Harris Promises to ‘Represent All Americans’ After Biden’s ’Garbage' Remark
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris said she disagrees "with any criticism of people based on who they vote for," reacting after President Joe Biden's apparent reference to former President Donald Trump's supporters as "garbage" a day earlier.
"I will represent all Americans, including those who don't vote for me," the vice president said during a news conference on Wednesday. Harris made the comment to reporters as she prepared to campaign in three states.
Her words came amid controversy over Biden's rhetoric with less than a week until the end of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday sought to downplay Biden's comments in an ABC News interview. When asked about the president's comments, Walz told "Good Morning America" that "the president clarified his remarks."
Biden made the comment at a campaign call in reference to a joke made by roast comedian Tony Hinchcliffe earlier in the week about Puerto Rico during a Trump campaign rally at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
"Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage,'" Biden told the call, according to video footage of his remarks. "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters."
Later on, Biden said that his remark was referring to the comedian's supporters and not Trump's supporters.
On social media, however, Trump's campaign and Republicans highlighted Biden's comment and called on the Harris campaign to denounce it. Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), wrote that "there's no excuse" for Biden's remarks and that he hopes "Americans reject it."
Biden wrote later that evening, "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. The comments at that rally don't reflect who we are as a nation," he wrote, referring to Hinchcliffe.
Harris delivered a speech at the Ellipse in Washington on Tuesday evening, which Walz said featured "rhetoric that a president of the United States" can give. His ticket also is one that can understand "we're all in this together" and "one that welcomes robust debate about the issues," he told "Good Morning America."
Also in the interview, Walz said that his opponent's campaign is producing "really difficult and hateful rhetoric."
"We saw our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico have to endure this. We've seen it in Ohio with folks. That's what's going to end," Walz said, referring to claims made about Haitian illegal immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio.
A Harris surrogate, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, whose state is a key battleground ahead of the 2024 election, told CNN on Tuesday night that he denounces Biden's comment.
"I would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn't support," Shapiro said when asked about Biden's remark.
"It's certainly not words that I would choose, and I think it's important that we remain focused on the contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and not attacking supporters of either candidate."
Hinchcliffe responded to the criticism of his Madison Square Garden set by saying that "people have no sense of humor."
On Sunday, as Hinchcliffe was rattling off jokes, he took a shot at Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth whose residents cannot vote for president.
"I don't know if you guys know this, but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it's called Puerto Rico," he said.
