WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday she strongly disagrees with criticism from groups based on the candidate they support. His revelations came later President Joe Biden The comedian came under fire for his reaction to a racist joke at a rally for former President Donald Trump last night.
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews before heading to campaign events, Harris said Biden had “clarified his comments” but added: “I strongly disagree with any criticism of who people voted for.”
During a video call on Latino voters on Tuesday, Biden criticized either Trump supporters or comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. He called Puerto Rico a “floating garbage island.”“Among other racist jokes at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday.
“They are good, decent, honorable people,” Biden said, referring to the Puerto Rican community. “The only garbage I see floating there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is dishonest and un-American. It’s completely against everything we do.”
White House spokesman Andrew Bates was quick to say that Biden “referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as trash.”
The White House also sent a transcript Biden’s attempt to imply that he wasn’t saying Trump supporters were “garbage” but that he was crossing his lines and specifically disparaging Hinchcliffe’s words.
The transcript quotes Biden as saying: “And just the other day, a man at his rally called Puerto Rico a ‘floating garbage island.’ I’ll tell you something – I – I don’t know Puerto Rico – I know – or I don’t know a Puerto Rican in my home state of Delaware. I see good, decent, honest people, and what he advocates — his — demonization of Latinos is dishonest, and it goes completely against everything we do.”
In a post on Tuesday’s X, Biden also said he was referring to Hinchcliffe.
Biden’s comments came shortly Before Harris gave his closing remarks At the Ellipse in Washington, Trump promised to “turn the page on the drama and conflict” of his era and give “a seat at the table” to those who disagree with him.
“Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are enemies. “He wants to arrest them. I will give them a seat at the table.”
Harris tried to double down on his message of unity to reporters on Wednesday: “I believe that what I do is to represent all people, whether they support me or not. And as the president of the United States, I am the president for all Americans, regardless of whether you voted for me.”
He added: “I respect that we all have more in common than what divides us, and that most people want a president who understands that and understands that and approaches his leadership role that way.”
The vice president said he spoke with Biden last night, but they did not discuss the president’s statement.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, defended Biden in interviews Wednesday morning, saying he clarified the president’s words. He also echoed Harris’ message of unity. “I made it very clear that we want everyone to be a part of this,” Walz said during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“President Biden was very clear that he was talking about the rhetoric that we heard [rally] so it doesn’t shake it,” Walz said on “CBS Mornings.” “People are hungry to get back together. They are hungry to find a unifying message. Whether it’s prices or reproductive care, they’re hungry for us to find solutions, they want to see solutions.”
Harris tried to walk a fine line in criticizing Trump, pointing to Trump’s divisive rhetoric without alienating his supporters. During an interview this month Fox News host Bret Baier asked Harris if he thought Trump voters were stupid.
“Oh my God, I would never say that about the American people,” he said. “In fact, if you listen to Donald Trump, if you watch any of his rallies, he tends to belittle, demean and diminish the American people.”
That’s among the comments Trump pointed to Harris and his allies He repeatedly called the Democrats and their opponents “internal enemies”. and refers to the United States like “trash”. Trump also said Jewish people who vote for Democrats “they should examine their heads” and suggested that it could be used the against the military “radical left”.
Stephanie Cutter, the Harris-Walz campaign’s senior messaging adviser, said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday that people should direct their anger at Trump.
“Protect me from the fake outrage of Donald Trump, JD Vance and his campaign,” he said. “They are trying to claim that President Biden is insulting Trump voters, but the president is calling the whole country trash.”