In a rally held at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Donald Trump faced backlash from both allies and opponents due to the offensive rhetoric that overshadowed his message. The event, which took place just days before the upcoming elections, featured comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, whose inappropriate joke about Puerto Rico—referring to it as a “floating island of garbage”—sparked outrage.

Sources close to Trump expressed their anger over the lack of vetting for speakers’ remarks, with one insider stating they were “livid” at the situation. The timing of the rally, set against a high-profile New York backdrop, has raised alarms among Republican strategists, particularly regarding potential fallout with Puerto Rican voters, a demographic growing in influence in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania.

Republican leaders, including Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Byron Donalds from Florida, condemned Hinchcliffe’s comments, emphasizing that they were “neither funny nor true.” Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a New York Republican with Puerto Rican heritage, criticized the joke, stating, “The only thing that’s ‘garbage’ was a bad comedy set,” and urged the campaign to “stay on message.”

In response, Trump’s campaign attempted to distance itself from the comedian’s remarks, with spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez declaring that the joke “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.” However, the campaign did not address other offensive comments made during the rally, including disparaging stereotypes and remarks directed at Vice President Kamala Harris.

As Democratic leaders quickly capitalized on the controversy, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny expressed support for Harris, further igniting the political firestorm. With Trump scheduled for more appearances in Georgia and Pennsylvania, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact his outreach to Puerto Rican voters and the broader electorate in the lead-up to the elections.

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