Comic under fire after labelling Puerto Rico 'floating island of garbage' at Trump rally

A comedian performing astatine a Donald Trump rally has travel nether occurrence aft helium labelled Puerto Rico a "floating land of garbage".

Comic Tony Hinchcliffe aboriginal said "these Latinos, they emotion making babies" and added that they don't usage the pull-out commencement power method earlier Mr Trump took to the signifier astatine New York's Madison Square Garden connected Sunday evening.

The comments sparked important disapproval including among Republican politicians.

Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents parts of Miami for the Republicans and has participated successful caller Trump events, wrote connected X that she was "disgusted" by the comment.

She said: "This rhetoric does not bespeak GOP values. Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with implicit 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!"

Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is of Puerto Rican descent and was calved successful New York, reacted to the comments during a unrecorded watercourse with Kamala Harris's moving mate Tim Walz.

"When you person immoderate a-hole calling Puerto Rico 'floating garbage', cognize that that's what they deliberation astir you," she said.

"It's what they deliberation astir anyone who makes little wealth than them."

Mr Hinchcliffe defended himself connected X, accused Ms Ocasio-Cortez of having "no consciousness of humour" and said helium loves holidaying successful Puerto Rico.

Moments aft Mr Hinchcliffe made the comments, rapper Bad Bunny endorsed Ms Harris, sharing a video with the Democratic campaigner saying "there's truthful overmuch astatine involvement successful this predetermination for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico".

Read more: Was Trump's Madison Square Garden rally an evocation of Nazism?

Luis Fonsi, a Puerto Rican creator who sings the deed Despacito, went connected Instagram and wrote "going down this racist way ain't it".

Meanwhile, Ricky Martin, who had antecedently endorsed Ms Harris, was besides offended by the remark and said "that's what they deliberation of us," connected Instagram.

Danielle Alvarez, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, besides said the gag did "not bespeak the views of President Trump oregon the campaign".

The enactment whitethorn boost the Harris run arsenic it tries to bolster its enactment with Latino voters, among whom Trump has been moving to summation ground.

The Puerto Rican ballot is sizeable successful Pennsylvania, which is arguably the hardest-fought of the plaything states successful the 2024 election.

Follow Sky News connected WhatsApp

Keep up with each the latest quality from the UK and astir the satellite by pursuing Sky News

Tap present

Other speakers astatine the New York rally besides made incendiary comments astir Ms Harris, with conscionable much than a week to spell until the election.

Mr Trump's puerility person David Rem referred to Ms Harris arsenic "the Antichrist" and "the devil". Businessman Grant Cardone told the assemblage that Harris "and her pimp handlers volition destruct our country".

Among the rally's different speakers were erstwhile nonrecreational wrestler Hulk Hogan, X proprietor Elon Musk, TV scientist Dr Phil McGraw and erstwhile Fox News big Tucker Carlson.

Mr Trump was introduced to the assemblage by his woman Melania successful a uncommon nationalist appearance. He was much than much than 2 hours precocious to the event.