President Joe Biden is facing criticism after labeling Trump supporters as “garbage” during a virtual campaign call. The remark quickly ignited backlash, drawing comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s “deplorables” comment during the 2016 election, a moment many say was pivotal in her defeat.
Biden’s comment came during a call with Voto Latino, a nonprofit focused on Latino voter registration. In the call, Biden criticized Hinchcliffe’s joke about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage” during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden remarked, adding that Trump’s perceived “demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and un-American.”
White House representatives later attempted to clarify Biden’s words, explaining that his remark was aimed at the hateful rhetoric rather than Trump supporters as a whole. Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates released a transcript, arguing the president’s statement was directed at “the rhetoric from the rally,” not the millions who support Trump. Biden also posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating that he only meant to condemn Trump’s stance on Puerto Rico.
The Trump campaign was quick to respond. Karoline Leavitt, the campaign’s press secretary, accused Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of “hating Americans who support Trump.” Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, took to X as well, calling the comments “disgusting” and an attack on “half the country.” At a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Sen. Marco Rubio addressed the crowd, denouncing Biden’s remarks and calling on the Harris campaign to apologize. “We are not garbage,” Rubio stated, “we are patriots who love America.”
Biden’s comments echoed Clinton’s controversial “basket of deplorables” remark, a moment widely viewed as alienating voters who felt dismissed by her words. At his rally in Allentown, Trump told supporters that Biden’s “garbage” remark was even worse than Clinton’s. He reminded the crowd of Clinton’s use of “irredeemable” to describe some Trump voters in 2016. “That’s terrible,” Trump said, adding, “this is how they feel about you.”
Hinchcliffe’s joke, which ignited the controversy, drew bipartisan backlash and forced Trump’s team to distance the campaign from the comedian’s remarks. However, Biden’s strong language has given Republicans new ammunition, sparking heated responses from both political sides just days before Vice President Harris’ final campaign speech at the Ellipse.
Trump allies continue to call for an apology, stressing respect for American voters regardless of political affiliation.