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Coverage dated October 26, 2024 to October 29, 2024

Donald Trump says Puerto Rico remarks not a "big deal"

Headline from Newsweek, on the newest of 2 developments

"I can't imagine it's a big deal," the former president said of the comedian who called Puerto Rico "garbage."

Newsweek's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Republicans disavow comedian who called Puerto Rico 'island of garbage' at Trump rally

    Headline from Roll Call ·

  2. Newest

    Donald Trump says Puerto Rico remarks not a "big deal"

    Headline from Newsweek ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

27 articles, oldest first.

  1. Forbes

    Trump Rally Speaker Calls Puerto Rico ‘Floating Island Of Garbage’—Campaign Says Joke Doesn’t Reflect Trump’s Views (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    The Harris campaign criticized Tony Hinchcliffe—who responded that “people have no sense of humor.”

  2. Rolling Stone

    Extremely Racist 'Comedian' Speaks at Trump Rally, Calls Puerto Rico 'Garbage' (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Speaking at Trump’s rally in New York, Tony Hinchcliffe said Latinos “love making babies” and called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage.”

  3. The Hill

    Speaker at Trump rally compares Puerto Rico to ‘island of garbage’ (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    A speaker at former President Trump's Madison Square Garden rally spent a portion of his set attacking Puerto Rico, drawing backlash from Democrats and the Harris campaign.

  4. The Guardian

    US voters: share your reactions to the racist remarks about Puerto Rico at Trump’s New York rally (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    We’re interested to hear from Puerto Ricans and US voters with Latino heritage how they feel about comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s “island of garbage” remarks

  5. Rolling Stone

    'Who Booked This F-cking Jerk?': Trump Allies Pressed Campaign to Denounce Rally Comedian (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Donald Trump allies demanded his campaign reject racist comedian Tony Hinchcliffe who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at his rally.

  6. Insider

    A Trump rally speaker insulted Puerto Rico. Now its most powerful stars are backing Harris. (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    Tony Hinchcliffe's comments angered Puerto Rican celebrities. They come weeks after high-profile Haitians spoke out against Trump.

  7. NPR

    The aftermath of the 'island of garbage' Puerto Rico comment at the Trump rally (opens NPR)

    Published

    NPR's feed description

    Donald Trump made a campaign stop in New York Sunday at a rally in Madison Square Garden. What’s making big headlines today are the racist and misogynistic jokes from the speakers before him.

  8. The Daily Dot

    'Halfsies?': Trump rally comic who called Puerto Rico 'island of garbage' once joked about wanting to own a slave (opens The Daily Dot)

    Published

    The Daily Dot's feed description

    Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe said during Donald Trump's New York rally that Puerto Rico is 'a floating island of garbage.'

  9. Roll Call

    Republicans disavow comedian who called Puerto Rico 'island of garbage' at Trump rally (opens Roll Call)

    Published

    Roll Call's feed description

    Republicans sought to disavow the anti-Puerto Rico joke that Tony Hinchcliffe made Sunday at a Trump rally in New York.

  10. Honolulu Star-Advertiser

    Trump-allied comedian slammed for calling Puerto Rico ‘garbage’ | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (opens Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

    Published

    Honolulu Star-Advertiser's feed description

    WASHINGTON >> Republican and Democratic leaders alike and Puerto Rican celebrities bashed comments made at a major Donald Trump event in New York by a comedian who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”

  11. Newsweek

    Could Puerto Rico remarks cost Donald Trump the election? (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called the U.S. territory a "floating island of garbage" at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden.

  12. The Boston Globe

    Racist comments about Puerto Rico at Trump’s N.Y. rally spur outrage in Mass. and beyond (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

  13. Los Angeles Times

    Puerto Rico angry after a U.S. comedian calls it 'a floating island of garbage' at a Trump rally (opens Los Angeles Times)

    Published

    Los Angeles Times's feed description

    Residents say a speaker calling Puerto Rico garbage before a packed Donald Trump rally in New York was the latest humiliation for an island territory that has long suffered from mistreatment.

  14. Fortune

    Puerto Rico labelled a ‘floating island of garbage’ at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally as campaign enters final stretch (opens Fortune)

    Published

    Fortune's feed description

    As campaign enters final stretch

  15. Crux

    Puerto Rico prelate demands apology for ‘island of garbage’ joke at Trump rally (opens Crux)

    Published

    Crux's feed description

    In remarks that have drawn widespread criticism, Hinchcliffe said, “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

  16. Fortune

    Americans in Puerto Rico are angry at being called a ‘floating island of garbage’ at Trump’s rally, but they can’t vote for president (opens Fortune)

    Published

    Fortune's feed description

    But they can’t vote for president

  17. Newsweek

    Donald Trump responds to Puerto Rico remarks at New York rally (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Donald Trump responded to the remarks by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.

  18. Media Matters for America

    Trump “meme team” ally Brenden Dilley calls Puerto Rico a “dirty-ass island” and “floating trash heap” (opens Media Matters for America)

    Published

    Media Matters for America's feed description

    You can read more about Brenden Dilley, his extreme rhetoric, and his apparent ties to former President Donald Trump and other Republican officials here.

  19. Latin Times

    Top Puerto Rico Republican Refuses to Support Trump Until He Apologizes for Racist 'Garbage Island' Joke (opens Latin Times)

    Published

    Latin Times's feed description

    Insulting jokes made about Puerto Rico by opening speakers at former President Donald Trump's rally in New York City have upset Puerto Rican Republicans to the point where their chairman is now

  20. Salon

    Trump doesn't think MSG rally comedian calling Puerto Rico "garbage" is a "big deal" (opens Salon)

    Published

    Salon's feed description

    The former president tried to distance himself from the comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.

  21. Newsweek

    Donald Trump says Puerto Rico remarks not a "big deal" (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    "I can't imagine it's a big deal," the former president said of the comedian who called Puerto Rico "garbage."

  22. Rolling Stone

    Trump Says His Rally Speaker Trashing Puerto Rico Isn't a 'Big Deal' (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Donald Trump pleaded ignorance after a wave of backlash over racist insults made by comic Tony Hinchcliffe at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally.

  23. The Hill

    Trump on rally speaker’s Puerto Rico comments: ‘I can’t imagine it’s a big deal’ (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    Former President Trump made his first on-camera comments about the backlash over Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage."

  24. Fortune

    Trump dubs Madison Square Garden rally where Puerto Rico was called a ‘floating island of garbage’ an ‘absolute lovefest’ (opens Fortune)

    Published

    Fortune's feed description

    Some of Trump’s Republican allies have condemned the remarks, and his campaign took the step of publicly distancing itself from Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke.

  25. The Atlantic

    Trump Pays the Price for Insulting Puerto Rico (opens The Atlantic)

    Published

    The Atlantic's feed description

    You can’t call it a “floating island of garbage” and get away with it.

Showing the first 25 of 26 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Donald Trump says Puerto Rico remarks not a "big deal" | Since Then