Harris distances herself from Biden's 'garbage' gaffe at Trump backers, says she represents all Americans

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President and presidential nominee Kamala Harris has entered damage control just days before the election following President Joe Biden’s “garbage” gaffe which is feared may result in election fallout. 

Biden’s comments, directed at Donald Trump's supporters, have sparked backlash and a political firestorm that may affect Harris’ campaign efforts and steer away the win from her.

The incident originated when Biden attempted to defend Puerto Ricans after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe labeled Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden. Biden’s attempt to address the situation has since generated further controversy.

Kamala Harris clarifies her stance, distances from Joe Biden's 'garbage' remarks

Seeking to clarify her position, Kamala Harris addressed the media, stating her disapproval of criticism based on political support.

“Let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” Harris told reporters, as the New York Times noted.

She added that Biden had “clarified his comments” following the gaffe.

Harris stressed her commitment to representing all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

“You heard my speech last night, and continuously throughout my career. I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not,” Harris said.

She added, “I am sincere in what I mean: when elected president of the United States, I will represent all Americans, including those who don’t vote for me, and address their needs and their desires.”

Joe Biden's 'garbage' gaffe gets compared with Hillary Clinton's 2016 'deplorable' comment

The controversy began when Joe Biden addressed a Voto Latino event, intended to mobilize support for Kamala Harris.

Biden remarked, “...Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico ‘a floating island of garbage.’ Well, let me tell you something...The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters."

Following a brief pause, Biden continued, “His, his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American," according to CNN, which wrote the opinion that the comment may have handed Trump a big assist in winning the elections.

The comment was also criticized by some as politically damaging, drawing comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” remark in 2016, and has been seized upon by right-leaning media and the Trump campaign to further make its impact felt.

White House defends Joe Biden's recent remarks

The White House too responded, clarifying Joe Biden’s remarks and attempting to mitigate the impact.

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said Biden meant to address Trump’s “hateful rhetoric” at the New York rally, not to insult Trump’s supporters.

Bates stated that Biden’s intended message was: “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s – his – his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”

Joe Biden defends himself on social media but Donald Trump mocks his mental stability 

Following the uproar, Joe Biden took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain his comments.

“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. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation,” Biden wrote.

In response, Trump seized on Biden’s remarks, using the opportunity to energize his supporters.

At a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the former president said, “Wow. That’s terrible. That’s what it says. That’s what it says. So, you have, remember Hillary, she said ‘deplorable’ and then she said ‘irredeemable,’ right? But she said deplorable, that didn’t work out. ‘Garbage’ I think is worse, right?”

According to TMZ, Trump further questioned Biden’s mental clarity, stating, “Please forgive him, for he not knoweth what he said. ... Terrible to say a thing like that, but he really doesn’t know. He really, honestly, he doesn’t.”