The backlash from Trump’s Puerto Rico comments is ‘spreading like wildfire’ across Pennsylvania
The reaction to the situation was swift on Monday.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump faces significant challenges with Puerto Rican voters in Pennsylvania following controversial remarks made during a rally. Many within the Puerto Rican community are expressing their outrage over racist and demeaning comments, particularly those made by pro-Trump comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” This backlash appears to be creating an opportunity for Kamala Harris to connect with nearly half a million Pennsylvanians of Puerto Rican descent.
The reaction from the Puerto Rican community was swift. A nonpartisan Puerto Rican organization sent out a letter encouraging its members to oppose Trump on election day. Many Puerto Rican voters filled WhatsApp chats and discussed their frustration in local bodegas. Some individuals have also organized to protest Trump's upcoming rally in Allentown, a city with a substantial Latino population.
Norberto Dominguez, a precinct captain with the local Democratic party in Allentown, commented on the situation: “It’s spreading like wildfire through the community.” He further noted, “It’s not the smartest thing to do, to insult people — a large group of voters here in a swing state — and then go to their home asking for votes.”
The timing of Trump’s comments couldn't be worse. With Election Day approaching, he is trying to make inroads with Latino voters, particularly young men concerned about economic issues. The fallout from Hinchcliffe’s remarks has resonated throughout Pennsylvania, prompting even some of Trump’s Republican allies to denounce the comments. Given the tight race, every vote is crucial, particularly in Pennsylvania.
Victor Martinez, an Allentown resident and owner of a Spanish-language radio station, described the situation as “a gift from the gods,” mentioning that some local Puerto Rican voters were previously undecided about voting. He observed that the conversation on his morning radio show was dominated by reactions to Trump's comments, including from a Puerto Rican Trump supporter who has since advised against voting for him.
In response to queries about Hinchcliffe’s remarks, Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed that Trump's policies, such as cutting taxes and tackling illegal immigration, have earned him considerable support within the Hispanic community. However, local Democrats argue that the recent comments remind Puerto Rican voters of Trump’s past statements about the island, including disparaging remarks made during his 2017 visit after Hurricane Maria.
In a sign of heightened sensitivity to the situation, an Allentown school district announced that classes would be canceled on the day of Trump’s rally. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has not directly condemned the comedian’s comments, attempting to distance itself from his remarks. Senior Trump adviser Danielle Alvarez emphasized that the remarks do not represent Trump’s views or campaign while other advisers stated that the comments were not pre-approved.
Despite some Trump allies downplaying the offenses as mere jokes, local Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie criticized the comments as “offensive and wrong.” Even so, he expressed anticipation for Trump’s visit to the area.
Some GOP strategists, while attempting to minimize the potential electoral fallout, acknowledged that the comments were an unnecessary blunder. Latino GOP strategist Jimmy Zumba described them as “stupid comments” that stray from the immigration and crime topics Republicans typically focus on.
Many in the Puerto Rican community, however, are unwilling to overlook the remarks. Roberto L. Lugo, president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Puerto Rican Agenda, plans to release a letter urging Pennsylvania Puerto Ricans not to support Trump, stating, “we held Trump and his campaign responsible for this disgraceful act.”
State Rep. Danilo Burgos mentioned that the comments have spread through social media and the local community, noting that some who were once considering supporting Trump have changed their minds. He also highlighted the potential impact of Puerto Rican celebrity Bad Bunny's endorsement of Harris, pointing out the significant influence of celebrity endorsements in shifting voter opinions.
As the political landscape shifts, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro remarked that Trump missed an opportunity to distance himself from the offensive comments during his recent address.
Republicans are actively seeking to win over Puerto Rican and Latino voters in Pennsylvania, aiming to build on Trump’s previous gains in predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhoods in North Philadelphia. In response to the controversy, Kamala Harris recently visited a local Puerto Rican restaurant, reinforcing her commitment to the community.
Kenny Perez, an employee at the restaurant, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Trump rally remarks, indicating he may lean toward Harris in the upcoming vote.
