What began as a response to a comedian’s controversial joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally quickly escalated into a major political controversy when President Biden, during a Hispanic voter outreach call organized by Voto Latino, stated “the only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.” The comment came as a response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke calling Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” at Madison Square Garden.
White House Damage Control
The Biden administration attempted multiple explanations to contain the fallout:
• They initially claimed that Mr. Biden was only referring to Mr. Hinchcliffe.
• A modified transcript was released, adding an apostrophe to make it “supporter’s” rather than “supporters.”
• Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s explicitly stated that Mr. Biden “does not view Trump supporters or anybody who supports Trump as garbage.”
There are also legal concerns, noted below, that the administration could face. As a result, White House Counsel Edward Siskel received formal notice to preserve all documents and communications about the statement and transcript.
Republican Response
The Republican reaction was swift and forceful:
• Mr. Trump wore a garbage worker’s vest at a Green Bay rally and arrived in a MAGA-branded garbage truck. “I may never wear a blue jacket again,” he quipped.
• Brett Favre appeared at the rally, declaring, “I can assure you we are not garbage.”
• Sen. Marco Rubio characterized Mr. Biden’s comments as an attack on “everyday Americans who love their country.”
• House Republicans Elise Stefanik and James Comer allege the transcript modification violates the Presidential Records Act of 1978.
Democratic Party Fallout
The controversy created significant complications for Democrats:
• Kamala Harris attempted to distance herself, stating “I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for”
• Downballot Democrats like Rep. Jared Golden (ME) and Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin (MI) publicly condemned Biden’s remarks
• The incident overshadowed Ms. Harris’s major campaign rally on the Ellipse
Campaign Impact
The controversy has had several notable effects:
- It has energized Mr. Trump’s base, with his campaign quickly launching fundraising efforts around the comment.
- There are now comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 “deplorables” comment.
- Ms. Harris has been forced to pivot to a unity message, spending nearly half of a 15-minute speech discussing bipartisanship.
- There are newly-created tensions between Biden and Harris’s campaign messaging.
Legal Implications
The transcript modification controversy raises several serious issues:
• Did it violate the Presidential Records Act?
• Questions now linger about White House communication practices.
• There could be possible legal consequences for staff involved.
Lasting Effects
The deeper fallout from the “garbage” controversy could have a significant impact on voters’ decisions heading into Election Day:
• It may have further complicated Mr. Biden’s role in Ms. Harris’s campaign.
• Republicans have now emerged with a powerful rallying cry.
• There are new challenges for other Democratic candidates in competitive races.
• The saga has only added to the increasing polarization of political discourse.
• It’s added another layer to the already complex relationship between the Biden administration and Trump supporters.
The incident demonstrates how a single comment can rapidly evolve into a major campaign issue with significant implications for both parties and their electoral strategies.
Read More:
White House’s ‘false transcript’ of Biden ‘garbage’ remarks may violate federal law, Republicans say
Trump dons garbage worker’s vest, jokes he may never wear blue suit jacket again
‘Garbage’ vitriol roils presidential race; Trump embraces Biden jab at rally
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy here or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com.
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.