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The Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Roberto O. González Nieves, has addressed an open letter to former President Donald Trump, urging him to apologize for remarks made at his rally on October 27 in New York City. The comments, delivered by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, were directed at Puerto Ricans and other groups.
Hinchcliffe's performance included a series of jokes targeting Latinos and Puerto Ricans. Among the controversial statements was a reference to Puerto Rico as "a floating island of garbage." The archbishop expressed his dismay in a letter dated October 29, stating that such humor crosses moral boundaries and fosters hatred.
"Puerto Rico is not a floating island of garbage," González wrote. He emphasized the contributions of Puerto Rican soldiers in U.S. history and criticized the remarks for undermining societal values.
González called on Trump to personally disavow these comments, stressing that an apology from his campaign would not suffice. "It is important that you, personally, apologize for these comments," he concluded.
The incident has sparked reactions from various political figures and media outlets. Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign condemned the jokes as "disgusting" and "racist." Republican figures like Florida Senator Rick Scott also criticized the remarks.
Trump's campaign distanced itself from Hinchcliffe's statements but did not directly address them. His running mate, JD Vance, dismissed concerns over the incident as overreactions.
Elisabeth Román of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry labeled Hinchcliffe's routine as racist rather than comedic. Father José M. Santiago echoed this sentiment, referencing past incidents involving Trump in Puerto Rico.
Marietha Góngora V., reporting from Washington for OSV News with contributions from Peter Jesserer Smith, covered this story.
