Joe Biden dubs Trump supporters ‘garbage’, evokes memories of Hillary Clinton’s ‘deplorables’ remark

Joe Biden responded to Tony Hinchcliffe's comments, in which the comedian described Puerto Rico as a 'floating island of garbage'
Joe Biden labeled Donald Trump's supporters as 'garbage' during a call hosted by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino  (Getty Images)
Joe Biden labeled Donald Trump's supporters as 'garbage' during a call hosted by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden referred to Donald Trump's supporters as "garbage" following offensive comments about Puerto Rico by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during a rally for the GOP nominee at Madison Square Garden.

During a call organized by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino, Joe Biden responded to Tony Hinchcliffe's comments, in which the comedian described Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage", per the Daily Mail.

Biden's remarks stirred memories of Hillary Clinton's 2016 comment dismissing Trump voters as "deplorables", a label widely believed to have played a role in her unexpected loss.



 

Joe Biden dubs Donald Trump supporters ‘garbage’

Joe Biden said, "Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Well, let me tell you something, I don’t, I don’t know the Puerto Rican that I know, the Puerto Rico where I’m from in my home state of Delaware. They’re good, decent honorable people."

He added, "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."

However, the President then took to social media to clarify what he said. He wrote on X, "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."



 

He added, "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's remarks brings back memories of Hillary Clinton's 2016 speech.

While speaking at a fundraiser in New York City in 2016, Hillary Clinton said half of Donald Trump’s supporters belong in a “basket of deplorables” characterized by “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic” views, according to TIME.

“You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right?” Clinton said.

Republicans highlight Joe Biden's remarks about Donald Trump supporters

Following Joe Biden's statement, Republicans swiftly spotlighted the President's remark, with Donald Trump inviting Florida Senator Marco Rubio on stage during his Pennsylvania rally to recount the incident.

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

(Getty Images)
Several Republicans criticized Joe Biden for calling Donald Trump supporters 'garbage' (Getty Images)

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also said in a statement, "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."

Moreover, a Trump campaign fundraising text read, "'KAMALA’S BOSS JOE BIDEN JUST CALLED ALL MY SUPPORTERS GARBAGE!' before ensuring recipients that Trump himself thinks, 'YOU ARE AMAZING!'"

Internet slams Joe Biden for calling Donald Trump's supporters 'garbage'

Several internet users slammed Joe Biden as he dubbed Donald Trump's supporters "garbage" in response to comic Tony Hinchcliffe's offensive remarks on Puerto Rico.

A user wrote on X, "It sounded like you called half the country garbage imo opinion," while another added, "No, you called all Trump supporters Garbage. SHAME ON YOU!!!"



 



 

A person also stated, "You’re the worst president of all time," whereas one mentioned, "You called 100 million people garbage You are what’s wrong with this country, not Trump or his supporters!!"



 



 

A user also wrote, "No need to apologize. You just won Trump his third straight election. We owe you big time as MAGA," while another commented, "Don’t try to walk it back. You said what you said. You and Kamala hate every American who doesn’t support your sh**** administration and you make it very clear to us everyday." [sic]



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Although Trump has historically favored mail-in or Election Day voting, he is voting in person during Florida’s early voting period
2026-10-23T20:23:04.000Z
Judge Bennett disagreed with the decision, saying the appeals court should not have ruled on the case at this stage. The Trump administration wanted to withdraw its appeal and return to the lower court to discuss how the Supreme Court’s ruling would affect the case
2026-10-23T19:03:58.000Z
The lawsuit stems from the presence of a third Senate candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, whose name closely resembles that of incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan
2026-10-23T18:08:34.000Z
The charges are part of a probe into whether FBI officials sought to minimise allegations of corruption involving the Biden family and evidence linked to Hunter Biden’s laptop
2026-10-23T17:00:17.000Z
No official truce was declared as the US maintained its naval blockade of Iran and Tehran continued restricting access through the Strait of Hormuz
2026-10-23T15:44:52.000Z
Donald Trump’s 2026 midterm election stakes rise as competitive Senate races in Kansas, Texas, Ohio, Maine and Alaska threaten GOP control
2026-10-23T08:01:20.000Z
A spokesperson said that the allegations were 'completely false' and reaffirmed that Ilhan Omar is her real name
2026-10-23T04:04:58.000Z
Only Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing that the lower court’s order sought to address alleged misinformation about election rules rather than change the state law
2026-10-23T03:09:16.000Z
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine urged Vivek Ramaswamy to pull the Amy Acton ad, calling it 'deeply, deeply troubling' and wrong to run
2026-10-23T02:28:06.000Z
As per Pentagon officials, it gives a similar 'tingling sensation' as the blast of heat when opening an oven, resulting in a 10-15 minute itching and burning sensation
2026-10-22T20:33:58.000Z