Calls for an apology from Trump continue, with community members emphasizing the need for respect and acknowledgement of the offense caused. "He’s gotta say ‘perdon,’ not just sorry, but from here,” said Ivonne Concepion, emphasizing the depth of the community’s feelings about the remarks.
Francis Chung contributed to this report.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
The reaction from the Puerto Rican community was swift. A nonpartisan Puerto Rican organization sent out a letter encouraging its members to oppose Trump on election day. Many Puerto Rican voters filled WhatsApp chats and discussed their frustration in local bodegas. Some individuals have also organized to protest Trump's upcoming rally in Allentown, a city with a substantial Latino population.
Norberto Dominguez, a precinct captain with the local Democratic party in Allentown, commented on the situation: “It’s spreading like wildfire through the community.” He further noted, “It’s not the smartest thing to do, to insult people — a large group of voters here in a swing state — and then go to their home asking for votes.”
The timing of Trump’s comments couldn't be worse. With Election Day approaching, he is trying to make inroads with Latino voters, particularly young men concerned about economic issues. The fallout from Hinchcliffe’s remarks has resonated throughout Pennsylvania, prompting even some of Trump’s Republican allies to denounce the comments. Given the tight race, every vote is crucial, particularly in Pennsylvania.
Victor Martinez, an Allentown resident and owner of a Spanish-language radio station, described the situation as “a gift from the gods,” mentioning that some local Puerto Rican voters were previously undecided about voting. He observed that the conversation on his morning radio show was dominated by reactions to Trump's comments, including from a Puerto Rican Trump supporter who has since advised against voting for him.
In response to queries about Hinchcliffe’s remarks, Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed that Trump's policies, such as cutting taxes and tackling illegal immigration, have earned him considerable support within the Hispanic community. However, local Democrats argue that the recent comments remind Puerto Rican voters of Trump’s past statements about the island, including disparaging remarks made during his 2017 visit after Hurricane Maria.
In a sign of heightened sensitivity to the situation, an Allentown school district announced that classes would be canceled on the day of Trump’s rally. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has not directly condemned the comedian’s comments, attempting to distance itself from his remarks. Senior Trump adviser Danielle Alvarez emphasized that the remarks do not represent Trump’s views or campaign while other advisers stated that the comments were not pre-approved.
Despite some Trump allies downplaying the offenses as mere jokes, local Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie criticized the comments as “offensive and wrong.” Even so, he expressed anticipation for Trump’s visit to the area.
Some GOP strategists, while attempting to minimize the potential electoral fallout, acknowledged that the comments were an unnecessary blunder. Latino GOP strategist Jimmy Zumba described them as “stupid comments” that stray from the immigration and crime topics Republicans typically focus on.
Many in the Puerto Rican community, however, are unwilling to overlook the remarks. Roberto L. Lugo, president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Puerto Rican Agenda, plans to release a letter urging Pennsylvania Puerto Ricans not to support Trump, stating, “we held Trump and his campaign responsible for this disgraceful act.”
State Rep. Danilo Burgos mentioned that the comments have spread through social media and the local community, noting that some who were once considering supporting Trump have changed their minds. He also highlighted the potential impact of Puerto Rican celebrity Bad Bunny's endorsement of Harris, pointing out the significant influence of celebrity endorsements in shifting voter opinions.
As the political landscape shifts, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro remarked that Trump missed an opportunity to distance himself from the offensive comments during his recent address.
Republicans are actively seeking to win over Puerto Rican and Latino voters in Pennsylvania, aiming to build on Trump’s previous gains in predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhoods in North Philadelphia. In response to the controversy, Kamala Harris recently visited a local Puerto Rican restaurant, reinforcing her commitment to the community.
Kenny Perez, an employee at the restaurant, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Trump rally remarks, indicating he may lean toward Harris in the upcoming vote.
Calls for an apology from Trump continue, with community members emphasizing the need for respect and acknowledgement of the offense caused. "He’s gotta say ‘perdon,’ not just sorry, but from here,” said Ivonne Concepion, emphasizing the depth of the community’s feelings about the remarks.
Francis Chung contributed to this report.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
