Democratic Rep. Slotkin of Michigan criticizes Biden for “garbage” faux pas

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Elissa Slotkin contradicted President Biden's comments calling former President Trump's supporters “trash,” arguing the gaffe was “inappropriate.”

“He shouldn't have said it, it's inappropriate,” Slotkin said during an appearance on local radio Wednesday morning. “For me, this kind of talk is simply the last thing we need in our politics.”

The comment came after Biden took part in a virtual campaign call for Vice President Kamala Harris, where he was asked about comedian Tony Hinchiffe, who made jokes that many found offensive, including one joke, at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally in which the comedian referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of trash.”

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“The only trash I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden responded. “[Trump’s] The demonization of Latinos is incomprehensible and un-American.

The remarks were quickly compared to a legendary gaffe from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her presidential run against Trump in 2016, when Clinton described half of Trump's supporters as “in a basket full of deplorables.”

The White House also immediately sought to walk back the comments, with spokesman Andrew Bates telling Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich that Biden had “called the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally 'garbage.'

President Biden speaks at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Saturday, October 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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“The president referenced a joke by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe in which he compared Puerto Rico to an island of floating 'trash' in the middle of the ocean,” Bates said.

But Slotkin, who is currently in a tight Senate race with former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, argued that Republicans and Democrats should be able to discuss their differences without Biden's “unnecessary” rhetoric.

President Biden called Trump supporters “trash” during a virtual Harris campaign call. (Screenshot/CNN)

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“Most Michiganders, I think 80% of us, just want our government to work – Democrats and Republicans discussing their issues in a civil and sensible way” rather than “engaging in name-calling,” Slotkin said. “I didn’t like that, I thought it was unnecessary, but that’s why I think we’re all ready for this election to be over.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

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