Tony Hinchcliffe has accused Democrats of having no sense of humor after facing a wave of criticism over his set during Donald Trumps rally in which he labelled Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage.
Hinchcliffe, 40, took to the podium at Madison Square Garden on Sunday to deliver a series of jokes which included lewd and racist comments about Latinos, Jews and Black people.
The jokes were typical for Hinchcliffe - a podcaster and writer known for his edgy, often dark humor and sharp roasts - but did not go down well, with even the Chairman of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico calling them unfortunate, ignorant and entirely reprehensible.
The comedian, however, is standing by his set, alleging that Democrats, including Vice Presidential hopeful Tim Walz and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have taken [the joke] out of context to make it seem racist.
These people have no sense of humor, he tweeted. I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone…watch the whole set. He then took direct aim at Walz, suggesting he was wasting his time by analyzing the set and cant handle a joke.
Hinchcliffe, in an apparent attempt to suggest a historical pattern of controversial comedy at political events, also retweeted footage of comedian Don Rickles roast of Ronald Reagan at the then-presidents second inauguration.
Tony Hinchcliffe, 40, took to the podium at Madison Square Garden on Sunday to deliver a series of jokes which included lewd and racist comments about Latinos, Jews and Black people
Hinchcliffe, who hosts the popular Kill Tony podcast and played to great acclaim at The Roast of Tom Brady, was one of the opening acts for Donald Trumps blockbuster rally at Madison Square Garden Sunday. Trump is pictured at the event
Hinchcliffe, who hosts the popular Kill Tony podcast and played to great acclaim at The Roast of Tom Brady, was one of the opening acts for Trumps blockbuster rally at Madison Square Garden Sunday.
The stand-up comedians set saw him make a series of lewd and racist jokes, as well as compare the Democratic Party to a Diddy party after citing celebrity endorsements for Vice President Kamala Harris.
But Hinchcliffe was come must under fire for jokes he cracked about Puerto Rico.
I dont know if you guys know this, but theres literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think its called Puerto Rico, he told the rally.
The joke, which received a tepid response from the crowd, was immediately criticized by Harris campaign as it competes with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and other swing states.
Puerto Rican music superstar Bad Bunny backed Harris shortly after Hinchcliffes appearance.
![Hinchcliffes jokes did not go down well, but the comedian is standing by his set, alleging that Democrats, including Vice Presidential hopeful Tim Walz and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , have taken [the joke] out of context to make it seem racist](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/10/28/09/91363089-14009979-image-a-5_1730107118754.jpg)
Hinchcliffes jokes did not go down well, but the comedian is standing by his set, alleging that Democrats, including Vice Presidential hopeful Tim Walz and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , have taken [the joke] out of context to make it seem racist
Hinchcliffe, in an apparent attempt to suggest a historical pattern of controversial comedy at political events, also retweeted footage of comedian Don Rickles roast of Ronald Reagan at the then-presidents second inauguration
Walz and Ocasio-Cortez, whose family is Puerto Rican, also criticized the comic over his remarks as they analyzed the set during a Twitch stream on Sunday.
The thing that is so messed up — that I wish more people understood — is that the things that they do in Puerto Rico are a testing ground for the policies and the horrors that they wish to and that they do unveil in working-class communities across the United States, Ocasio-Cortez said.
And I need people to understand that when they when you have some a-hole calling Puerto Rico floating garbage, know that thats what they think about you.
She added: That is, like, thats just what they think about you. Its what they think about anyone who makes less money than them.
Walz referred to Hinchcliffe as a jackwad and urged the hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans in battleground states to send them a message on this. He added: You gotta vote.
Pennsylvania - the state that will likely decide the election - has around 500,000 Puerto Ricans.
The Harris campaign shared the pairs reaction on X, prompting a direct response from Hinchcliffe, in which he blasted the duo for having no sense of humor.
Wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his "busy schedule" to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist, Hinchcliffe penned, before claiming that I love Puerto Rico.
I made fun of everyone…watch the whole set. Im a comedian Tim…might be time to change your tampon.
Tony Hinchcliffe arrives to speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Walz and Ocasio-Cortez, whose family is Puerto Rican, also criticized the comic over his remarks as they analyzed the set during a Twitch stream on Sunday
However, Hinchcliffes jokes have seemingly angered many people, including a number of Republicans.
