Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has once again come under fire for his involvement in a controversial rally that took place over the weekend. Despite calls from his allies to apologize for the racist comments made by speakers at the event, Trump has taken the opposite approach, choosing to defend and even praise the rally.
The rally, which was held at Madison Square Garden, featured a number of crude and offensive remarks from various speakers, including a joke by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage.” While some of Trump’s top Republican allies have condemned these comments, the former President has chosen to stand by them.
At a gathering at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump described the rally as a “lovefest” and an “absolute honor” to be involved in. He went on to say that there has never been an event as beautiful as this one, highlighting the love and support shown by his supporters.
When given the opportunity to apologize for the offensive remarks made at the rally, Trump instead chose to double down on his support. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, he claimed to know nothing about Hinchcliffe and downplayed the significance of his comments. He later agreed that the comedian should not have been there, but maintained that it was not a big deal.
However, with just a week left before the election, some of Trump’s allies are expressing concern that the rally has become a distraction and even a liability for his campaign. This is especially true given the electoral importance of Puerto Ricans, who make up a significant portion of the population in key swing states like Pennsylvania.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who challenged Trump for the GOP presidential nomination and later endorsed him, spoke out against the offensive remarks made at the rally. In an interview with Fox News, she stated that this is not the time to criticize Puerto Rico or Latinos.
Despite the backlash, Trump continued to defend the rally and his involvement in it. At a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a city with a large Hispanic population, he was joined by Puerto Rico’s shadow U.S. senator, Zoraida Buxo, who praised Trump’s record and urged voters to support him.
However, not everyone in Allentown was pleased with Trump’s presence. Ivet Figueroa, a local resident, stood outside the rally venue holding a trash can with the words “Trash Trump” on it. She expressed her disappointment with the former President’s actions and stated that she wants justice, not just an apology.
The fallout from the Madison Square Garden rally has highlighted voters’ concerns about Trump’s rhetoric and controversial behavior. Speakers at the event made racist comments targeting Latinos, Black people, Jews, and Palestinians, as well as sexist insults directed at Trump’s Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In an interview with ABC News, Trump claimed to not know Hinchcliffe and did not denounce his comments. When asked about them, he simply stated that he hadn’t heard them. In his interview with Hannity, he again downplayed the significance of the comedian’s appearance and stated that he shouldn’t have been there.
The comments made at the rally have sparked outrage among Puerto Rican leaders. The archbishop of Puerto Rico called on Trump to disavow them, stating that it is not enough for his campaign to distance itself from the joke. The president of Puerto Rico’s Republican Party also condemned the remarks, calling them “disgraceful, ignorant, and totally reprehensible.”
In Pennsylvania, where Trump campaigned on Tuesday night, the Latino eligible voter population has nearly tripled since 2000, with more than half of them being Puerto Rican. Some voters of Puerto Rican descent in Allentown expressed their disappointment with Trump’s rally and stated that they will be voting for Harris instead.
Despite this, there were also some Puerto Rican voters who were not fazed by the offensive remarks. Maricelis Torres, a waitress studying to be a radiologist, laughed at Hinchcliffe’s joke and stated that people are too sensitive these days. However, the Harris campaign has released an ad targeting Puerto Rican voters and highlighting the comedian’s comments.
At a roundtable outside Philadelphia, Trump received praise from a retired occupational therapist from Puerto Rico, Maribel Valdez. However, not all Puerto Ricans in attendance were supportive of Trump. Angelo Ortega, a former
