While Trump seeks their vote, a comedian at his rally makes racist jokes about Latinos and Puerto Rico.

As former President Donald Trump seeks the community vote, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe crudely mocked Latinos – a key constituency for any winning campaign in 2024 – during pre-programming of the former president’s rally at Madison Square Garden.

Nine days before the election, Trump gathered a host of his most popular surrogates and allies to rally thousands of people in midtown Manhattan, a reliably deep blue borough.

Hinchcliffe, who came out on top among nearly 30 warm-up speakers, launched into crude and disparaging jokes about the conflict in the Middle East, black voters and Latinos.

“These Latinos also love to have children. Just know that they do it,” Hinchcliffe said, laying out his joke: “It’s impossible to get out. They don’t. They come inside, just like in our country.”

Moments later, the comedian took a second swipe at a key voting bloc within the community: Puerto Ricans.

“There’s a lot going on. I don’t know if you know this, but right now there’s literally an island of trash floating in the middle of the ocean. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” he said to applause and jeers.

In a statement, senior Trump campaign adviser Danielle Alvarez said: “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”

Hinchcliffe also told an anecdote about one of his black “buddies” and how they would “cut watermelons” together.

A number of speakers at the opening of the rally at Madison Square Garden hurled vulgarities and derogatory comments about Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic politicians. Radio host Sid Rosenberg called Hillary Clinton a “sick son of a bitch” and David Rehm, a Trump supporter in New York, called Harris the “antichrist.”

Battleground Pennsylvania, where polls show a close race between Trump and Harris, is home to third largest Puerto Rican diaspora in the country. Last month, the former president invited Puerto Rican artist Anuel A.A. on the rally stage in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to publicly express his support for the Republican ticket.

Speaking live with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Sunday afternoon, Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, responded to the comedian’s comments.

“Who is this idiot? Who is this guy? Walz asked after a clip of Hinchcliffe’s joke was played on their broadcast.

“People in Puerto Rico are citizens. They pay taxes and serve in the military at almost a higher rate than anyone else,” Walz added, criticizing Trump for his response to Hurricane Maria in 2017, including a now-famous video clip of the then-president throwing rolls of paper towels in Puerto Ricans looking for help.

“Obviously, I’m very upset about this,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I need people to understand that when some idiot calls Puerto Rico floating trash, know that that’s what he thinks of you.”

Hinchcliffe replied later on social media said people like Walz and Ocasio-Cortez “have no sense of humor” and took his joke “taken out of context to make it seem racist.”

“I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone… watch the whole episode,” he added.

However, some Republicans also condemned Hinchcliffe’s remarks.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Florida, later wrote on social media that she “disgust“Hinchcliffe’s racist comment.”

“This rhetoric does not reflect the values ​​of the Republican Party. Puerto Rico sent more than 48,000 soldiers to Vietnam and awarded more than 345 Purple Hearts. This bravery deserves respect,” she wrote.

“This joke blew up for a reason» Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote on X. “This is not funny and 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 my best to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island.”

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Florida, called Hinchcliffe’s comments “completely classlessAnd “tasteless.” And Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., said he was “Proud to be Puerto Rican” and added: “The only thing that is ‘trash’ is bad comedy.”

Puerto Rico, which is home to more than 3 million American citizens according to the 2020 census, experienced significant migration to the U.S. mainland after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017.

Puerto Ricans living on the island are not eligible to vote in presidential elections (the Commonwealth does hold elections and award delegates to both Democratic and Republican primary candidates), despite being US citizens.

But their relatives on the mainland can.

Harris, for her part, unveiled her plan for Puerto Rico while campaigning in Pennsylvania on Sunday, posting details on her social media accounts and adding a section to her campaign website. Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper and singer, shared Harris’ statement with his over 45 million followers on Instagram.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com