At a rally held on the 27th by former President Trump, the Republican candidate for the US presidential election, a comedian called the US territory of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean a “garbage island” causing controversy. Of the seven battleground states that will decide the outcome of the election, the most populous state of Pennsylvania in the eastern US is seeing an increase in the number of Latin American residents, many of whom are of Puerto Rican descent. If the backlash spreads, it could affect the outcome.
Democratic Vice President Harris dismissed the remarks as “absurd” on the 28th, accusing Trump of inciting hatred and division, and saying the American people are fed up with it. She emphasized the difference by saying she would continue to invest in Puerto Rico, which was hit by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
According to Firstpost, Puerto Ricans, who make up 3.8% of Pennsylvania’s population of about 13 million, tend to be independents. Both camps are aiming to capture them as swing votes that hold the key to victory or defeat.
“There’s a garbage island floating in the middle of the ocean. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” comedian Tony Hinchcliffe said at a rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
