Gottheimer Slams Trump Rally Puerto Rico Comments as “Deeply un-American”

After comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” at a Madison Square Garden campaign rally last night for former President Donald Trump, the backlash came swiftly.

In New Jersey, Rep. Josh Gottheimer condemned the comments as “not only offensive, but also deeply un-American.”

“Tony Hinchcliffe’s comment about Puerto Rico is not only offensive, but also deeply un-American, perpetuating harmful ignorance and disrespect.,” Rep. Gottheimer wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “NJ, proudly home to one of the nation’s largest Puerto Rican communities, stands as a testament to the resilience, patriotism, and contributions of Puerto Ricans who have long safeguarded America’s national security, bolstered our economy, and enriched our shared prosperity.”

The Trump campaign last night issued a rare statement trying to distance itself from the comments, stating that the “joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”

New Jersey has over 450,000 Puerto Ricans, behind only Florida and New York, while the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania has the country’s fourth largest population of Puerto Ricans.