Harris hits back at Biden’s “garbage” remarks about Trump supporters

“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,” she told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Harris pointed to her speech at the Ellipse on Tuesday night in which she promised to be president for all Americans as she courted undecided voters.

“I’ve been very clear to the American public, I respect the challenges that people face,” she said. “I’m serious about what I mean when I’m elected president, I’m going to represent all Americans, including people who don’t vote for me and address their needs and their wants.”

Biden on Tuesday addressed offensive comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at Trump’s rally on Sunday, calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of trash.” Biden said during a virtual event with Voto Latino that he rejected those comments, going on to say, “The The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters’ — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American, ” according to a transcript released by the White House.

The president and the White House quickly clarified that Biden was talking about Hinchcliffe specifically.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Harris said she spoke with Biden after her speech last night, but the two did not discuss his “garbage” comment.

Harris has come under fire for being reluctant to outline how she will be different from a Biden presidency. During an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier earlier this month, Harris was pressed to explain how her presidency would be different from Biden’s.

“Let me be very clear: My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Harris told Baier. “And like every new president who takes office, I will bring my life experiences, my professional experiences and fresh new ideas.”

Latino protesters in PA don’t give Donald Trump such a warm welcome

Latino protesters gathered outside a Trump rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania in response to racist jokes made at a recent event.

In her speech Tuesday, Harris further clarified how her administration would differ from the current one.

“My presidency will be different because the challenges we face are different,” she said, adding that four years ago she and Biden were focused on ending the pandemic and reducing the economy. “Now our biggest challenge is to lower costs, costs that were increasing even before the pandemic and are still too high.”

The fallout from Biden’s comments comes days after Trump faced backlash for his Madison Square Garden rally, which was overshadowed by racist tropes and vitriol from speakers like Hinchcliffe. Trump and his campaign have distanced themselves from Hinchcliffe’s comments after widespread backlash, particularly among Puerto Ricans and other Latino voters.

Democrats, including Harris, have been critical of the language Trump has used to describe people who do not support him, often referring to them as “the enemy within.”

“This is not a presidential candidate who thinks about how to make your life better,” Harris said Tuesday night, referring to the former president’s comments.