Former President Donald Trump didn’t distance himself from offensive comments comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made during a rally at Madison Square Garden, simply claiming he did not know him.
During Trump’s New York rally, Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, “a floating island of garbage.” Trump claimed he did not hear Hinchcliffe’s remarks and that he didn’t know who he was or who invited him to the event.
“I don’t know him, someone put him up there,” Trump told ABC News. “I don’t know who he is.”
When asked by the outlet if he denounced the remarks, he repeated he did not hear them. The remarks have been played on television and written about extensively.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), also claimed he did not hear the remarks, saying people should not be offended and that he was “over it.” However, Vance arrived at the arena before Hinchcliffe took the stage.
“Maybe it’s a stupid, racist joke, as you said, maybe it’s not. I haven’t seen it. I’m not going to comment on the specifics of the joke,” he said. “But I think that we have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the United States of America. I’m just — I’m so over it.”
Trump’s campaign has since said the comedian’s comments don’t reflect the views of the former president or the campaign, but it did not offer an apology for the comments. Still, Hinchcliffe’s speech was approved by the campaign as it was loaded onto the teleprompter. It was reported Hinchcliffe was told to take out certain parts of his prepared remarks, including calling Harris a “c***.”
At the rally, Hinchcliffe made comments about black people, drawing on racist tropes, saying he and his black “buddies” “carved watermelons” together. He called Palestinians rock-throwers and, in the same sentence, suggested Jews would not spend money, invoking an antisemitic trope. He also made disparaging remarks toward Latinos, claiming that they “love making babies.”
“These Latinos, they love making babies, too. Just know that they do,” Hinchcliffe said. “There’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They come inside, just like they did to our country.”
Hinchcliffe has defended his routine, saying, “These people have no sense of humor,” in response to criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Several Republicans have condemned Hinchcliffe’s remarks. Roberto Gonzalez Nieves, archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico, called on Trump to personally apologize for the controversial remarks.
“Puerto Rico is not a floating island of garbage. Puerto Rico is a beautiful country inhabited by a beautiful and noble people,” wrote Gonzalez Nieves.
“It is not sufficient for your campaign to apologize,” he continued. “It is important that you, personally, apologize for these comments.”
