Staff Reports
In a classic case of Biden stumbles while Trump fumbles, the latest head-scratcher from the White House has put the spotlight back on the former president at a critical juncture in the campaign. The drama kicked off when President Joe Biden referred to Trump supporters as “garbage” during a conference call with Latino advocates, a hiccup that sent political shockwaves just days before the election. This unfortunate remark has proven convenient for Trump, who was already trying to do damage control over a comedian’s dismissive comments regarding Puerto Rico.
The timing of Biden’s gaffe couldn’t be more impeccable for Trump, who was under the microscope following a comic’s joke about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage” during a rally in Madison Square Garden. As Trump orchestrated an event in Allentown, Pennsylvania, that showcased Puerto Rican speakers to counter that narrative, it appears Biden’s verbal misfire turned the spotlight right back onto the former president. Instead of Trump facing the music about the insensitive comments, he’s now capitalizing on Biden’s blunder to paint himself as the champion of the Latino community.
Pres Biden clarified he was talking about the speaker who trashed Puerto Rico, not all Trump supporters.
He is a good man.
Trump said America is a garbage can#VoteBlue https://t.co/Gm7TXDGcBQ pic.twitter.com/nuZQIp9UyY— HarrisWalz24NJ 🏳️🌈 (@NJHarrisWalz24) October 30, 2024
Republican voices quickly leaped on Biden’s shiny new blunder, connecting the dots to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment from 2016. In a rallying cry that echoed through the Allentown venue, Senator Marco Rubio stressed that Trump supporters deserve better than to be labeled as “garbage.” It seems that labeling one’s supporters as trash isn’t an effective campaign strategy, and Biden’s careless words have reignited that memory for many conservatives.
While Trump attempted to sidestep questions about the comedian and his remarks, he managed to pivot the attention back to Biden. The Puerto Rican community, crucial in swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin, makes up a significant portion of voters looking for representation. With Trump hosting Latino speakers at his rally, it is now Biden who is facing the ire of voters who feel unfairly maligned. Trump’s message about protecting the Catholic faith and promises of appealing to Latino voters resonated well enough to redirect the narrative back onto his agenda.
As for her own campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is effectively scrambling to separate herself from Biden’s slip-ups and has limited appearances with him. Her recent speech at the Ellipse, focused on rallying support, quickly faded into the background as Biden’s words took center stage. But just like a well-timed political punchline, the fallout from Biden’s jab has Republican candidates everywhere eager to pounce and stake their claim to the “not garbage” crowd.
With the election drawing closer, missteps like Biden’s do not just carry ephemeral weight; they have lasting consequences, especially in the tightly contested swing states. It seems the Democrats are stuck playing defense, while Trump and his supporters reclaim the narrative yet again—a true comedy of political errors, one that will likely resonate through the election cycle.