Ángel Cintrón, the partys chairman in Puerto Rico, said the remarks wereunfortunate, ignorant and entirely reprehensible.
A poor attempt at comedy, which, just as it was firmly rejected by the audience at the event, deserves to be repudiated by all, Cintrón added.
Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, of Florida, branded Hinchcliffes comments as racist and said this rhetoric does not reflect GOP values.
Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect, she tweeted.
The normally pugnacious Trump campaign also took the rare step of distancing itself from Hinchcliffe.
This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign, senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
Hinchcliffes set also received widespread condemnation from Democrats and a series of Puerto Rican stars - including Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin - responded by endorsing Harris and sharing her plans for the American territory.
However, Hinchcliffes jokes have seemingly angered many people, including a number of Republicans
Hinchcliffes set also saw him compare the Democratic Party to a Diddy party after citing celebrity endorsements for Kamala Harris
Martin, the Puerto Rican superstar with 18.6 million followers on Instagram, quickly shared a video of Harriss appeal to Puerto Rican voters, along with a clip of Hinchcliffes disparaging remarks.
This is what they think of us, Martin wrote in Spanish. Vote for @kamalaharris.
Lopez shared the same video and multiple slides showing Harris Puerto Rico policy to 250 million followers.
The video shared by Bad Bunny on Instagram shows Harris saying there´s so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico. A representative of the artist confirmed that Bad Bunny is supporting Harris.
The artist then shared another part of the clip where Harris says, I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader.
New York rapper Fat Joe wrote: The man threw towels at you and blocked financial aid in Hurricane Maria and you Boris think hes your guy WAKE UP VOTE!!!!!!! This is what he really thinks about you.
So far, the only person Hinchcliffe has responded to about the joke is Walz.
Hinchcliffes set also received widespread condemnation from Democrats and a series of Puerto Rican stars - including Jennifer Lopez , Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin - responded by endorsing Harris and sharing her plans for the American territory
Several speakers earlier on Sunday crudely insulted Harris, who is vying to become the first woman and Black woman to win the presidency.
Trump spoke to the crowd at Madison Square Garden with nine days left of the presidential election campaign.
The former president took the stage in deep blue New York City after being introduced by his wife and former first lady Melania Trump in her first rally appearance of the race.
J.D. Vance, Dr. Phil, Hulk Hogan, Dana White, Tucker Carlson and members of the Trump family addressed the 20,000 capacity arena and railed against Kamala Harris polices.
The marquee event reflected the former presidents tone throughout his third White House campaign.
Though he refrained from doing so Sunday, Trump often tears into Harris in offensive and personal terms himself.
At times, it felt like an amped-up version of the Republican National Convention in July that convened two days after Trump was nearly assassinated at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which featured many of the same personalities - this time delivering speeches with far more volume.
And that was all before Trump was to take the stage, running more than two hours late.
After being introduced by his wife, the former president began by asking the same questions he´s asked at the start of every recent rally: Are you better off now than you were four years ago? The crowd responded with a resounding No!
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump greets former first lady Melania Trump during a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York
Attendees cheer at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York
Hulk Hogan waves an American flag at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024
Elon Musk arrives to speak a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York
This election is a choice between whether we´ll have four more years of gross incompetence and failure, or whether we´ll begin the greatest years in the history of our country, he said.
Trump on Sunday added a new proposal to his list of tax cuts aimed at winning over older adults and blue-collar workers, which already includes vows to end taxes on Social Security benefits, tips and overtime pay: A tax credit for family caregivers.
This comes after Harris has talked about the sandwich generation of adults caring for aging parents while raising their children at the same time. Harris has proposed federal funding to cover home care costs for older Americans.
Trump otherwise repeated familiar lines about foreign policy and immigration, calling for the death penalty for any migrant who kills a U.S. citizen and saying that the day he takes office, The migrant invasion of our country ends.
MAGA fans lined up in their thousands overnight to listen to the Republican nominee make his final pitch to voters in what could be one of the closest elections in decades.
Meanwhile Harris campaigned in Pennsylvania, the state that could ultimately decide who takes the keys to the White House.
The election is still a dead heat, with Harris and Trump deadlocked in the polls nationwide.