In Pennsylvania, Donald Trump is facing significant backlash from the Puerto Rican community following offensive comments made at a Trump rally. The remarks have stirred frustration among many Puerto Rican voters, particularly in Allentown and Philadelphia, who see this as a fresh opportunity for Kamala Harris to connect with Pennsylvania’s sizable Puerto Rican population.
The effects were immediate. On Monday, a nonpartisan Puerto Rican organization drafted a letter urging members to oppose Trump in the upcoming election. Conversations among Puerto Rican voters were active, with messages flooding WhatsApp and discussions spreading through local bodegas. Many residents are also planning to protest Trump’s upcoming rally in Allentown, a city with a large Puerto Rican population, where he’s set to speak in the heart of a Puerto Rican neighborhood.
“It’s spreading like wildfire,” said Norberto Dominguez, a Democratic precinct captain in Allentown, whose family is split between Republican and Democratic voters. He remarked, “It’s not wise to offend a large group of voters in a critical swing state and then expect their support.”
The timing is especially inconvenient for Trump as he attempts to court Latino voters in Pennsylvania. Pro-Trump comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s recent derogatory comments, labeling Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” have sparked strong reactions statewide, including criticism from Trump’s Republican allies. Pennsylvania, where the race is close, could see significant shifts due to these remarks.
“This was a gift from the gods,” said Victor Martinez, owner of a Spanish-language radio station in Allentown. He noted that the remarks mobilized Puerto Rican voters who were previously undecided. On his morning show, Martinez was flooded with callers, some of whom had been Trump supporters but are now reconsidering their choices.
In response, Trump campaign officials have attempted to downplay the incident. Campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted Trump’s appeal to Hispanic voters, while senior adviser Danielle Alvarez distanced the campaign from the comedian’s comments. Key Republican leaders in states with large Puerto Rican populations, like Florida and New York, quickly condemned the remarks, saying they don’t reflect Republican values. However, some of Trump’s allies dismissed the controversy, including running mate JD Vance, who, during a rally in Wisconsin, suggested that the outrage was misplaced.
Amid the backlash, Pennsylvania-based Puerto Rican organizations are organizing against Trump. Roberto L. Lugo, president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Puerto Rican Agenda, shared a letter condemning the remarks and urging Puerto Ricans not to vote for Trump, saying, “It’s about the respect Puerto Ricans and Latinos deserve.”
Local Republican leaders are also grappling with the fallout. GOP state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who represents Allentown, denounced the comments as “offensive and wrong,” despite still planning to attend Trump’s rally.
With Pennsylvania’s Puerto Rican community expressing disappointment, Harris has been active in reinforcing her support. On Sunday, she visited Freddy and Tony’s, a popular Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia, emphasizing her plans for the island while Trump’s rally, marked by disparaging remarks, was held elsewhere. Freddy and Tony’s employee Kenny Perez, who typically avoids politics, said the comments may drive him to vote for Harris this year, adding, “I think he gave Kamala a boost.”
Many in Pennsylvania’s Puerto Rican community are demanding an apology from Trump himself. Ivonne Concepion, a North Philadelphia resident, expressed her dismay, saying, “They should think before they put someone on stage to joke like that.” She added, “He’s gotta say ‘perdon’ — not just ‘sorry’ — but from here,” pointing to her chest.
The effects were immediate. On Monday, a nonpartisan Puerto Rican organization drafted a letter urging members to oppose Trump in the upcoming election. Conversations among Puerto Rican voters were active, with messages flooding WhatsApp and discussions spreading through local bodegas. Many residents are also planning to protest Trump’s upcoming rally in Allentown, a city with a large Puerto Rican population, where he’s set to speak in the heart of a Puerto Rican neighborhood.
“It’s spreading like wildfire,” said Norberto Dominguez, a Democratic precinct captain in Allentown, whose family is split between Republican and Democratic voters. He remarked, “It’s not wise to offend a large group of voters in a critical swing state and then expect their support.”
The timing is especially inconvenient for Trump as he attempts to court Latino voters in Pennsylvania. Pro-Trump comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s recent derogatory comments, labeling Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” have sparked strong reactions statewide, including criticism from Trump’s Republican allies. Pennsylvania, where the race is close, could see significant shifts due to these remarks.
“This was a gift from the gods,” said Victor Martinez, owner of a Spanish-language radio station in Allentown. He noted that the remarks mobilized Puerto Rican voters who were previously undecided. On his morning show, Martinez was flooded with callers, some of whom had been Trump supporters but are now reconsidering their choices.
In response, Trump campaign officials have attempted to downplay the incident. Campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted Trump’s appeal to Hispanic voters, while senior adviser Danielle Alvarez distanced the campaign from the comedian’s comments. Key Republican leaders in states with large Puerto Rican populations, like Florida and New York, quickly condemned the remarks, saying they don’t reflect Republican values. However, some of Trump’s allies dismissed the controversy, including running mate JD Vance, who, during a rally in Wisconsin, suggested that the outrage was misplaced.
Amid the backlash, Pennsylvania-based Puerto Rican organizations are organizing against Trump. Roberto L. Lugo, president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Puerto Rican Agenda, shared a letter condemning the remarks and urging Puerto Ricans not to vote for Trump, saying, “It’s about the respect Puerto Ricans and Latinos deserve.”
Local Republican leaders are also grappling with the fallout. GOP state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who represents Allentown, denounced the comments as “offensive and wrong,” despite still planning to attend Trump’s rally.
With Pennsylvania’s Puerto Rican community expressing disappointment, Harris has been active in reinforcing her support. On Sunday, she visited Freddy and Tony’s, a popular Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia, emphasizing her plans for the island while Trump’s rally, marked by disparaging remarks, was held elsewhere. Freddy and Tony’s employee Kenny Perez, who typically avoids politics, said the comments may drive him to vote for Harris this year, adding, “I think he gave Kamala a boost.”
Many in Pennsylvania’s Puerto Rican community are demanding an apology from Trump himself. Ivonne Concepion, a North Philadelphia resident, expressed her dismay, saying, “They should think before they put someone on stage to joke like that.” She added, “He’s gotta say ‘perdon’ — not just ‘sorry’ — but from here,” pointing to her chest.
Tags:
Trending Now