MAGA comedian Tony Hinchcliffe ignited backlash after a string of inflammatory jokes about Latinos and Puerto Rico during his opening set at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday.
“Sure, I welcome migrants with open arms,” Hinchcliffe joked, then mimed a “stop” gesture with both hands.
“They love making babies, just like they came into our country,” he continued, chuckling as he called Republicans “the party with a good sense of humor.” While some audience members laughed, others responded with discomfort.
As the event unfolded, multiple speakers took the stage to highlight the importance of the Hispanic and Latino vote to Trump’s campaign, emphasizing their pivotal role in the upcoming election.
In stark contrast, Hinchcliffe went on to target Puerto Rico with a sharp jab.
“There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the ocean,” he said, “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
This quip immediately sparked a backlash, with Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz voicing his disapproval during a live Twitch stream with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). “Puerto Ricans, take note,” he said. “These people think you’re nothing but ‘floating garbage,’ and that reflects what they believe about anyone who isn’t in their tax bracket.”
Several other prominent figures joined in denouncing Hinchcliffe’s comments.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), a Puerto Rican congressman, shot back: “Calling Hinchcliffe ‘garbage’ would be an insult to actual garbage.
Latinos need to remember the ugly racism Trump is willing to platform.” Ángel Cintrón, Chairman of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, condemned the remarks as “ignorant and reprehensible.”
Hinchcliffe responded dismissively to the outrage on social media, posting, “These people have no sense of humor” alongside a clip of Walz’s response.
“Wild that a VP candidate is analyzing a joke taken out of context,” he added, claiming his comments had been misunderstood.
“I love Puerto Rico, I vacation there. I made fun of everyone. Maybe change your tampon, Tim.”
Hinchcliffe’s set also included a swipe at the Democratic Party, likening them to one of Diddy’s notorious “Freak Off” parties, an allusion to sexual abuse allegations tied to events hosted by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
“Every day, the Democratic Party looks more like a Diddy party!” he said, drawing laughs and some uneasy glances from the crowd.
He further joked about Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, suggesting he “might be the next O.J. Simpson,” a dark jab at the star’s recent high-profile endorsements for Democrats, alongside other celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Eminem.
This latest rally drew thousands to Madison Square Garden, marking Trump’s bold move into a traditionally liberal stronghold just over a week before Election Day.
The turnout highlighted his ongoing appeal, but the controversy surrounding Hinchcliffe’s set added a layer of division to the event’s reception.
Trump supporters celebrated the massive attendance, with many cheering for the President’s anti-establishment stance, while critics decried the event as another showcase for what they view as the party’s increasingly incendiary rhetoric.
