Trump's rally critique of Puerto Rico adds to a series of disparagements
Labeling Puerto Rico as “garbage” is especially hurtful given the years of hardship the island has faced.
TroibNews 
Puerto Ricans have a clear message for Donald Trump: How many more insults can we endure?
Over the years, Puerto Rico has faced significant challenges, including prolonged economic decline, devastating storms, an earthquake, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The territory's government is burdened by debt and mired in scandal, with its infrastructure—especially the power grid—in disrepair.
Recent comments by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as “literally a floating island of garbage” in front of a 20,000-strong crowd of Trump supporters at Madison Square Garden, have further offended and hurt Puerto Ricans. While many were taken aback by this crude joke, it was not surprising. Trump has previously made derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico, labeling it as “dirty” and allegedly proposing to trade the U.S. territory for Greenland.
Andrés Córdova Phelps, a professor in Puerto Rico and chair of the Puerto Rico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, deemed Hinchcliffe’s remarks “political malpractice” and “offensive.”
Ariadna Michelle Godreau Aubert, executive director of Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, which advocates for affordable housing and energy rights, stated that Puerto Ricans were “pissed off” and “disgusted” by the comedian's comments, pointing out that this reaction was rooted in Trump's history with the territory. This history includes his administration's delay in releasing billions in federal funds allocated after Hurricane Maria in 2017, which led to prolonged power outages and nearly 3,000 deaths. Much of this funding only began to flow under the Biden administration.
With Election Day approaching, Trump’s disparaging remarks may influence not just the national election but also an increasingly competitive gubernatorial race in Puerto Rico. The votes of nearly 6 million Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland, especially in pivotal states like Pennsylvania where more than 470,000 Puerto Ricans reside, could be decisive in a tight presidential contest.
As many Puerto Ricans have migrated stateside in search of better opportunities, the mainland population now nearly doubles that of Puerto Rico. Critics of Trump within the territory are motivating fellow Puerto Ricans in the U.S. to vote against him, urging them to support Kamala Harris.
“I would not be surprised if this moves Pennsylvania to the Harris side,” noted Julio López Varona, co-chief of campaigns for the Center for Popular Democracy. “The damage is done.”
Charles A. Rodríguez, former president of Puerto Rico’s Senate and former chair of the territory’s Democratic Party, expressed hope that Puerto Ricans in the mainland would “use their vote to punish Donald Trump, to punish the hate speech we’re hearing so much from the Republican Party. The only way you can punish people in a democracy is by the vote.”
In response to the backlash, the Trump campaign sought to distance itself from the comedian’s comments—comments that also included offensive remarks about Black people, Palestinians, and Jews. Senior adviser Danielle Alvarez claimed, “These jokes do not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
While Puerto Ricans have called for Trump to apologize, many do not expect that to happen. At a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Trump did not reject Hinchcliffe's statements, instead calling the event “the greatest evening anyone's seen, politically.”
Angel M. Cintrón-Garcia, chair of Puerto Rico’s GOP, labeled the remarks “unfortunate, ignorant and entirely reprehensible,” suggesting they do not mirror conservative values. He has reportedly threatened to withdraw support from Trump if he does not personally apologize, although this would be largely symbolic since residents of the territory cannot vote in Electoral College elections.
Sergio Marxuach, policy director at the Center for a New Economy in Puerto Rico, characterized the incident as “sad and dangerous,” noting that while Puerto Ricans are current targets, this is part of a broader trend of attacks on racial and ethnic groups.
Kenneth McClintock, a former Senate president of Puerto Rico, reflected on the comments, stating, “Oh god, now us,” recognizing that similar degrading remarks have targeted others. “It was our turn. So it didn’t surprise me at all.”
Trump's strategy appears to involve consolidating his base, allowing his supporters to voice divisive and hurtful rhetoric, according to Rep. Nydia Velázquez, a New York Democrat with strong connections to Puerto Rico. She added, “Donald Trump cannot help himself. He is out there for himself. He doesn’t care about anyone else and he showed it,” while pointing out that event speakers are carefully vetted. “He knew damn well what [Hinchcliffe] would be saying.”
On the same day these insults were directed at Puerto Rico, Harris was appealing to Puerto Rican voters by outlining her plans for the territory’s recovery following Hurricane Maria, contrasting sharply with Trump's infamous gesture of tossing paper towels to hurricane survivors.
However, Puerto Ricans expressed skepticism about Harris’ proposal to create yet another task force to address their issues, questioning why she did not commit to dismantling the fiscal oversight board that has managed Puerto Rico's finances since its bankruptcy. Much of the bankruptcy has been resolved, except for a significant $10 billion debt owed by the government-owned utility.
