A number of Republican figures have criticized comedian Tony Hinchcliffe over his joke attacking Puerto Rico during a Donald Trump rally at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Hinchcliffe, who hosts the podcast Kill Tony, told the crowd ahead of Trump’s appearance on Sunday: “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. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
The joke received mixed reactions in a city that has an estimated Puerto Rican population of around 1 million. Several GOP figures, including those in Florida—the state with the largest population of Puerto Ricans in the United States—have condemned the remarks. Newsweek has contacted Hinchcliffe for comment via social media.
Others have suggested the joke could cost Trump support in key swing states with significant Puerto Rican populations, such as Pennsylvania.
Hinchcliffe has since defended his joke, saying on X, formerly Twitter, “I love Puerto Rico and vacation there,” and that he “made fun of everyone” during his set at the Madison Square Garden Trump rally.
U.S. comedian Tony Hinchcliffe speaks during a campaign rally for Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27, 2024. Republicans have condemned his joke comparing Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.”
ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Florida Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar posted on X: “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 over 48,000 soldiers to Vietnam, with more than 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!” Salazar added.
Danielle Alvarez, Trump campaign senior adviser, said in a statement: “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
Florida Senator Rick Scott, who is up for reelection in November, added: “This joke bombed for a reason. 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.”
Florida Representative Carlos Gimenez described Hinchcliffe’s joke as “completely classless and in poor taste.”
“Puerto Rico is the crown jewel of the Caribbean and home to many of the most patriotic Americans I know. Tony Hinchcliffe clearly isn’t funny and definitely doesn’t reflect my values or those of the Republican Party,” Gimenez posted.
A number of Democrats also criticized Hinchcliffe for the joke about Puerto Rico.
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is Puerto Rican, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz discussed the remarks during a Twitch livestream they appeared on together on Sunday.
“When you have some a-hole calling Puerto Rico floating garbage, know that that’s what they think about you,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s what they think about anyone who makes less money than them. It’s what they think about the people who serve them food in a restaurant. It’s what they think about the people who fold their clothes in a store.”
Walz added that there are “hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans across battleground states that need to send them a message.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin is a former White House communications director under the Trump administration turned vocal critic of the former president. She made a similar remark on X while sharing Hinchcliffe’s joke.
“Who wants to tell these guys there are nearly half a million Puerto Ricans living in battleground Pennsylvania, whose votes are up for grabs?” she posted.
Hinchcliffe defended himself while replying to a clip of Ocasio-Cortez and Walz criticizing his remarks.
“Some people have no sense of humor. Wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his ‘busy schedule’ to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist. I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone … Watch the whole set. I’m a comedian.
“Tim … might be time to change your tampon,” Hinchcliffe added in reference to the derogatory nickname Republicans have given the Minnesota governor after he signed a law mandating free menstruation products in all public school restrooms used by students in grades four through 12.
GOP Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna defended Hinchcliffe over his joke.
“Dems are more offended at a comedian making a bad joke about Puerto Rico than at Walz giving tax dollars to a corporation using migrant children to clean slaughterhouses or Kamala losing over 300,000 migrant children,” she said.
