White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied President Biden was referring to Trump supporters when he said on Tuesday that “the only trash I see is his supporters.” .
“Let me be clear, he did not call Trump supporters trash,” Jean-Pierre told reporters at a regular White House press briefing on Wednesday, adding that Biden clarified his remarks. He reiterated that he issued a statement to do so.
“He doesn't consider Trump supporters or people who support Trump to be trash,” she said, adding that Biden is “a president for everyone,” including those who didn't vote for him. He added that he had said it many times.
Biden calls Trump supporters 'trash', and White House aims to clean up afterwards
Presidential Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on October 30, 2024 in Washington, DC.
(Tierney Cross/AFP) (Photo by Tierney Cross/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr. Biden was asked on a Zoom call on Tuesday about comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during Mr. Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, in which he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of trash.”
Over the next two days, there was an outpouring of anger from Democratic lawmakers who said the Trump campaign should not have referred to Puerto Rico as such.
President Trump calls supporters 'trash' and urges support to 'forgive' Biden in show of unity
President Biden called Trump supporters “trash” during a virtual conference call with Harris. (Screenshot/CNN)
Later, as Vice President Harris was holding her last major campaign rally, and not far from the White House, Biden was asked what he thought of Hinchcliffe's comedy at a Trump rally in New York.
“The only trash I see is his supporters,” Biden said. “(President Trump's) demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and un-American.”
“Earlier today, I called the hateful anti-Puerto Rican rhetoric spewed by Trump's supporters at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally as garbage,” Biden tweeted later that evening. But this is the only word I can think of to describe it: His demonization of Latinos is disgusting.” That's all I wanted to say. The comments made at that rally do not reflect who we are as a nation. ”
Biden calls Trump supporters 'trash' during Harris campaign event, vice president promises unity at Ellipse rally
Harris responded to the controversy earlier Wednesday, saying Biden had “clarified his comments.”
“I strongly oppose criticizing people based on who they vote for,” Harris said. “You listened to me last night and throughout my career. I believe my work represents all people, whether they support me or not.”
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Harris added that Biden called her on Tuesday night after the event, but said they did not discuss Biden's “trash” remarks.
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Fox News Digital's Scott McDonald and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
