Trump faces major backlash for New York rally rife with racist and sexist rhetoric

In the final full week before Election Day, there’s no indication of who has the edge in the race for the White House. Former President Trump, Vice President Harris and their running mates each campaigned at full-throttle in swing states today. Much of their focus was on controversial remarks made by speakers at a Trump rally Sunday night. Laura Barrón-López reports.
Geoff Bennett:
Welcome to the “News Hour.”
We are now in the final full week before Election Day and there’s no clear indication of who has the edge in the race for the White House.
Amna Nawaz:
Former President Trump, Vice President Harris and their running mates each campaigned at full throttle in swing states today. Much of their focus was on controversial remarks made by speakers at a Trump rally last night.
Laura Barron-Lopez starts our coverage.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
On her way to campaign in battleground Michigan today, Vice President Kamala Harris denounced recent rhetoric from former President Donald Trump and his allies.
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: He is focused and actually fixated on his grievances, on himself and on dividing our country. And it is not in any way something that will strengthen the American family, the American worker.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
She was referring to a massive Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in New York yesterday, where a racist remark about Puerto Rico made headlines.
Tony Hinchcliffe, Comedian:
There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yes. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
That comment made by comedian and Trump supporter Tony Hinchcliffe sparked major backlash from politicians and celebrities alike, including Puerto Rican mega stars Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez.
Trump’s team tried to distance itself from the comment, His senior campaign adviser telling the “News Hour” in a statement: “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
But the campaign did not distance itself from other remarks made by multiple Trump allies who hurled racist and sexist attacks at Vice President Harris.
Grant Cardone, Businessman:
She’s a fake, a fraud. She’s a pretender. Her and her pimp handlers will destroy our country.
David Rem, Childhood Friend of Donald Trump: She is the devil, whoever screamed that out. She is the antichrist.
Tucker Carlson, Former FOX News Anchor:
She’s just so impressive as the first Samoan Malaysian low-I.Q. former California prosecutor ever to be elected president.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
In a speech billed as his closing message, the former president himself again labeled fellow American citizens as enemies.
Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: They’re smart and they’re vicious. And we have to defeat them. And when I say the enemy from within, the other side goes crazy, becomes a sound — oh, how can he say — no, they have done very bad things to this country.
They are indeed the enemy from within. But this is who we’re fighting.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
At one point, Trump appeared to suggest that he and House Speaker Mike Johnson have a secret that will help Republicans keep their House majority.
Donald Trump:
I think, with our little secret, we’re going to do really well with the House, right? Our little secret is having a big impact. He and I have a secret. We will tell you what it is when the race is over.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Though most of Trump’s remarks were light on policy, the former president announced support for a tax credit for people taking care of sick family members, providing little detail.
After casting his early vote ballot in Delaware, President Joe Biden called the Trump event simply embarrassing.
Joe Biden, President of the United States: It’s beneath any president, but that’s what we’re getting used to. That’s why this election is so important.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Trump defended his Madison Square Garden rally while campaigning in Atlanta today.
Donald Trump:
Last night, we had a great rally at Madison Square Garden.
(Cheering)
Donald Trump:
And, sometimes, I will use a little bit, not hard, not hard foul, but soft foul. We call it soft foul, but to emphasize something about somebody’s capabilities or whatever I might be talking about.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Senator J.D. Vance dismissed the backlash to the comedian’s racist joke about Puerto Ricans before heading to a rally tonight in Racine, Wisconsin.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Vice Presidential Candidate: I haven’t seen the joke. I — maybe — maybe it’s a stupid racist joke, as you said. Maybe it’s not. I haven’t seen it. I’m not going to comment on the specifics of the joke, but I think that we have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the United States of America. I’m just — I’m so over it.
(Cheering)
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Meanwhile, at stops in Michigan today, Harris visited a semiconductor plant and touted some 1,300 new manufacturing jobs coming to the town of Saginaw. It’s the latest in a string of swing state events focused on her economic proposals.
Kamala Harris:
I’m going to create basically an opportunity economy task force for Puerto Rico.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz addressed manufacturing workers this morning in Manitowoc.
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Vice Presidential Candidate: Kamala Harris and I have a plan to build the American industrial strength powered by American workers.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
An ABC News/Ipsos poll released this weekend shows Harris with a slight edge nationally, indicating she’s the preferred candidate among 51 percent of likely voters, compared to 47 percent for Trump.
Polling averages continue to show an extremely tight race as we close in on Election Day.
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Laura Barron-Lopez.