President Joe Biden responded to a recent rally held by former President Donald Trump, where crude and racist remarks were made. During a call organized by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino, Biden addressed a comment made at Trump's rally referring to Puerto Rico as a 'floating island of garbage.' Biden expressed his disagreement with such derogatory language, emphasizing that the Puerto Rican community he knows is made up of good, decent, and honorable people.
Biden went on to criticize Trump's supporters, labeling their rhetoric as 'garbage' and denouncing the demonization of Latinos as un-American. This statement was met with mixed reactions, with some Democrats distancing themselves from Biden's choice of words.
While Biden's remarks may have diverged from the unity message that Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to convey, she reiterated her commitment to being a president for all Americans during a separate address in Washington.
Republicans, including Senator Marco Rubio, swiftly seized on Biden's comments, portraying them as an insult to patriotic Americans who support Trump. The incident drew parallels to Hillary Clinton's 2016 characterization of some Trump supporters as a 'basket of deplorables,' which became a rallying cry for Trump's base.
As the election approaches, Biden continues to highlight his administration's achievements and urge voters to reject Trump. Meanwhile, Harris has maintained a focus on criticizing Trump's policies and behavior without alienating his supporters.
Biden also emphasized the importance of Latino voters in the upcoming election, urging them to vote against Trump, whom he described as a threat to all Americans, especially minorities in the country.