close
close

Kamala Harris says she strongly rejects criticism of people based on who they vote for

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday she strongly disagrees with criticism of groups of people based on the candidate they support. Her comments came after President Joe Biden came under fire the previous evening for his response to a comedian's racist joke at a rally for former President Donald Trump.

Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews before heading off to campaign events, Harris said Biden had “clarified his comments” but added: “I agree with any criticism of people based on who they voted for.” “Not at all.”

During a Latino voter outreach video call on Tuesday, Biden appeared to criticize either Trump supporters or comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of trash,” among other racist jokes, at Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

“They are good, decent, honorable people,” Biden said, referring to the Puerto Rican community. “The only trash I see out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is incomprehensible and un-American. It’s completely contradictory to everything we’ve done.”

White House spokesman Andrew Bates quickly released a statement saying Biden “called the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally trash.”

The White House also sent around a transcript to show that Biden wasn't saying that Trump supporters were “trash,” but rather that he was overstepping his bounds and meant to say he specifically condemned Hinchcliffe's comments.

The transcript quotes Biden as saying, “And the other day a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of trash.'” Well, let me tell you something. I don't know the Puerto Rican I know or a Puerto Rican where I am in my home state of Delaware. We are good, decent, honorable people. The only trash I see out there is that of his supporters – his – his demonization of Latinos is irresponsible and completely contradictory to everything we have done, everything we have been. “

In a post on X later on Tuesday, Biden also said he was referring to Hinchcliffe.

Biden's comments came shortly before Harris gave a closing speech at the Ellipse in Washington in which he promised to “reverse the drama and conflict” of the Trump era and give people who disagree with her “a seat at the table.” .

“Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy,” she said. “He wants to put her in prison. I give them a seat at the table.”

Harris tried to underscore her message of unity on Wednesday, telling reporters: “I believe my job is about representing all people, whether they support me or not. And as President of the United States, I will be a President for all Americans, whether you vote for me or not.”

She added: “I respect the fact that we all have so much more in common than divides us, and that most people want a president who understands that, who understands that and approaches his leadership that way.”

The vice president said she spoke with Biden last night, but the president's remark was not discussed.

Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, defended Biden in interviews Wednesday morning and said the president had clarified his comments. He also reiterated Harris' message of unity. “I've made it absolutely clear that we want everyone to be a part of this,” Walz said during an interview on ABC's “Good Morning America.”

“President Biden has made it very clear that he is talking about the rhetoric we heard at the time [rally] So there’s no harm,” Walz said on “CBS Mornings.” “People are hungry to get back together.” They are hungry for a unifying message. They’re hungry for us to find solutions, whether it’s pricing or reproductive health, they want to see solutions.”

Harris has tried to walk a fine line in his criticism of Trump without angering his supporters, citing Trump's divisive rhetoric. During an interview this month on Fox News, host Bret Baier asked Harris if she thought Trump voters were stupid.

“Oh God, I would never say that about the American people,” she said. “And in fact, if you listen to Donald Trump, if you watch any of his rallies, he is the one who tends to demean, belittle and belittle the American people.”

Trump's comments, which Harris and her allies have pointed to, include him repeatedly calling Democrats and his opponents the “enemy within” and calling the U.S. a “dustbin.” Trump also said that Jewish people who vote Democratic should “get their head examined” and suggested he might use the military against the “radical left.”

Stephanie Cutter, a senior news adviser for the Harris-Walz campaign, said in an interview on MSNBC's “Morning Joe” on Wednesday that people should focus their outrage on Trump instead.

“Spare me from the fake outrage from Donald Trump, JD Vance and his campaign,” she said. “Even as they argue that President Biden is demeaning Trump voters, the president is calling the entire country a trash can.”

You may also like...