“These are details that you can quibble over, but she has a plan,” stated Federico A. de Jesús, an adviser for Power4PuertoRico, which advocates for the territory's self-determination. “Trump has no plan. All he has is insults.”
The Harris campaign has not responded to requests for comment.
In recent days, Harris has garnered support from major Puerto Rican celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and notably Bad Bunny. The Grammy-winning artist has become a significant cultural figure in Puerto Rico, investing heavily in billboards conveying his opposition to the pro-statehood party and likening a vote for it to endorsing corruption. He defended Puerto Rico through an Instagram video, captioned simply with “garbage.”
The issue of Puerto Rico's territorial status lies at the root of many of its challenges. Although the approximately 3.2 million residents are American citizens, they lack the same rights and benefits as those living in the 50 states, such as voting in presidential elections and equal access to federal assistance programs.
Efforts to tackle Puerto Rico's political status have stalled, with the Republican National Committee's platform devoid of specific references to addressing such issues, while Democrats have supported a bill aimed at allowing Puerto Ricans to determine their status and pledged to dismantle the federal oversight board.
Despite Democratic support, many Puerto Ricans remain disillusioned by past failures to address their status and are looking for Harris to advocate more forcefully for change. “The old status question is kind of lurking in the background,” Córdova mentioned.
Even with a potential Democratic lean, there's no certainty Puerto Rico would align with the Democratic Party if it were to become a state. The territory’s political parties do not align with the traditional Republican-Democratic divide, primarily reflecting their stances on Puerto Rico’s status, and right-leaning parties have been gaining traction.
These political dynamics will play a crucial role in the upcoming local elections, including the gubernatorial race. Jenniffer González-Colón, the pro-statehood party candidate and current non-voting congressional representative for Puerto Rico, maintains close ties to Trump. Although she held a significant lead in polls earlier this summer, she is now neck and neck with Juan Dalmau Ramírez, the candidate from the Puerto Rico Independence Party, who has garnered support from the Citizens’ Victory Movement—an alliance advocating for a constitutional assembly on the territory's status.
González-Colón condemned the comedian's remarks as “despicable, misguided and revolting,” asserting they do not reflect GOP values. However, Marxuach challenged the notion that Hinchcliffe's comments were misaligned with contemporary GOP principles.
“I would have expected a little bit more spine from Jennifer Gonzalez, given everything she has been through in her political career,” he said.
Concerns over González-Colón’s political position are growing. “I would be worried if I were she,” remarked law professor Luis Fuentes-Rohwer, predicting that Trump’s rhetoric will force her to take sides.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
Over the years, Puerto Rico has faced significant challenges, including prolonged economic decline, devastating storms, an earthquake, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The territory's government is burdened by debt and mired in scandal, with its infrastructure—especially the power grid—in disrepair.
Recent comments by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as “literally a floating island of garbage” in front of a 20,000-strong crowd of Trump supporters at Madison Square Garden, have further offended and hurt Puerto Ricans. While many were taken aback by this crude joke, it was not surprising. Trump has previously made derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico, labeling it as “dirty” and allegedly proposing to trade the U.S. territory for Greenland.
Andrés Córdova Phelps, a professor in Puerto Rico and chair of the Puerto Rico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, deemed Hinchcliffe’s remarks “political malpractice” and “offensive.”
Ariadna Michelle Godreau Aubert, executive director of Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, which advocates for affordable housing and energy rights, stated that Puerto Ricans were “pissed off” and “disgusted” by the comedian's comments, pointing out that this reaction was rooted in Trump's history with the territory. This history includes his administration's delay in releasing billions in federal funds allocated after Hurricane Maria in 2017, which led to prolonged power outages and nearly 3,000 deaths. Much of this funding only began to flow under the Biden administration.
With Election Day approaching, Trump’s disparaging remarks may influence not just the national election but also an increasingly competitive gubernatorial race in Puerto Rico. The votes of nearly 6 million Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland, especially in pivotal states like Pennsylvania where more than 470,000 Puerto Ricans reside, could be decisive in a tight presidential contest.
As many Puerto Ricans have migrated stateside in search of better opportunities, the mainland population now nearly doubles that of Puerto Rico. Critics of Trump within the territory are motivating fellow Puerto Ricans in the U.S. to vote against him, urging them to support Kamala Harris.
“I would not be surprised if this moves Pennsylvania to the Harris side,” noted Julio López Varona, co-chief of campaigns for the Center for Popular Democracy. “The damage is done.”
Charles A. Rodríguez, former president of Puerto Rico’s Senate and former chair of the territory’s Democratic Party, expressed hope that Puerto Ricans in the mainland would “use their vote to punish Donald Trump, to punish the hate speech we’re hearing so much from the Republican Party. The only way you can punish people in a democracy is by the vote.”
