Election 2024: Biden suggests Trump supporters are 'trash'

WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden lashed out at Donald Trump supporters as he reacted to Republican presidential candidates' weekend rally at Madison Square Garden, which was overshadowed by crude and racist rhetoric.

A cartoon calling Puerto Rico trash ahead of a packed Donald Trump rally in New York was the latest humiliation for an island territory that has long suffered from mistreatment, residents said Monday in expressions of fury that could affect the presidential election. (AP video by Alejandro Granadillo)

In a call hosted by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino, Biden responded Tuesday to a cartoon at Trump's rally that called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Biden's initial comments were garbled.

The other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Well, let me tell you something, I don't know the Puerto Rican that I know, the Puerto Rico where I am – in my home state of Delaware. They are good and honorable people, he said.

The president then added: The only trash I see floating around out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unacceptable and un-American. This is completely contrary to everything we have done, everything we have been.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Biden called the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally trash.

Biden then took to social media to personally clarify what he had said.

Earlier today, I called the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by the Trump supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally trash, which is the only word I can think of to describe it, he posted on X. His demonization of Latinos is unacceptable. That's all I wanted to say. The comments made at this rally do not reflect who we are as a nation.

However, by calling Trump supporters trash, Biden's tone was at odds with the message Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is seeking to present in an effort to appeal broadly, including to disaffected Republicans. Shortly after Biden's comments, Harris spoke from the Ellipse in Washington, vowing to be a president who would unify the country.

I am committed to being a president for all Americans, said Harris, Biden's vice president.

Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, said the campaign's message of unity was not undermined by Biden's words.

Walz said Wednesday on CBS Mornings that the president has been very clear that he's talking about the rhetoric we've heard, so that doesn't undermine it. Walz added on ABC's Good Morning America that he and Harris made it clear we want everyone to be a part of it. This is Donald Trump's controversial rhetoric that must stop.

Republicans were quick to point out Biden's remark. Trump called Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at his rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to recount what happened.

Moments ago, Joe Biden said our supporters, our patriots, were trash, Rubio said. It's about ordinary Americans who love their country.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a later statement: “There is no way to make this seem true: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don't just hate President Trump, they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him.

A Trump campaign fundraising blurb said: KAMALAS BOSS JOE BIDEN JUST CALLED ALL MY SUPPORTERS TRASH! before assuring recipients that Trump himself thinks, YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!

Even some prominent Democrats have begun to distance themselves from Biden's comments. Speaking on CNN, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any American, even if they chose to support a candidate I did not support.

What you need to know about the 2024 elections

The comments are reminiscent of then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton dismissing Trump supporters at a New York fundraiser in 2016, saying half of them would be lumped in with deplorables.

Clinton later called this characterization grossly generalist. But it became a defiant rallying cry for many Trump supporters, who said the insult encapsulated the elitist attitudes of Clinton and Democrats.

As reactions to Biden's response began to fly, Trump was asked in an interview with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity on Tuesday night about the racist and vulgar joke at his rally in New York. He responded: Someone said there was a comedian who joked about Puerto Rico or something. And I have no idea who he is.

The former president added: “I can’t imagine it’s a big deal.

At a rally Tuesday in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a city with a large Hispanic population, Trump reiterated his claim that Biden's immigration policies have allowed other countries to treat the United States like a giant trash can .

With Election Day just a week away, Biden has worked to maintain his relevance, furiously promoting his administration's accomplishments while Harris in her race against Trump.

But his efforts to stay in the political spotlight may not always be as helpful to the top of the Democratic ticket he currently promotes. Indeed, even though Harris has been a vocal critic of Trump for months, repeatedly calling him unstable and unhinged and even suggesting he was a fascist, she has been careful not to disparage his supporters.

In fact, the vice president campaigned extensively with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and other former Republican elected officials in hopes of appealing to crossover conservative voters. The Democratic convention and Harris' ads highlighted the stories of ordinary Americans who said they voted for Trump in the past but now say they support the vice president.

During Tuesday's call, Biden also said Trump doesn't care about the Latino community and called for the former president's rejection, even though Trump's campaign says his support is growing among Hispanics, especially men.

Vote to keep Donald Trump out of the White House, Biden said. He represents a real danger, not only to Latinos, but to everyone. Especially those who are the minority in this country.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos