Over the weekend, Puerto Rican leaders and U.S. lawmakers voiced their condemnation of derogatory remarks made about Puerto Rico and Latinos at a rally for former President Donald Trump in New York. The comments, which have been widely criticized as offensive and racially charged, sparked outrage among Puerto Rican representatives and community leaders who believe such rhetoric only deepens divides and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
The rally opened with Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian and podcast host, who made a disparaging remark about Puerto Rico. “There’s a lot going on, like, 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 quipped, adding, “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” Hinchcliffe continued with another stereotype-driven joke, stating, “These Latinos, they love making babies, too. Just know that they do.” The remarks drew laughter from some attendees but were met with a strong backlash from many others, including prominent Puerto Rican and Latino figures who found them dehumanizing and ignorant.
Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez of New York, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, responded forcefully at a news conference on Monday. She called the comments “racist, vile, and reprehensible,” pointing out how these words reflect a deep disconnect from the realities of the Puerto Rican and Latino communities in the United States. “That guy doesn’t know us,” Velázquez stated, directly referencing Trump. “He doesn’t know the Puerto Rican community. He doesn’t know the Latino community. He doesn’t know people of color in this country, he hasn’t taken the time to learn.”
Rep. Dan Goldman, another Democratic lawmaker from New York who represents a large Puerto Rican population in Manhattan, shared similar sentiments, directly attributing the inflammatory atmosphere to Trump’s rally. “You know where they stand. You know where Donald Trump stands,” he remarked, emphasizing that Trump’s rallies have often featured divisive and racially insensitive rhetoric.
Community leaders beyond New York echoed the sentiments of the lawmakers. Jorge Figueroa, president of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, expressed his disappointment, calling the remarks “very disrespectful” and asserting that they “do not have any place in politics.” He suggested that such comments only add to the challenges Puerto Ricans face as they fight for recognition and respect.
Marcos Vilar, executive director of Alianza for Progress, a Florida-based organization that supports Puerto Rican and Latinx communities, saw the incident as part of a larger pattern. He accused Trump of engaging in a “game of bullying” that has persisted throughout his political career. According to Vilar, Trump has consistently used inflammatory language and divisive tactics, particularly against minority communities, to rally his base.
The rally and subsequent backlash highlight the ongoing struggle Puerto Ricans and Latinos face in challenging offensive narratives that undermine their communities. Leaders like Velázquez, Goldman, Figueroa, and Vilar are using their platforms to call for respect, understanding, and inclusion, seeking to counteract the effects of harmful rhetoric in the political sphere. As the 2024 election approaches, many Puerto Rican and Latino leaders are increasingly vocal, encouraging their communities to recognize and respond to such rhetoric with unity and resilience.
