Florida leaders, celebs react to Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico ‘floating piece of garbage’

MIAMI – A comment made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Madison Square Garden rally for former President Donald Trump on Sunday has sparked bipartisan backlash and ignited strong reactions among Puerto Rican community leaders, local politicians, celebrities and voters in South Florida.

Speaking at the rally, Hinchcliffe described Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage,” a remark that many Puerto Ricans say felt like a painful echo of disrespect dating back to Hurricane Maria and Trump’s handling of disaster relief on the island.

Jasmine Rivas, a Brickell resident who attended the rally, expected the comedic segment to be lighthearted but left dismayed.

“It is not good when someone says something about another country or place. I thought it would be comedy, but this is not comedy,” Rivas said. “I think you need to be respectful. It doesn’t matter what country you are; everybody deserves respect.”

Outrage followed swiftly, especially from Puerto Rican leaders and celebrities who took to social media to denounce the comedian’s remarks.

Grammy-winning singer Ricky Martin posted a clip of the performance with the caption, “This is what they think of us.” He was joined by several prominent figures in Puerto Rican communities, as well as politicians and activists who argued that the joke perpetuates harmful stereotypes and ignores the realities facing Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory grappling with economic hardships and natural disaster recovery.

Latin singer Marc Anthony also chimed in on Hinchcliffe’s remarks on his X account Monday evening.

Bipartisan Condemnation from South Florida’s Elected Officials

The comedian’s words quickly drew criticism from Florida’s Puerto Rican community and lawmakers across the political spectrum, with several prominent Republican leaders in the state condemning the remarks.

U.S. Representative Carlos Gimenez, who represents parts of South Florida, called the comedian’s words “classless and in poor taste,” emphasizing the lasting hurt many Puerto Ricans feel from previous disparaging treatment and stereotypes.

U.S. Senator Rick Scott echoed this sentiment, issuing a statement that described the joke as “offensive and utterly unacceptable,” adding, “This joke bombed for a reason. It’s not funny, and it’s not true.”

Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, another prominent Republican from South Florida, weighed in, condemning the comedian’s comment as “racist” and insisting that “this rhetoric does not reflect GOP values.”

Salazar emphasized her stance on dignity and respect for Puerto Ricans, noting, “Our values include respect and dignity for all communities, especially those who have given so much to this nation.”

Painful Echoes from Hurricane Maria

For many Puerto Ricans in South Florida, the comment at Trump’s rally was reminiscent of their experiences following Hurricane Maria, when Trump was criticized for throwing paper towels to hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico — a move many interpreted as symbolic of the administration’s lack of respect for the island’s citizens.

Millie Ayala Raphael, a local activist, said the reaction among her friends and family on the island and the mainland was swift and intense.

“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” Raphael said. “This level of disrespect ... it may be the ‘October surprise’ that everyone is talking about. My family on the island is like, ‘What is going on over there? How could this be possible again?’”

The memories of 2017 still weigh heavily on Puerto Rican voters like Raphael.

“We lost close to 4,000 souls during and after the storm,” she added, reflecting on the devastation left by Hurricane Maria. “For the president of the United States to be so disrespectful really stuck with a lot of us. Those of us who are here on the mainland, who can vote for the president, certainly took that into account in 2020.”

Dr. Frances Colón, a climate scientist and Puerto Rican community advocate, recalled the deep hurt caused by the response to Hurricane Maria.

“To see how little value was placed on our existence — it hurt deeply,” she said. “Puerto Ricans know in their heart and their soul that they have contributed to this country for so many years, in the armed forces, in the arts, in the sciences.”

“The laughter that followed his comment felt like a slap in the face, a reinforcement of stereotypes that are degrading and wrong,” Colón added. “Now to say these are not GOP values when in 2017 we saw hurricane aid withheld after Hurricane Maria, when we have seen how Latinos are spoken about about ‘poisoning the blood of our country’ i think the comments made last night perfectly represent the values of the Republican Party over the last decade.”

Community Leaders Call for Political Accountability

Richard Robles, founder of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, underscored the broader implications of such remarks in a high-stakes election.

