The Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, speaks at a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
A racist remark about Puerto Rico made by a comedian at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally Sunday night sparked criticism Monday from New Jersey lawmakers.
Garden State legislators said they were “appalled” by Tony Hinchcliffe’s comment calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean.”
Sen. Teresa Ruiz (Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor)
“I’m heartbroken,” said Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), who is the first Latina to serve as the state’s Senate majority leader. “It was a moment in time, unfortunately, that I think reminded so many people of a fascist movement that we saw occur in history before that we cannot allow to happen again.”
Hinchcliffe was the first speaker at Trump’s New York City rally, which attracted more than 20,000 Trump supporters to the midtown Manhattan arena. During Hinchcliffe’s 12-minute set, he made crude remarks aimed at Latinos, Black men, and Jewish people.
“And these Latinos, they love making babies too, just know that they do,” he said before adding a lewd joke.
New Jersey’s 13-member Latino Legislative Caucus also condemned the Puerto Rico insult, noting that as American citizens, Puerto Ricans have served in the U.S. military, paid their taxes, exercised their right to vote, and strived toward the American dream.
“Any attempt to have these contributions tarnished by the repugnant remarks made by a comedian in an attempt to win votes is beyond abhorrent; it goes against everything America stands for,” they said in a joint, bipartisan statement.
More than 3 million Americans call Puerto Rico home. Latinos make up about 20% of New Jersey’s population, and about 500,000 are Puerto Ricans.
State Sen. Nellie Pou (D-Passaic), who is Puerto Rican, said that as someone whose family was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the comedian’s comment is a warning about how Trump “would treat Puerto Ricans if he were to set foot again in the White House.” Pou, who is seeking the House seat in the 9th Congressional District, urged people to cast their ballot for Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Republicans, too, have criticized Hinchcliffe. Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union), who moonlights as a comedian and is a Trump critic, said jokes can toe the line, but Hinchcliffe crossed it.
“A joke is funny. What’s the funny part? I understand what comedians do, and I don’t condemn comedians, but when you’re at a political rally with 20,000 people, and you talk about the island of Puerto Rico like that, everyone involved needs to apologize,” said Bramnick. “Simple as that.”
Legislative leadership also weighed in. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) said the “vile” comment is an affront to American values, while Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said that insults targeting Puerto Ricans are “especially repulsive.”
“Puerto Ricans are valued citizens who have served our country with distinction and have advanced the cultural, economic and social progress of New Jersey and America,” he said.
A Trump campaign adviser said Sunday that the comment about Puerto Rico “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.” On Monday, Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, said he hadn’t heard the comment but said critics “have to stop getting so offended at every little thing.”
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