Miami – In Florida, there is a huge one Puerto Rican Communities outside of New York, residents and local leaders react strongly to the comedian Tony HinchcliffeA recent comment at a Donald Trump rally.
During his practice Sunday at Madison Square Garden, Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” sparking outrage among many, including members of the Puerto Rican community.
The Trump campaign quickly distanced itself from Hinchcliffe, but many in South Florida remain unconvinced.
Mari Guzman, a local Puerto Rican resident, expressed skepticism about the campaign’s denial, saying, “The Trump campaign should have known in advance what everyone was going to say on that stage.”
At a Puerto Rican restaurant in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, the conversation at tables serving traditional dishes like mofongo and arroz con candoles centers on controversial ideas.
“It’s offensive not just to Puerto Ricans, but to every Latino,” said Suzanne Baxter, a New Yorker who was particularly concerned that such comments were made in New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden.
Local politicians responded immediately. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush suggested the comments were “insulting” and that anything said at a campaign event could reflect on the candidate.
US Senator Rick Scott X (formerly of Twitter) condemned the joke as “funny and untrue”, while Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar called for more respect, highlighting Puerto Rico’s contributions to the US military. Congressman Carlos Gimenez called Hinchcliffe’s comments “classless and in poor taste”.
As political leaders in Florida weigh in, many Puerto Ricans in the state who are eligible to vote in U.S. elections feel the impact of such rhetoric could influence their political choices. For them, the offensive comment is more than a joke, it’s a reflection of broader issues of respect and representation in the political arena.
