October 30, 2024
In the final stretch of the 2024 campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris found herself on the defensive following a divisive comment made by President Joe Biden. On Tuesday, during a video call with Voto Latino, Biden appeared to refer to supporters of former President Donald Trump as “garbage,” sparking backlash from Trump supporters and creating an opportunity for Trump to seize the narrative.
The controversy erupted as Biden, responding to a disparaging joke about Puerto Rico made at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, said, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.” While the White House later clarified that Biden’s remarks were aimed at the joke, not at all Trump supporters, the damage had been done. The moment reminded many of Hillary Clinton’s infamous 2016 “basket of deplorables” comment, a line that Trump supporters haven’t forgotten.
On Wednesday, Trump responded to Biden’s comment in classic style, arriving in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in a garbage truck adorned with “Trump Make America Great Again 2024.” Wearing a reflective vest, Trump told reporters, “This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.” Speaking at his rally, Trump insisted, “I have to begin by saying, 250 million Americans are not garbage.”
Harris, who has been working to build coalitions among moderate Republicans and independents in swing states, scrambled to address the controversy as she campaigned in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Speaking to reporters, she distanced herself from Biden’s comments, stating, “Let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.” In Raleigh, she urged her supporters to “be intentional about building coalitions” in the final days of the campaign.
The comment also drew criticism from other Republican leaders, who pointed to a long history of derogatory comments from Democratic leaders. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida reminded supporters in Rocky Mount, “You know, Barack Obama said we were bitter clingers. Hillary Clinton said we were deplorables, and now Joe Biden says we’re garbage. Well, we have news for the Democrat elites. We are Americans.”
This incident also provided Trump an opportunity to deflect from a separate controversy stirred by a joke about Puerto Rico by a comedian at his rally. The backlash over the joke, which characterized Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” had threatened to overshadow Trump’s campaign in key states like Pennsylvania, which both campaigns see as crucial in November. Harris has consistently condemned the remarks, contrasting Trump’s divisive rhetoric with her message of unity and respect.
As Biden’s comment reverberated, Harris’s running mate, Governor Tim Walz, also had to step in, making statements in two television appearances. Walz joined Harris in emphasizing respect and coalition-building. “The vice president and I have made it absolutely clear that we want everyone as a part of this. There’s a place for all of us here,” Walz said, underscoring the campaign’s goal to bring Americans together.
Biden, who has taken a more low-profile role since endorsing Harris, later attempted to clarify his remarks on social media, explaining that he had intended to criticize the comedian’s rhetoric, not all Trump supporters. However, the incident served as a reminder of Biden’s long history of gaffes, which have sometimes complicated messaging for his allies.
This latest episode underscores the charged atmosphere of the 2024 election, as Republicans point to a pattern of Democrat leaders demeaning conservative supporters. The legacy of comments like Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” and the ongoing perception of disrespect towards working-class and conservative Americans remains a point of contention. In a divisive election season, the ability of candidates to navigate these tensions could prove crucial in swaying undecided voters and securing victory in November.
Sources:
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