The presidential race is heating up as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris make their final pitches to voters in key battleground states. But a recent controversy involving a comedian’s racist joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally has added an unexpected twist.
Trump Lauds Puerto Ricans Days After Offensive Joke
At a packed rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Trump went out of his way to praise the Puerto Rican community, declaring that “nobody loves our Latino community and our Puerto Rican community more than I do.” His remarks came just days after a comedian at one of his rallies referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage”, sparking outrage.
Trump also claimed he had done more for Puerto Rico than any other president, despite facing criticism for his administration’s response to Hurricane Maria in 2017. “I’ve gone out of my way to be nice to Puerto Rico,” he asserted. “Haven’t said a damn thing about them.”
Comedian’s Joke Ignites Backlash
The controversy began when a warm-up act at Trump’s rally made a racist joke disparaging Puerto Rico, referring to it as an “island of garbage”. The comedian reportedly had been testing out the joke at comedy clubs before using it at the rally.
“The guy has no idea what he’s talking about. I was born in Puerto Rico. That island as well as all the other islands around it are beautiful.”
– Luis Gonzalez, Allentown resident
The joke drew swift condemnation from many, including Puerto Rican residents of Pennsylvania who showed up to protest outside Trump’s Allentown rally. They carried signs reading “Latinos for Harris-Walz” and wore Puerto Rican flags.
Campaign Courts Puerto Rican Voters
Trump’s praise for Puerto Ricans is being seen as an attempt to court Latino voters in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state where polls show a tight race. Several speakers at the rally, including Puerto Rican official Zoraida Buxó, emphasized their heritage in an apparent appeal to this voting bloc.
However, some attendees downplayed the impact of the comedian’s joke. “It was made in poor taste, I have to admit. But Donald Trump is Donald Trump,” said Mark Melendez, a rally-goer from New Jersey. “I don’t think it will affect him; it might.”
Attacks and Accusations in Final Campaign Push
As the race enters its final days, both candidates are pulling out all the stops. Trump’s speech was heavy on personal attacks against Harris, whom he called “unstable” and “obsessed with revenge”. He also accused Democrats of cheating, misrepresenting an investigation in Lancaster County.
Harris, meanwhile, made her closing argument in Washington, painting Trump as unfit for office. The exchange of barbs sets the stage for an acrimonious finish to an already bitter campaign.
With the comedian controversy inserting an unexpected variable, the impact on Puerto Rican voters – and the election outcome – remains to be seen. As one Trump supporter put it: “If you take a comedian out of context and you look at it as a serious thing, yes, you would be offended.” But in a race this close, every voting bloc matters – and every comment counts.
