Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro blasted President Joe Biden for calling supporters of Donald Trump “garbage,” after both the former President and Vice President Kamala Harris added their two cents.
After Biden’s remarks, CNN’s Kaitlin Collins questioned Shapiro, who was once in line to become Harris’ running mate, about his thoughts on Biden’s language.
“I would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn’t support,” Shapiro responded after Collins aired the clip.
When asked if Biden should clarify, Shapiro said, “Well, I think President Biden will decide what he wants to say. It’s certainly not words that I would choose, and I think it’s important that we remain focused on the contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump and not attacking supporters of either candidate.”
Biden tried to backtrack, stating that he was referring to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s bad joke at a Trump’s rally in New York.
Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it,” Biden commented on X. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable.”
“That’s all I meant to say,” he added. “The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
Despite trying to walk back his remarks, Biden initially mentioned Trump supporters in plural during a campaign call on Tuesday night, when he claimed the former president has “no character” and “doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community.”
“Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage,” Biden said about Hinchcliffe’s joke.
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden stated. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.”
Trump blasted Biden’s commentary as “terrible” during his latest rally. “Remember Hillary? She said ‘deplorable’ and then ‘irredeemable’ right? That didn’t work out.”
BREAKING: Trump responds to Biden calling 74 million Americans “garbage”
Trump says that Biden’s comment is worse than Hillary Clinton calling Trump supporters “deplorable” pic.twitter.com/hEPtEAYAof
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 30, 2024
“Garbage I think is worse, right?” Trump added. “But he doesn’t know, you have to please forgive him. Please forgive him, for he not knoweth what he said. These people, it’s terrible. Terrible. Terrible to say a thing like that, but he really doesn’t know, he really, honestly, he doesn’t and I’m convinced that he likes me more than he likes Kamala.”
Trump’s campaign issued a statement after Biden’s statement, claiming the former president’s supporters were labeled by Harris’ campaign as “fascists, Nazis, and now, garbage.”
“There’s no way to spin it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don’t just hate President Trump, they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “Kamala does not deserve four more years. President Trump will be a president for ALL Americans.”
On Wednesday, Vice President Harris distanced herself from Biden’s words.
“First of all, he clarified his comments, but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” Harris told reporters.
You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career. I believe that the work I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not,” she noted. “And as president of the United States, I will be a president for all Americans whether you vote for me or not.”
