Florida Senator Marco Rubio was the first top Republican to react to comments from President Joe Biden that seemed to refer to Donald Trump supporters as "garbage."
Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania along with the former president, Rubio addressed the situation while introducing Trump to the stage: "Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage," he said before pausing while attendants jeered.
"He's talking about the border patrol, nurses, teachers, every day Americans who love their country and want to dream big again and support you, Mr. President, and I hope their campaign is about to apologize for what Joe Biden has just said. We are not garbage, we are patriots who love America," Rubio added.
Trump then took the stage, claiming "that's terrible." Remember Hillary? She said 'deplorable' and then she said irredeemable. That didn't work out. I think 'garbage' is worse. But he doesn't know, you have to please forgive him for he doesn't know what he says. Honestly, he doesn't. I'm convinced he likes me more than he likes Kamala," the Republican candidate said, an apparent reference to Biden's mental faculties.
Sen. @marcorubio: Biden just called our supporters "GARBAGE." He's talking about Border Patrol, nurses, teachers, everyday Americans who love their country.
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 30, 2024
Kamala believes the exact same thing. pic.twitter.com/1KDNxBTXXd
Biden's comment took place during a get out-the-vote call organized by Voto Latino, when Biden referred to the episode when Tony Hinchcliffe, host of popular podcast "Kill Tony," referred to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage."
"Well, let me tell you something... I don't know the Puerto Rican that I know...or Puerto Rico where I'm - in my home state of Delaware - they're good, decent, honorable people," Biden began. "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters," he added before pausing for a moment. "His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it's un-American. It's totally contrary to everything we've done, everything we've been."
The comment quickly drew comparisons with then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who called Trump supporters "deplorables" ahead of the 2016 election, a term then frequently used to take political jabs at her.
Biden later sought to clarify the remarks, writing on X that he was referring to the "demonization of Latinos." ""Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage - which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonisation of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don't reflect who we are as a nation."
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates later told CNN that Biden had meant to say "supporter's" rather than "supporters," making reference to a single person.
However, the Trump campaign further seized the comment, sending a fundraising email with the subject line "You are not garbage! I love you! You are the best our nation has to offer."
Rubio again referred to the comment on Wednesday, saying on X that "Biden only said out loud what every top democrat actually believes about anyone who votes for Trump."
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