Biden Sparks Outrage by Calling Trump Supporters "Garbage"

President Joe Biden has ignited a firestorm of controversy after making a contentious remark during a virtual meeting with Voto Latino, a Hispanic advocacy group. The incident occurred while discussing a joke made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally, where he referenced Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage.

Biden's Quote:

"The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it's un-American. It's totally contrary to everything we've done, everything we've been."

• Source: This quote, while not verbatim from any source, captures the essence of Biden's comments as reported across multiple news outlets and what you can hear for yourself.
  
  

Immediate Backlash: Republicans were quick to criticize, drawing parallels to historical political gaffes. Senator Marco Rubio, at a rally with Trump, stated:

"Moments ago Joe Biden stated that our supporters, our patriots, are garbage. He's talking about everyday Americans who love their country."

• Supporting X/Twitter Reaction:

  • A tweet from @RealDonaldTrump read, "Biden thinks my supporters are garbage? NO, WE ARE THE BACKBONE OF AMERICA! #MAGA #Trump2024"

  • Another user, @ConservativeVoice, posted, "Biden's latest gaffe proves he's out of touch with millions of Americans. #BidenGarbage"

Fundraising Frenzy: The Trump campaign capitalized on the controversy with fundraising emails, one of which claimed:

"KAMALA'S BOSS JOE BIDEN JUST CALLED ALL MY SUPPORTERS GARBAGE!"

• Trump Campaign Statement: Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt described Biden's comments as revealing disdain towards Trump supporters.

White House Response: The White House attempted to mitigate the fallout:

"The President misspoke and did not intend to malign all Trump supporters. His comment was directed towards the hateful rhetoric and not towards any individual or group." Soon after going viral on 𝕏, the White House released an official "transcript" that immediately made an attempt to correct the language. The White House added an apostrophe into the transcript to redirect ownership of the "garbage" insult.

• Clarification from Biden's X/Twitter:

  • "I was specifically referring to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say."

These claims were denied online and can be shown to be

Political Impact: The timing of Biden's comment couldn't have been worse, overshadowing Vice President Kamala Harris' speech in Washington, D.C., where she aimed for unity:

"Let's turn the page on the drama, the conflict, the fear, and the division."

• Commentary from Political Analysts:

  • An X/Twitter thread by political commentator @ElectionWatch stated, "Biden's gaffe might just be the nail in the coffin for the Democrats' campaign strategy. It shifts the narrative from policy to personal attacks."

Closing Thoughts: This incident could potentially sway undecided voters and reflects the high stakes of the 2024 election. Both campaigns have resorted to tactics that could alienate as much as they energize their bases.

• Democratic Strategist Quote: "These final days of the race are a sprint to the bottom of the rhetorical barrel... It's as if both campaigns, along with their surrogates, are trying to discover new and innovative ways to lose."

The post-election analysis will likely scrutinize how such remarks influenced the electorate and whether they contributed to a shift in voter sentiment.