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By Emma Marsden
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Inflammatory remarks made by comic Tony Hinchcliffe about Puerto Rico at a Donald Trump rally could resonate deeply with Puerto Rican voters across the U.S., particularly in critical swing states.
The comedian sparked a backlash after he joked that Puerto Rico was a "floating island of garbage" and made other comments at the rally at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sunday October 27.
There are around 5.8 million people of Puerto Rican origin living in the U.S., according to 2021 census data. Here, a Newsweek map shows the Puerto Rican population in every state.
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The remarks will likely infuriate the community, who may view the comments as disparaging Puerto Rican culture and autonomy, and being part of a pattern of insensitivity or prejudice.
They could prove pivotal in various swing states where only a few thousand votes decided the election last time by potentially impacting Puerto Rican voter turnout and swaying undecided voters.
The comments made on Sunday by Hinchcliffe quickly circulated on social media, drawing condemnation from advocacy groups and political leaders who represent Puerto Rican constituencies.
Hinchcliffe asked at the rally: "Where are my proud Latinos at tonight?" before launching into a series of jokes about immigration and the Texas-Mexico border. "You guys see what I mean? It's wide open; there's so many of them," he said.
The comedian then compared Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, to ocean waste. "There is literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it's called Puerto Rico?" Hinchcliffe said, to a subdued reaction from the audience.
Newsweek contacted Hinchcliffe's management online for comment outside of working hours on Monday.
Elected officials and Puerto Rican activists reacted swiftly. In response to Hinchcliffe later saying he loved Puerto Rico, politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, said on X, formerly Twitter: "You don't 'love Puerto Rico.' You like drinking piña coladas. There's a difference."
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Many Republicans also publicly criticized Hinchcliffe's remarks, as reported by Newsweek.
In an email to Newsweek, Trump senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said: "This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign."
Could The Puerto Rican Population Decide The Election in Swing States?
Puerto Rican voters make up a vital demographic in some of the most contested areas in the U.S.
An estimated 5.8 million Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin lived in the United States in 2021, many of whom are concentrated in politically critical regions, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Hinchcliffe's comments may galvanize Puerto Rican voters who were otherwise disengaged, potentially reshaping voter engagement efforts as the 2024 presidential election looms closer.
The seven battleground states in the U.S. are Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and North Carolina.
With Puerto Ricans making up a significant portion of the Latino vote, particularly in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia—in the the latter two narrow margins decided the 2020 presidential election—these remarks may have far-reaching consequences.
In an official statement emailed to Newsweek on Monday, the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PRDP) chair Luis Dávila Pernas said: "Yesterday, during a campaign event for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, a speaker described Puerto Rico as 'literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean.'
"This appalling statement, permitted and condoned by Donald Trump's campaign, transcends bad taste—it is an outright insult to the dignity of millions of Puerto Ricans who call the island home and the millions more in the United States who carry Puerto Rico in their hearts.
"Puerto Ricans have fought, bled and sacrificed to support our nation's democratic [values] and have built communities throughout the United States. To allow such degrading remarks on a public stage in New York City—historical home to one of the largest Puerto Rican populations outside the island territory—is not only unacceptable but a disgusting display of disrespect.
"But it doesn't surprise me, this is further evidence of Trump's hatred towards Puerto Ricans," stated the PRDP chair.
"The Democratic Party of Puerto Rico stands firmly with Puerto Ricans in New York and across the country. Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden have consistently demonstrated their commitment to Puerto Rico, working to secure resources for disaster recovery, healthcare, nutrition assistance and economic development. This is the leadership our people value and support.
"We demand a public apology from Donald Trump, Tony Hinchcliffe and everyone involved in this abhorrent display of bigotry. Puerto Ricans can forgive but will never forget. The time to stand with Puerto Rico is now! See you at the polls."
The map featured above shows the Puerto Rican population in each state. Below is the Puerto Rican population and the margin that decided the election in 2020.
Pennsylvania
2020 winning margin: 80,555
Puerto Rican population: 472,213
Nevada
2020 winning margin: 33,596
Puerto Rican population: 27,230
Arizona
2020 winning margin: 10,457
Puerto Rican population: 64,738
Michigan
2020 winning margin: 154,188
Puerto Rican population: 43,381
Wisconsin
2020 winning margin: 20,608
Puerto Rican population: 61,437
Georgia
2020 winning margin: 11,779
Puerto Rican population: 100,923
North Carolina
2020 winning margin: 74,483
Puerto Rican population: 115,449
This article was updated with comment from PRDP on Monday, October 28 at 1:00 pm EDT
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