Puerto Rican celebrities, including Grammy winners Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin, have publicly denounced Donald Trump after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, performing at Trump’s closing rally in Madison Square Garden, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
The backlash comes as Trump and Kamala Harris are locked in a close presidential race, where Latino voters are pivotal.
Puerto Ricans make up the second-largest Latino group in the U.S., especially in battleground states like Pennsylvania.
Despite Trump gaining popularity among Latino men and receiving endorsements from artists like Anuel AA and Nicky Jam, Hinchcliffe’s remarks sparked outrage across party lines.
Florida GOP Rep. María Elvira Salazar condemned the comment, asserting it doesn’t reflect GOP values.
Following the rally, Bad Bunny criticized Trump’s handling of Puerto Rico after the 2017 hurricanes, which included downplaying the disaster and tossing paper towels to residents.
The artist’s posts supported Harris’s pro-Puerto Rico agenda, including plans to boost economic opportunities on the island.
With just days to Election Day, both Harris and Trump are heavily courting Latino voters, crucial for victory.