In response to the backlash, the Trump campaign sought to distance itself from the comedian’s comments—comments that also included offensive remarks about Black people, Palestinians, and Jews. Senior adviser Danielle Alvarez claimed, “These jokes do not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
While Puerto Ricans have called for Trump to apologize, many do not expect that to happen. At a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Trump did not reject Hinchcliffe's statements, instead calling the event “the greatest evening anyone's seen, politically.”
Angel M. Cintrón-Garcia, chair of Puerto Rico’s GOP, labeled the remarks “unfortunate, ignorant and entirely reprehensible,” suggesting they do not mirror conservative values. He has reportedly threatened to withdraw support from Trump if he does not personally apologize, although this would be largely symbolic since residents of the territory cannot vote in Electoral College elections.
Sergio Marxuach, policy director at the Center for a New Economy in Puerto Rico, characterized the incident as “sad and dangerous,” noting that while Puerto Ricans are current targets, this is part of a broader trend of attacks on racial and ethnic groups.
Kenneth McClintock, a former Senate president of Puerto Rico, reflected on the comments, stating, “Oh god, now us,” recognizing that similar degrading remarks have targeted others. “It was our turn. So it didn’t surprise me at all.”
Trump's strategy appears to involve consolidating his base, allowing his supporters to voice divisive and hurtful rhetoric, according to Rep. Nydia Velázquez, a New York Democrat with strong connections to Puerto Rico. She added, “Donald Trump cannot help himself. He is out there for himself. He doesn’t care about anyone else and he showed it,” while pointing out that event speakers are carefully vetted. “He knew damn well what [Hinchcliffe] would be saying.”
On the same day these insults were directed at Puerto Rico, Harris was appealing to Puerto Rican voters by outlining her plans for the territory’s recovery following Hurricane Maria, contrasting sharply with Trump's infamous gesture of tossing paper towels to hurricane survivors.
However, Puerto Ricans expressed skepticism about Harris’ proposal to create yet another task force to address their issues, questioning why she did not commit to dismantling the fiscal oversight board that has managed Puerto Rico's finances since its bankruptcy. Much of the bankruptcy has been resolved, except for a significant $10 billion debt owed by the government-owned utility.
“These are details that you can quibble over, but she has a plan,” stated Federico A. de Jesús, an adviser for Power4PuertoRico, which advocates for the territory's self-determination. “Trump has no plan. All he has is insults.”
The Harris campaign has not responded to requests for comment.
In recent days, Harris has garnered support from major Puerto Rican celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and notably Bad Bunny. The Grammy-winning artist has become a significant cultural figure in Puerto Rico, investing heavily in billboards conveying his opposition to the pro-statehood party and likening a vote for it to endorsing corruption. He defended Puerto Rico through an Instagram video, captioned simply with “garbage.”
The issue of Puerto Rico's territorial status lies at the root of many of its challenges. Although the approximately 3.2 million residents are American citizens, they lack the same rights and benefits as those living in the 50 states, such as voting in presidential elections and equal access to federal assistance programs.
Efforts to tackle Puerto Rico's political status have stalled, with the Republican National Committee's platform devoid of specific references to addressing such issues, while Democrats have supported a bill aimed at allowing Puerto Ricans to determine their status and pledged to dismantle the federal oversight board.
Despite Democratic support, many Puerto Ricans remain disillusioned by past failures to address their status and are looking for Harris to advocate more forcefully for change. “The old status question is kind of lurking in the background,” Córdova mentioned.
Even with a potential Democratic lean, there's no certainty Puerto Rico would align with the Democratic Party if it were to become a state. The territory’s political parties do not align with the traditional Republican-Democratic divide, primarily reflecting their stances on Puerto Rico’s status, and right-leaning parties have been gaining traction.
These political dynamics will play a crucial role in the upcoming local elections, including the gubernatorial race. Jenniffer González-Colón, the pro-statehood party candidate and current non-voting congressional representative for Puerto Rico, maintains close ties to Trump. Although she held a significant lead in polls earlier this summer, she is now neck and neck with Juan Dalmau Ramírez, the candidate from the Puerto Rico Independence Party, who has garnered support from the Citizens’ Victory Movement—an alliance advocating for a constitutional assembly on the territory's status.
González-Colón condemned the comedian's remarks as “despicable, misguided and revolting,” asserting they do not reflect GOP values. However, Marxuach challenged the notion that Hinchcliffe's comments were misaligned with contemporary GOP principles.
“I would have expected a little bit more spine from Jennifer Gonzalez, given everything she has been through in her political career,” he said.
Concerns over González-Colón’s political position are growing. “I would be worried if I were she,” remarked law professor Luis Fuentes-Rohwer, predicting that Trump’s rhetoric will force her to take sides.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
