President Joe Biden disrupted Vice President Kamala Harris‘s last-ditch effort to reach undecided or conservative voters on Tuesday night when he appeared to call supporters of former President Donald Trump “garbage.”
In comments ahead of Harris’s “closing argument” speech at the Ellipse, Biden blasted a comment made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe that Puerto Rico is a “floating island of garbage” at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend.
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“Donald Trump has no character. He doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community,” Biden said. “Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. … They’re good, decent, honorable people.”
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden said. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”
The comments drew backlash from conservatives, who accused Biden of calling Trump supporters “garbage.” However, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement that the president referred to the “hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as garbage.”
He pointed to a transcript reflecting Biden talking of “supporter’s,” in reference to the comedian.
Biden also tried to clarify his remarks, issuing a post on X Tuesday night.
“Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable,” Biden said. “That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
The damage may already be done, however, as Harris looks to appeal to both undecided, independent, and GOP voters who are unsure about their presidential vote. Part of Harris’s speech at the Ellipse included remarks from Bob and Kristina Lange, Republicans from Pennsylvania who previously supported Trump.
During her closing argument, Harris promised to find common ground and work with all people, even those who disagree with her.
“I am not looking to score political points,” Harris said. “I am looking to make progress. I pledge to listen to experts, to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, and to people who disagree with me.”
“Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy,” the vice president added. “He wants to put them in jail. I’ll give them a seat at the table.”
The comments made by Biden mirror similar remarks made by Hillary Clinton, when she said half of Trump’s 2016 supporters fit into a “basket of deplorables.” The remarks infuriated many conservatives during what was already a partisan, divisive election.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) took the stage at Trump’s rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday night to condemn Biden’s “garbage” supporters remarks.
“He’s talking about the Border Patrol. He’s talking about nurses, he’s talking about teachers, he’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country and want to dream big again and support you, Mr. President, and I hope their campaign is about to apologize for what Joe Biden just said,” Rubio said. “We are not garbage. We are patriots who love America.”
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) told the Washington Examiner “no” when asked whether he agrees with Biden that Trump supporters are garbage.
During his rally, Trump referred to the U.S. as a “garbage can,” repeating a common phrase uttered at rallies to describe the level of immigrants crossing the southern border illegally. He claimed that other nations are emptying prisons and sending criminals into the U.S.
“They’re dumping like we’re a dumping ground,” Trump said.
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Comments from both Trump and Harris on the campaign trail have been accused by the other as methods of inciting violence and acting as a threat to democracy. Trump has angered many Democrats by calling Harris “Comrade Kamala” and a “Marxist,” while Harris has caused backlash in Republican circles for referring to the former president as a “fascist.”
With a week to go in before Election Day, both Harris and Trump are making their last pitches to voters in a race that is likely to be a head-to-head contest decided by a handful of ballots. Many polls show either candidate within the margin of error of each other in key swing states.
Gabe Kaminsky contributed to this report.