President Joe Biden overshadowed his vice president Kamala Harris’ ‘closing’ campaign plea by calling Donald Trump’s supporters ‘garbage’ in an astonishing outburst.
The 81-year-old commander-in-chief’s bombshell gaffe evoked memories of Hillary Clinton describing Trump voters as ‘deplorables’ in 2016, which contributed to her loss.
It also came as Harris was hoping to capture the nation’s full attention with a carefully planned rally in front of the White House for 75,000 Democrats.
But Biden stepped on her moment by appearing to lash out at Trump’s supporters in what Republicans lambasted as a ‘disgusting’ attack.
The president later disputed that he had called Trump supporters ‘garbage’.
He said that by ‘garbage’ he meant ‘hateful rhetoric’ that had been on display at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday.
President Joe Biden referred to Donald Trump supporters as ‘garbage’ in an astonishing statement as Vice President Kamala Harris issued her ‘closing’ plea in the 2024 election
Former US President and Republican Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, October 29, 2024
The president was weighing in after a comedian compared Puerto Rico to a ‘floating island of garbage’ during his set at the Trump rally.
Biden said: ‘The only garbage I see floating out there is his (Trump’s) supporters.’
He made the comment on a Zoom call organized by the advocacy group Voto Latino.
Biden told those on the call: ‘And just the other day, a speaker at his (Trump’s rally called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”
‘Well, let me tell you something. I don’t, I, I don’t know the Puerto Rican that, that I know, or a Puerto Rico,. Where I’m from, in my home state of Delaware, they’re good, decent, honorable people.
‘The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters, His, his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.’
Biden also urged those listening on the call to ‘vote to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.’
The president said: ‘He’s a true danger to not just Latinos but to all people, particularly those who are in a minority in this country.’
Supporters hold signs during former US President and Republican Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump’s campaign rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, October 29, 2024
In 2016 Hillary Clinton called Trump supporters ‘deplorables’
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks on The Ellipse just south of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2024
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris arrives to speak on The Ellipse just south of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 29
Biden also praised Harris, who has been careful to only criticize Trump, and not his supporters, as she actively courts Republicans she hopes might cross over and vote for her.
Supporters listen as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at PPL Center, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Allentown, Pa
Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance said of Biden’s comment: ‘This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country. There’s no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it.’
Donald Trump Jr. said: ‘The media spent all week crying about a joke from a comedian. Meanwhile, Tim Walz called Trump supporters Nazis. Kamala Harris refused to condemn it. And now Kamala’s biggest Democrat ally, Joe Biden, is calling all Trump supporters “garbage.” Absolutely disgusting!!!’
