(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Joe Biden’s comments about Trump supporters being “garbage” is being misunderstood.
Sunday at a New York rally for former President Donald Trump, a comedian made a joke about Puerto Rico being an island of garbage.
“There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” said Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian known for roasts where comedians make fun of each other.
On Monday in Springfield, Pritzker said Trump’s rally was “a shameful show of what the Republican Party has become and what Donald Trump represents.”
President Joe Biden reacted to the joke Tuesday evening with Voto Latino.
“The Puerto Rican that I know, the Puerto Rico where I’ve in my home state of Delaware, they’re good, decent, honorable people,” Biden said. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization seems unconscionable and it’s unAmerican.”
At a rally Tuesday evening, Trump got the news of Biden’s comments. He said that’s reminiscent of Hilary Clinton in 2016 calling Trump supporters “deplorables.” Trump beat Clinton in that race.
“Garbage I think is worse, right?” Trump told rally goers in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Tuesday. “But he doesn’t know. You have to please forgive him. Please forgive him for he not knoweth what he said.”
Biden later posted on social media a clarification.
“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,” Biden posted on X, formerly Twitter. “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.”
Asked about Biden’s comment Wednesday in Chicago, Pritzker said it is being misunderstood, adding that the president must be expressing what he said many across the country feel.
“It’s out of an exasperation that there are so many people who, for example, spoke person after person at Madison Square Garden expressing hate openly and seemingly proudly,” Pritzker said.
Of Vice President Kamala Harris calling Trump a fascist, Pritzker said threats to democracy are an important issue to voters.
“So, addressing one of the top issues on peoples’ minds is not inappropriate,” Pritzker said.
Trump faces Harris in Tuesday’s presidential election.
