of Latinos, calling it “unconscionable.”