At Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, comedian Tony Hinchliffe, known as Kill Tony, sparked controversy with a series of racially charged jokes. He opened his set by joking about Puerto Rico, calling it a “floating pile of garbage,” and made disparaging comments about Latino families, eliciting both laughter and discomfort from the audience.
Hinchliffe’s remarks came amid a national campaign effort, with Trump trying to rally support at the iconic venue. He quipped, “There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now… I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” prompting a mix of responses from attendees.
The comedian’s set continued with questionable humor directed at Latinos, where he gestured widely while welcoming migrants, only to contradict himself with an “get out of here” motion. He also made a controversial comment about a Black man in the audience, joking about his headwear before saying, “I’m just kidding. That’s one of my buddies. We carved watermelons together.”
Hinchliffe’s comments drew immediate criticism from political figures and community leaders. Danielle Alvarez, a senior advisor for the Trump campaign, quickly distanced the campaign from Hinchliffe’s remarks, stating they do not reflect Trump’s views.
Democratic officials, including Tim Walz and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, highlighted the significant Puerto Rican population in battleground states and encouraged them to vote against Trump. Attorney Angel Cintrón, chairman of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, condemned the jokes as “unfortunate” and “reprehensible,” asserting they do not represent the values of the Republican Party.
In response to the backlash, Hinchliffe took to social media, stating his affection for Puerto Rico and suggesting that critics lacked a sense of humor. The controversy reflects the broader tensions surrounding race, representation, and humor in American political discourse, especially within the context of Trump’s rallies, which often embrace provocative and controversial content.
