Trump Says His Rally Speaker Trashing Puerto Rico Isn’t a ‘Big Deal’

Former president Donald Trump pleaded ignorance after garnering a wave of backlash over racist insults made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at his Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend. When speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News Tuesday, the Republican presidential candidate brushed aside the firestorm as not “a big deal.”

Trump claimed that Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” had nothing to do with the Republican party — despite the comic serving as the opening act for Trump’s campaign event.

“I have no idea who he is,” insisted Trump. “Somebody said there was a comedian that joked about Puerto Rico or something, and I have no idea who he is. Never saw him. Never heard of them.” The former president downplayed the controversy by rationalizing that since “everybody” features comedians at presidential rallies, it was “nobody’s fault.”

“Somebody said some bad things,” Trump continued before blaming Democrats for making it a “big deal.” He added, “I can’t imagine it’s a big deal,” then claimed “I’ve done more for Puerto Rico than any president.”

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Trump’s hate-filled takeover of MSG on Sunday was a sharp contrast to Vice President Kamala Harris’ closing message at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. While addressing the massive crowd of 75,000 people, Harris urged Americans watching to embrace a “new generation of leadership,” while calling for unity among the parties. 

“Nearly 250 years ago, America was born when we wrested freedom from a petty tyrant,” Harris said toward the end of her impassioned speech, taking a direct jab at Trump. “Across the generations, Americans have preserved that freedom, expanded it, and in so doing, proved to the world that a government of, by, and for the people is strong and can endure.”