With only a week remaining before Election Day, President Joe Biden inadvertently sparked a political firestorm that shifted attention away from Vice President Kamala Harris’ closing message and instead provided Donald Trump with a potential advantage. In a clumsy attempt to defend Puerto Ricans from disparaging remarks made at Trump’s New York rally, Biden’s comments unintentionally targeted Trump’s supporters, offering Trump’s campaign an unexpected rallying point.
The controversy began when Biden, speaking during a virtual event for Voto Latino, aimed to denounce a comedian’s derogatory comment at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, where Puerto Rico was labeled a “floating island of garbage.” In Biden’s attempt to defend the Puerto Rican community, he stated, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” before accusing Trump of “demonization of Latinos,” calling it “unconscionable and un-American.” While Biden intended to address the rhetoric at Trump’s rally, his choice of words seemed to generalize all Trump supporters, a remark that Trump’s campaign seized upon immediately.
The White House quickly attempted damage control. Spokesman Andrew Bates clarified that Biden had referred only to the “hateful rhetoric” and not Trump’s supporters in general. Biden later took to social media, stating he intended only to criticize the harmful language used at the rally, emphasizing that “the comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.” However, Biden’s efforts to clarify came too late for many.
Biden’s “garbage” remark drew immediate comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s infamous 2016 “basket of deplorables” comment, where she labeled a significant portion of Trump’s supporters as “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic.” This remark had fueled Trump’s base, who saw it as emblematic of Democratic elitism and condescension. Likewise, Biden’s comment risks alienating key voter groups who feel similarly demeaned by being generalized in a negative light.
On Wednesday, Harris responded to the controversy, underscoring her commitment to representing all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. “I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” she asserted, emphasizing that her message has always been about inclusivity. She reassured voters that her administration would work for everyone, even those who did not support her. Despite her efforts to shift the focus back to her message, Trump had already seized on Biden’s words, using them to galvanize his supporters.
In a rally shortly after Biden’s comments, Trump was informed of the remarks by Senator Marco Rubio and quickly pounced. Comparing Biden’s comment to Clinton’s “deplorables” remark, Trump argued that “garbage” was an even harsher insult. His campaign capitalized on Biden’s words, portraying Trump as a candidate supported by diverse groups, including “Latinos, Black voters, union workers, law enforcement officers,” while casting Biden and Harris as out of touch with ordinary Americans.
Trump’s campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, further amplified this narrative, stating, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don’t just hate President Trump; they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him.” The Trump campaign is leveraging Biden’s “garbage” comment to energize his base, painting Biden as dismissive of American citizens’ diverse perspectives and concerns.
As Election Day approaches, Biden’s misstep has given Trump an opportunity to unite his supporters, drawing on the frustration many felt after Clinton’s 2016 remark. The incident not only undermines Harris’ efforts to promote a message of unity but also highlights the potential political costs of imprecise language at a critical moment in the campaign.
