Key Takeaways:
– Puerto Rican celebrities voiced criticism towards Trump following offensive comments at a recent rally.
– Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe came under fire for categorizing Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
– The Trump campaign quickly distanced itself from the remarks.
– Trump’s relationship with Puerto Rico continues to be complex, tarnished by his relief efforts after Hurricane Maria.
– Puerto Ricans cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections unless registered in a U.S. state.
Donald Trump, a Republican presidential nominee, drew criticism from Puerto Ricans after a controversial rally at Madison Square Garden, New York. Puerto Rican celebrities, including Grammy-winning artists Ricky Martin and Bad Bunny, were among the critics. Despite this, the offensive comments came not from Trump himself, but comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who is known by his stage name, Kill Tony.
The Backlash Against Kill Tony
Facing immediate backlash, Hinchcliffe’s controversial jokes were underpinned by racist stereotypes, with his most egregious remark referring to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” His remarks garnered a range of reactions, provoking anger not just among the opposing party, but within some Republican politicians too.
María Elvira Salazar, a Republican Congresswoman, clarified that the joke does not adhere to GOP values. As the race for the presidency remains close and the Republican candidate seeks to court Latino voters, the campaign swiftly created a separation from the contentious joke.
Reaction from Trump’s Campaign
Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to Trump, stated, “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.” This move shows just how the Trump administration is trying to distance itself from the clutter of negative sentiment raised by the comedian’s remarks.
Trump’s Relationship with Puerto Rico
Trump’s relationship with Puerto Rico – a U.S territory- has been notably challenged. Bad Bunny, a well-known Puerto Rican rapper, highlighted Trump’s inaction after Hurricane Maria in 2017 in a recent social media post. To his 46 million followers on Instagram, he criticized Trump’s poor response to the hurricane disaster, stating, “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and competent leader. He abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes, and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults.”
Trump’s performance amidst the crisis drew a lot of attention, from his PR stunt of throwing paper towels to hurricane survivors, to his self-praise for the handling of Hurricane Maria, which he called “an incredible, unsung success” in 2019.
Voting Rights of Puerto Ricans
Puerto Ricans, despite being American citizens, do not vote in the U.S. presidential elections based on rules of the Electoral College. Nevertheless, they can choose a president if they register in any U.S. state and either vote by absentee ballot or travel to their state to cast their vote.
While Puerto Ricans and residents of other U.S. territories (like the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa) can’t join in the direct November election, both the Democratic and Republican Parties allow them to select delegates for representation at their nominating conventions.
In the end, the fallout from this recent event raises new questions about Trump’s relationship with Puerto Rico and the Latino vote, adding another element of complexity to a contentious presidential race.