“You can’t defend what he said. Jokes are okay, but the timing and setting for the joke are very important,” Robles said. “This was at a national event for a candidate for president. You have children listening to this, young adults listening to this … to make an off-color joke about Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and African Americans is indefensible, and it has no place in a presidential election.”

“We are a nonpartisan organization so we don’t lean in any direction our members have their own opinions, but as a nonpartisan organization, we take strong offense that Puerto Ricans are being used as a political tool and smeared and treated unfairly in this context,” added Robles. “A joke is a joke but not in this context you don’t say these kinds of things in this kind of situation.”

Despite Trump’s campaign attempting to distance itself from the comments, community members like Colón believe the damage has been done.

“To now say these are not GOP values when in 2017 we saw hurricane aid withheld after Hurricane Maria, when we have seen how Latinos are spoken about … it hurts because we are Americans. We are U.S. citizens who contribute to this country,” she said. “The comments made last night perfectly represent the values of the Republican Party over the last decade.”

Ayala Raphael echoed similar concerns. “This comedian was at a rally in New York for Trump — that wasn’t an accident,” she said. “That party has a long way to go in proving it values our community.”

On Monday, Florida Senator and Miami-Dade Democrats Chair Shevrin Jones released a statement regarding Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, which you can read here:

Members of the Florida Democratic Party also issued a statement on Hinchliffe’s comments.

“Donald Trump hasn’t even taken the stage at his wannabe Hitler rally and they’re already insulting American citizens,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried. “Donald Trump’s racist extremism has seeped into the foundation of the Republican Party, and no self-respecting American should stand for it.

“Over one million Puerto Ricans — natural-born American citizens — call Florida home. Rick Scott and Florida Republicans have a responsibility to disavow the bigotry coming from their party. We call on them to set a clear example for the country by immediately denouncing these racist attacks — anything less proves that they don’t give a damn about the Puerto Ricans they represent in Florida.”

The incident also sparked intense discussion on ABC’s “The View,” where the hosts expressed dismay over the comments, with each highlighting different aspects of the implications.

Sunny Hostin, who has Puerto Rican heritage, called on Puerto Ricans to remember the incident at the polls. “My fellow Puerto Ricans, trash collection day is November 5,” she said, referring to Election Day.

Ana Navarro noted how Hinchcliffe’s comments seem to align with Trump’s past remarks. “He reflects what Trump has said his entire lifetime,” she said. She urged Puerto Ricans to vote, saying, “Usa tu vota,” meaning “use your vote.”

Alyssa Farah Griffin questioned whether Trump’s base was truly behind the comedian’s message. “I don’t know anyone who watched that and is like, ‘This is what I believe in, this is what I want my kids to see,’” she said.

Sara Haines pointed out the potential for an unintended negative impact on Trump’s campaign. “It felt like he kind of October-surprised himself,” she said, referring to the negative attention generated so close to the election.

Whoopi Goldberg also underscored how the comments reflect broader sentiments and serve as a warning to minority communities. “All those people of color who were sitting in that audience—now you know how he thinks about you,” Goldberg remarked. “It does reflect.”

Potential Political Impact

With election day approaching, leaders in Florida’s Puerto Rican community suggest that the backlash could motivate previously undecided or unengaged voters. “I think it will have an impact on folks who were not so sure about going out to vote,” said Colón. “In the Puerto Rican community, we are very proud—proud of our values, our identity, our contributions. To call us a pile of floating garbage will likely move a lot of undecided and low-propensity voters to come out.”

Robles also highlighted the weight of Puerto Rican voters in Florida, noting that mainland Puerto Ricans now outnumber those on the island. “It’s up to us to speak on their behalf and advocate for them here,” he said, adding that the organization would continue advocating for Puerto Rican dignity in all political spheres.

As public outcry continues, South Florida’s Puerto Rican voters are watching closely to see how candidates respond, with many saying they expect respect and concrete commitments from both parties in future interactions with the Puerto Rican community.

Sean Foreman, a political science professor with Barry University, said he doesn’t expect the remarks to make much a difference in Trump’s campaign moving forward. Read his statement below.

In Florida, there could be some possible backlash against Republicans. But, you see people like Rick Scott and Maria Elvira Salazar coming out and speaking against those comments. I think that will be enough to mitigate any potential damage from the negative comments coming out of Trump’s recent rallies.”