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Updated
Biden clarifies 'garbage' remark
US president Joe Biden has now clarified his remarks in a post on Twitter/X.
Biden said: “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 demonization 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.”
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 demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say. The…
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 30, 2024
He says that he was referring specifically to “hateful rhetoric” made by “Trump’s supporter” Tony Hinchcliffe (who he does not name) as “garbage” and not to Trump supporters in general.
Speaking at a Trump event at Madison Square Garden, Hinchliffe called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage”.
Conservatives claimed that Biden was referring to Trump supporters in general as garbage.
Biden said, according to one transcript,
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters – his, his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American.”
According to another, he said, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s – his, his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American.”
From the video of Biden speaking, it is unclear which was his meaning, but he has now clarified, saying he was referring specifically to the person and his remarks.
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