Former President Donald Trump has claimed he has “never heard of” the controversial comedian who made a racist joke about Puerto Rico at his Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday.
Hinchcliffe, known for his Kill Tony podcast, told attendees at the packed venue on Sunday: “There’s a lot going on.” I don’t know if you know this, but right now there is literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.
Republican candidate Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he had no idea who Tony Hinchcliffe was or why he was invited to speak at the New York City rally on Sunday.
‘I have no idea who he is. Someone said there was a comedian who joked about Puerto Rico or something, and I have no idea who it was. “I’ve never seen him, I’ve never heard of him, and I don’t want to hear about him,” he told the Fox News host.
‘I have no idea. They put on a comedian, which everyone does… you don’t examine them and you go crazy.
‘What they have done is take someone who has nothing to do with the party, nothing to do with us, said something and they are trying to make a big fuss. But I don’t know who it is, I don’t even know who put it in. And I can’t imagine it’s a big deal.
“I have done more for Puerto Rico than any other president who has ever been president.”
Republican candidate Trump (pictured) told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he had no idea who Tony Hinchcliffe was or why he was invited to speak.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe speaks during a rally for Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, the United States, on October 27, 2024.
The controversial comedian also doubled down on his racism and relied on negative stereotypes about Latinos, saying: ‘These Latinos also love having babies. I just know that they do. There is no way to withdraw.
‘They don’t do that. They enter. Just like they did with our country.
Almost immediately, the Trump campaign distanced itself from Hinchcliffe, and Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, said in a statement that the Puerto Rico joke “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
Democrats seized on Hinchcliffe’s comments and Republicans tried to distance themselves from the joke.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz called Hinchcliffe a ‘fool’ in a Twitch stream with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the hours after the rally.
Walz’s comment is so far the only one that outrages Hinchcliffe, who said in a post on X: “These people have no sense of humor.” It’s crazy that a VP candidate would take time out of his “busy schedule” to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it appear racist.
‘I love Puerto Rico and vacationing there. I made fun of everyone…watch the full set. I’m a comedian Tim…maybe it’s time to change your tampon.’
Republican Senator Rick Scott wrote of the joke: “This joke backfired for a reason.” It’s not funny and it’s not true. Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans! I have been to the island many times. It’s a beautiful place.’
Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump departs after a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, October 27, 2024
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe speaks during a rally for Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, the United States, on October 27, 2024.
‘Everyone should visit us! I will always do everything I can to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island.’
Congresswoman María Salazar wrote: “Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe’s racist comment calling Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.'” “This rhetoric does not reflect the values of the Republican Party.”
‘Puerto Rico sent more than 48,000 soldiers to Vietnam, and more than 345 Purple Hearts were awarded. This bravery deserves respect,” he added. ‘Educate yourself!
Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican congressman from New York who attended the rally, wrote: “I am proud to be Puerto Rican.” My mother was born and raised in Puerto Rico. It is a beautiful island with a rich culture and an integral part of the United States. The only thing that’s ‘garbage’ was a bad comedy. Stay on message.’
Outside of politics, musicians and actors criticized Hinchcliffe for his racist jokes and urged his fans to vote for Kamala Harris.
Walz and Ocasio-Cortez, whose family is Puerto Rican, also criticized the comedian for his comments while discussing the set during a Twitch stream on Sunday.
Hinchcliffe, 40, took the podium at Madison Square Garden on Sunday to tell a series of jokes that included lewd and racist comments about Latinos, Jews and blacks.
Attendees applaud at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York.
Ricky Martin, the Puerto Rican superstar with 18.6 million followers on Instagram, quickly shared a video of Harris’ appeal to Puerto Rican voters, along with a clip of Hinchcliffe’s disparaging comments.
“This is what they think of us,” Martín wrote in Spanish. ‘Vote for @kamalaharris.’
Jennifer López shared the same video and several slides showing Harris’ policy in Puerto Rico to her 250 million followers.
The video shared by Bad Bunny on Instagram shows Harris saying “there is a lot at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico.” A representative for the artist confirmed that Bad Bunny is supporting Harris.
Within Trump’s campaign, many fear the prank will seriously harm his chances of winning the election.
Republican presidential candidate former US President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on October 28, 2024.
The artist then shared another part of the clip where Harris says: ‘I will never forget what Donald Trump did and did not do when Puerto Rico needed a supportive and competent leader.’
Within Trump’s campaign, many fear the prank will seriously hurt his chances of winning the election, less than a week before polls open on Nov. 5.
In Pennsylvania, a swing state whose voters will likely decide the outcome of the election, there are 500,000 Puerto Ricans.
Chuck Rocha, a Democratic political operative who specializes in mobilizing Latino voters, publicly asked for $30,000 in donations to a PAC he runs so he can send a clip from Hinchcliffe’s set to Puerto Rican voters across the Keystone State.
Less than a day later, the New York Times reported, they sent him the money through small donations and sent him more than 250,000 text messages with a 15-second clip from the set.
‘Puerto Ricans have a unique affinity for their homeland. When you attack the island, the community is deeply hurt,’ he told the newspaper.