During a new Donald Trump rally at Madison Square Nursery in New York, comic Tony Hinchcliffe offered dubious comments about Puerto Rico, alluding to it as a “drifting island of trash.”
The remarks provoked a reaction from the two conservatives and liberals, with allegations of bigotry adding to the shock. Hinchcliffe, known for his digital broadcast Kill Tony, additionally utilized generalizations, igniting distress in the crowd.
Trump’s counsel separated the previous president from the comments, while Majority rule competitor Kamala Harris, additionally designated by meeting speakers, censured the proclamations.
Puerto Rican big names, including rapper Terrible Rabbit, communicated help for Harris and censured the treatment of issues influencing Puerto Rico, including recuperation from Storm Maria.
Unmistakable figures like Representative Maria Elvira Salazar and Congressperson Rick Scott impugned the remarks. Salazar marked the proclamation “bigot,” noticing Puerto Rico’s commitments to the U.S. military, while Scott commented, “The joke besieged on purpose.”
Hinchcliffe safeguarded his set via web-based entertainment, excusing analysis as an absence of humor. Accordingly, Delegate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez referred to his remarks as “very disturbing,” highlighting her Puerto Rican legacy.
The episode adds to a line of polarizing minutes at Trump’s conventions, where speakers scrutinized rivals and powered troublesome ways of talking in front of the political race.
Trump Rallies in New York: Political Fire, Gigantic Groups Go to Madison Square Nursery Occasion
Puerto Rican Voters’ Limited Recourse in U.S. Elections
Following a recent Trump campaign rally in New York, offensive comments about Puerto Rico sparked outrage among Puerto Rican residents. However, the territory’s residents cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections. Despite this, Puerto Ricans living in the mainland U.S., estimated at nearly 6 million by the Pew Research Center in 2021, are eligible to vote. Pennsylvania, in particular, has a sizable Puerto Rican population whose votes may influence this battleground state.
Voting Rights for Puerto Rican Residents
The 2020 Census estimates that 3.4 million U.S. citizens reside on the island of Puerto Rico. Although they cannot vote in presidential elections, they can participate in Republican and Democratic primaries. Puerto Ricans are only eligible to vote in federal elections if they reside in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C., and are registered voters.
The Debate Over Puerto Rico’s Statehood
Puerto Rico’s status has been under debate for years, with Congress citing economic concerns and potential political shifts in the balance of power as reasons for delaying statehood. The most recent non-binding vote in 2020 showed majority support for statehood among Puerto Rican voters.
Voting Exclusion in Other U.S. Territories
Like Puerto Rico, residents of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot vote in presidential elections. Although they are U.S. citizens, they can only vote in federal elections if they relocate to a U.S. state. Residents of American Samoa, however, are U.S. nationals and are not eligible to vote in federal elections even if they live in a state.