Former President Donald Trump addressed a recent controversy surrounding remarks by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who performed at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday. In an interview with ABC News’s Rachel Scott, Trump distanced himself from the comedian, saying he was unfamiliar with Hinchcliffe and unaware of his performance.
“I don’t know him; someone put him up there. I don’t know who he is,” Trump stated, marking his first public remarks on the backlash surrounding Hinchcliffe’s offensive comments about Puerto Rico.
Offensive Remarks at Madison Square Garden Rally
Hinchcliffe’s performance, intended as a comedic interlude, quickly attracted criticism. He reportedly referred to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage” and made a crude joke involving Latinos, babies, and immigration. These remarks have ignited widespread backlash, with many decrying them as distasteful and racially insensitive. Trump’s lack of awareness of the performance, as he conveyed to ABC, underscores his detachment from the incident.
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Trump’s Campaign Responds
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, addressed the controversy on Fox News, emphasizing that Hinchcliffe’s views do not align with Trump or his campaign. “It was a comedian who made a joke in poor taste,” Leavitt stated. She criticized the media for highlighting the joke over the broader messages delivered by other speakers at the rally.
GOP Members Condemn Hinchcliffe’s Comments
Hinchcliffe’s remarks have prompted several GOP members of Congress to voice their disapproval, with many calling out the comedian’s comments on Puerto Rico as offensive and unreflective of the values they uphold. Despite the backlash, Trump did not mention the incident in his Atlanta rally on Monday, choosing instead to highlight the success and turnout of the Madison Square Garden event.
A Continued Focus on Key Campaign Messages
While Hinchcliffe’s performance has drawn considerable attention, Trump’s campaign remains focused on promoting its core messages. As Leavitt emphasized, the views shared by the comedian do not represent the campaign, and Trump himself has underscored that he was unaware of the remarks.
