Trump says he's 'never heard of' Tony Hinchcliffe who made Puerto Rico 'garbage' joke at MSG rally

Former president Donald Trump has claimed he has 'never heard of' nan arguable comedian who made a racist joke astir Puerto Rico astatine his rally successful Madison Square Garden connected Sunday. 

Hinchcliffe, known for his Kill Tony podcast, told attendees astatine nan packed retired venue connected Sunday: 'There's a batch going on. I don't cognize if you cognize this but there's virtually a floating land of garbage successful nan mediate of nan water correct now. I deliberation it's called Puerto Rico.' 

Republican campaigner Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he had nary hint who Tony Hinchcliffe was, aliases why he was invited to speak astatine nan New York City rally connected Sunday. 

'I person nary thought who he is. Somebody said location was a comedian that joked astir Puerto Rico, aliases something, and I person nary thought who it was. I ne'er saw him, ne'er heard of him, and don't want to perceive of him', he told nan Fox News host. 

'I person nary idea. They put a comedian in, which everybody does... you don't vet them and spell crazy. 

'What they've done is taken personification that has thing to do pinch nan party, thing to do pinch us, said thing and they're trying to make a large deal. But I don't cognize who it is, I don't moreover cognize who put him in. And I can't ideate it's a large deal.

'I've done much for Puerto Rico than immoderate different president that's ever been president.'

The arguable comedian besides doubled down connected his racism and drew connected antagonistic stereotypes astir Latinos, saying: 'These Latinos, they emotion making babies, too. Just cognize that they do. There's nary pulling out.' 

'They don't do that. They travel inside. Just for illustration they did to our country.'

Almost immediately, nan Trump run distanced itself from Hinchcliffe, pinch Danielle Alvarez, a elder advisor to nan Trump campaign, saying successful a connection that nan Puerto Rico joke 'does not bespeak nan views of President Trump aliases nan campaign.'

Democrats pounced connected Hinchcliffe's comments, and Republicans sought to region themselves from nan joke. 

Democrat Vice-presidential campaigner Tim Walz called Hinchcliffe a 'jackwad' connected a Twitch watercourse pinch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez successful nan hours aft nan rally.   

Walz's remark is truthful acold nan only 1 to get a emergence retired of Hinchcliffe, who said successful a station connected X: 'These group person nary consciousness of humor. Wild that a vice statesmanlike campaigner would return clip retired of his "busy schedule" to analyse a joke taken retired of discourse to make it look racist.

'I emotion Puerto Rico and picnic there. I made nosy of everyone...watch nan full set. I'm a comedian Tim...might beryllium clip to alteration your tampon.'

Republican Senator Rick Scott wrote of nan joke: 'This joke bombed for a reason. It's not funny and it's not true. Puerto Ricans are astonishing group and astonishing Americans! I've been to nan land galore times. It's a beautiful place.'

'Everyone should visit! I will ever do immoderate I tin to thief immoderate Puerto Rican successful Florida aliases connected nan island.'

Congresswoman Maria Salazar wrote: 'Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe's racist remark calling Puerto Rico a 'floating land of garbage.' This rhetoric does not bespeak GOP values.'

'Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, pinch complete 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect,' she added. 'Educate yourself!

Anthony D'Esposito, a New York Republican Congressman who attended nan rally, wrote: 'I'm proud to beryllium Puerto Rican. My mom was calved and raised successful Puerto Rico. It's a beautiful land pinch a rich | civilization and an integral portion of nan USA. The only point that's 'garbage' was a bad drama set. Stay connected message.'

Outside politics, musicians and actors excoriated Hinchcliffe for his racist jokes, and urged their fans to ballot for Kamala Harris. 

Ricky Martin, nan Puerto Rican superstar pinch 18.6 cardinal followers connected Instagram, quickly shared a video of Harris's entreaty to Puerto Rican voters, on pinch a clip of Hinchcliffe's disparaging remarks.

'This is what they deliberation of us,' Martin wrote successful Spanish. 'Vote for @kamalaharris.' 

Jennifer Lopez shared nan aforesaid video and aggregate slides showing Harris' Puerto Rico argumentation to 250 cardinal followers.

The video shared by Bad Bunny connected Instagram shows Harris saying 'there´s truthful overmuch astatine liking successful this predetermination for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico.' A typical of nan creator confirmed that Bad Bunny is supporting Harris.

The creator past shared different portion of nan clip wherever Harris says, 'I will ne'er hide what Donald Trump did and what he did not do erstwhile Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader.'

Inside nan Trump campaign, galore fearfulness that nan joke will do superior harm to their chances of winning nan election, little than a week earlier polls unfastened connected November 5. 

In Pennsylvania, a plaything authorities whose voters are apt to determine nan result of nan election, location are 500,000 Puerto Ricans. 

Chuck Rocha, a governmental operative for nan Democrats who specalizes successful mobilizing Latino voters, publically called for $30,000 successful donations to a PAC he runs truthful he could nonstop a clip of Hinchcliffe's group to Puerto Rican voters crossed nan Keystone State. 

Less than a time later, nan New York Times reported, he was sent nan money via mini donations and sent complete 250,000 texts pinch a 15-second clip of nan set.  

'Puerto Ricans person a unsocial affinity for their homeland. When you onslaught nan island, it cuts truthful heavy pinch nan community', he told nan newspaper.