Less than a week after announcing that he would vote for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, former buddy of Donald Trump and ex-Fox News host Geraldo Rivera exploded at the racism of the MAGA rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.
““A floating island of garbage…?” Referring to Puerto Rico??? “Poisoning the blood of our nation…?” We have “murder in our genes….?” F— these racists,” Rivera tweeted. “Latino men of good will, have pride in yourselves and your ancestors. A vote for Trump is a vote against self-respect.”
Podcast host and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, the leadoff act for the rally, insulted Puerto Rico — among a b bunch of other voting blocs of color.
“There’s a lot going on. I don’t know if you know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now,” he said. “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
The responses were fast and furious:
Commentator Roland Smith: “To ALL Puerto Ricans, this is what this guy just said at Donald Trump’s fascist gathering in Madison Square Garden. And don’t forget that Trump forced Puerto Rico to wait TWO YEARS for full hurricane relief. Your vote counts.”
New York Rep. Richie Torres: “As a Puerto Rican, I am tempted to call Hinchcliffe racist garbage but doing so would be an insult to garbage. When casting their ballots at the voting booth, Latinos should never forget the racism that Donald Trump seems all too willing to platform.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “You’re opening for Trump by calling Puerto Rico a floating pile of garbage. 4,000+ Puerto Ricans died under him. This isn’t the Comedy Store. You’re using your set to boost neo-Nazis like MTG and stripping women’s rights to the Stone Age. Your ‘sense of humor’ doesn’t change that.”
Kamala Harris’ campaign staff provided statistics on the number of Puerto Ricans living in swing states: Pennsylvania 450K; North Carolina 100K; Wisconsin 65K; Michigan 50K; Florida 1.1 million; New York 1 million.
GOP members — somehow shocked and surprised by the racism of MAGA and worried that Puerto Rican voters in Florida would take election retribution on them — quickly denounced the tasteless one-liner.
Florida Rep. Maria Elvia Salazar quickly tweeted: “Disgusted by Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist comment calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” This rhetoric does not reflect GOP values. Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!”
Florida Sen. Rick Scott — who is in a dead heat with former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is trailing by just one point in a recent poll — also quickly renounced the tasteless, racist joke.
“This joke bombed for a reason,” Scott tweeted. “It’s not funny and it’s not true. Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans! I’ve been to the island many times. It’s a beautiful place. Everyone should visit! I will always do whatever I can to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island.”
While residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections despite being American citizens, more than 5.8 million people of Puerto Rican origin living on the mainland can vote, according to Pew Research Center.
Video producer Brett Meiselas said, “Trump’s MSG rally is sending shockwaves through the Puerto Rican community right now. It can’t be overstated what a major miscalculation this was. Big Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania, Florida, and a lot of Puerto Ricans in Wisconsin, too. Those clips are spreading like wildfire.”
Puerto Rican influencers were spreading the clips throughout their communities.
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