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| Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images |
Just one week before the election, President Joe Biden overshadowed his vice president's closing argument by criticizing American voters and referring to Trump supporters as "garbage."
On Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris presented her closing argument in front of the White House. However, soon-to-be former President Joe Biden made headlines ahead of the event by referring to Trump supporters as “garbage,” according to the Associated Press.
On Tuesday, Biden told reporters he would not attend Vice President Harris’ speech, explaining that the event was "for her," though he planned to watch it on television. Before Harris’ remarks, Biden responded to a comic at a Trump rally who had called Puerto Rico “garbage,” saying, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
According to NBC reporter Gabe Gutierrez, Biden's full quote was: “Donald Trump has no character. He doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community… just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage?… The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
The president was addressing remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, where Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico—a U.S. territory and home to American citizens—as a “floating island of garbage.”
After the president’s remarks went public, the White House attempted to walk the statement back by saying he was only referring to Hinchcliffe.
WATCH: President Joe Biden: "The only garbage I see floating out there is [Trump] supporters." pic.twitter.com/9teSUOytqC
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 30, 2024
A White House spokesman says Pres. Biden was referring to the comedian who supported Trump and insulted Puerto Rico https://t.co/dQ8DSg2kKE
— Gabe Gutierrez (@gabegutierrez) October 30, 2024
JD Vance, former President Trump's running mate, criticized the remarks, describing them as an attack on half the country.
“This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss, Joe Biden, are attacking half of the country. There’s no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it,” Vance stated.
This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 30, 2024
There's no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it.
https://t.co/oLXa0Misng https://t.co/Y67u7rZXVs
Other Trump surrogates and supporters condemned the remarks:
Holy shit. The media spent all week crying about a joke from a comedian. Meanwhile, Tim Walz called Trump supporters Nazis. Kamala Harris refused to condemn it. And now Kamala's biggest Democrat ally, Joe Biden, is calling all Trump supporters "garbage." Absolutely disgusting!!! https://t.co/f0QKtaCbQm
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 30, 2024
As if their Hitler/Nazi attack wasn’t disgraceful enough, it’s one heck of a closing message to call half the country “garbage”. That includes veterans, police, clergy, Holocaust survivors, victims of illegal immigrant crime, teachers, laborers, fire fighters, and so many more. https://t.co/87DGbMI20s
— Lee Zeldin (@LeeMZeldin) October 30, 2024