US Election 2024: How Joe Biden’s ‘garbage’ remark gave Donald Trump a political lifeline

US Elections 2024: Just a Week Before Elections US presidential electionsPresident Joe Biden inadvertently found himself back in the political spotlight with his comments defending Puerto Ricans during a virtual event.

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His response to a comedian’s disparaging remark about Puerto Rico at a Donald Trump rally gave Trump a chance to deflect attention from his own controversial campaign strategies.

Biden criticized the comedian’s description of Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” arguing that Puerto Ricans are “good, decent and honorable.”

But his defense caused a political uproar, diverting attention from Vice President Kamala Harris’ key closing speech Tuesday night. ANI reported.

“And just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Well, let me tell you something… I don’t know the Puerto Ricans I know… or Puerto Rico where I am – my home state of Delaware – they are good, decent, honorable people. Biden said during his virtual get-out-the-vote appeal to help Harris.

“The only trash I see out there are his supporters,” Biden said, adding: “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and un-American.”

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The White House quickly sought to clarify Biden’s remarks, saying he was referring to “hateful rhetoric” at Trump’s rally, not supporters of the former president. Biden himself took to social media to explain that his use of the word “trash” was in reference to comments about Puerto Rico, not Trump supporters.

“Earlier today, I called the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump supporters at his Madison Square Garden rally trash—and that’s the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I wanted to say. The comments at this rally do not reflect who we are as a nation,” Biden wrote on X.

Biden’s remarks immediately drew parallels with Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of disgusting things” comment in 2016, which became a rallying cry for Trump and his supporters. Harris then felt compelled to address the controversy on Wednesday, emphasizing her belief that she will represent all voters, regardless of their political views, CNN reported.

“Look, I think he qualified his comments first, but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” the Democratic candidate said. “You heard me speak last night and constantly throughout my career. I believe the job I do is to represent all people, whether they support me or not,” Harris said.

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“I am sincere in what I mean: When I am elected President of the United States, I will represent all Americans, including those who do not vote for me, and meet their needs and desires,” she added.

How did Trump turn trash into opportunity?

Donald Trump walked down the steps of his Boeing 757, crossed the rain-wet pavement and awkwardly climbed into the passenger seat of a white garbage truck with his name on it, the AP reported.

The former president, once famed for his reality TV talent, sought to draw attention to a comment President Joe Biden made the day before that implied Trump supporters were “trash.”

Trump used the remark to take aim at his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, using it as a powerful talking point in his re-election campaign.

“How do you like my garbage truck?” Trump said, wearing an orange and yellow safety vest over a white dress shirt and red tie. “This is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.”