President Biden stirred up controversy Tuesday night after seemingly calling former President Trump’s supporters “garbage” during a video call with the progressive group Voto Latino. The comment immediately drew criticism from Republicans, who likened it to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 “basket of deplorables” remark, a comment that Republicans believe energized their base and aided Trump’s campaign.
Biden’s comment came as he condemned a comedian’s offensive remark about Puerto Rico, made during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday. Addressing the rally’s rhetoric, Biden said, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”
White House claims Biden wasn’t talking about all Trump voters
The White House later clarified, stating Biden was referring specifically to the comedian, not to all of Trump’s supporters. The White House also released a transcript where Biden appeared to have said, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s,” in a way that indicated a single reference rather than a broad insult. When pressed on whether Biden’s remarks had been verified, a White House spokesperson declined to comment further.
A look at team Trump’s response
Reacting quickly, Trump’s running mate JD Vance called the remarks “disgusting,” claiming, “Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country. There’s no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it.” The Trump team, seizing on the moment, promptly sent out a fundraising email titled, “You are not garbage! I love you! You are the best our nation has to offer.”
An hour ago, Vinod Khosla, a venture capitalist and one of Harris’ biggest donor, wrote on X that “Garbage is an understatement for MAGA extremists. Biden suggests Trump supporters are ‘garbage’ after comic’s insult of Puerto Rico”.
JD Vance responded by writing “One of Kamala Harris’s biggest donors is doubling down on calling half the country “garbage.” Will Kamala and her campaign return his contributions? Or will they continue to insult half of the country for the sin of thinking Kamala Harris isn’t good at her job?”
A look at Biden’s clarification
Biden attempted to defuse the situation with a statement on X, writing, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage — which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say.”
Here is what you need to know
The incident underscores ongoing tensions within the Biden-Harris campaign. According to reports, aides to Vice President Kamala Harris have avoided extensive joint campaign appearances with Biden, citing concerns over his comments and popularity. Harris’s team was reportedly frustrated last week when Biden, while speaking in New Hampshire, commented on Trump by saying, “we gotta lock [him] up.” Although Biden later clarified that he meant “politically,” the comment nonetheless attracted headlines Harris’s team had hoped to avoid.
As both campaigns continue to ramp up efforts with Election Day approaching, the fallout from Biden’s “garbage” comment is expected to fuel further debate and fundraising efforts on both sides of the aisle.
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