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Latino celebrities threw their support behind Kamala Harris after a speaker at a Donald Trump rally compared Puerto Rico to an “island of trash”.
Speaking at the Madison Square Garden rally in New York on Sunday evening, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe said: “I don’t know if you guys 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 was immediately criticized by Kamala Harris’s campaign as it competes with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and other swing states.
Shortly after Hinchcliffe’s appearance, superstar Bad Bunny, who is from Puerto Rico, endorsed the vice-president.
The 30-year-old singer has won three Grammy Awards and boasts more than 45 million Instagram followers.
He was the most streamed artist on Spotify in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and was only surpassed by Taylor Swift in 2023.
Bad Bunny shared a video to his Instagram page, showing Ms Harris saying: “There’s so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico.
“I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and competent leader.”
“That’s what they think of us,” Ricky Martin shared on Instagram, as he encouraged followers to vote for Harris.
The Puerto Rican vote is sizable in Pennsylvania, which is arguably the hardest fought of the swing states in the 2024 election. Other Puerto Rican singers such as Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had already expressed support for Harris. Trump has also attracted support from other popular stars from the island such as Anuel AA and Nicky Jam.
The joke was also criticised by some Trump supporters.
Rick Scott, the Republican senator for Florida, tweeted: “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.”
