US ELECTION 2024
The offensive Puerto Rico joke made by a MAGA comedian at Trump’s NYC rally
The so-called comedian made racist jokes at the expense of millions of Americans, garnering criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sparked outrage at Donald Trump’s recent rally in Madison Square Garden, New York City, with his offensive remarks about Puerto Rico in a night that devolved into some of the most deplorable seens so far in a pretty ugly campaign.
The rally, at a venue in a traditionally Democratic stronghold, was marked by intense rhetoric and controversial statements from various speakers.
Hinchcliffe, who opened the rally, made a particularly inflammatory comment about Puerto Rico: ”There’s a lot happening; I don’t know if you’re aware, but there’s actually a floating island of trash in the ocean right now. I believe it’s referred to as Puerto Rico.”
The clip has been viewed tens of millions of times.
The reaction
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign swiftly capitalized on the moment, sharing video clips across social media platforms. Puerto Rican celebrities such as pop sensation Bad Bunny, whose music has topped global streaming charts numerous times, shared that same video with his 45 million Instagram followers.
Republicans in states with a high proportion of Latino voters also came out against the ‘joke’. Senator Rick Scott from Florida, whose reelection bid relies heavily on Puerto Rican support, criticized Hinchcliffe’s joke. He stated on social media, “It’s not humorous and it’s not accurate. Puerto Ricans are incredible individuals and remarkable Americans!”
For his part, Hinchcliffe claimed that his critics lacked a sense of humor and defended his joke by saying, “I adore Puerto Rico and vacation there. I poked fun at everyone… watch the entire set.”