Sen. JD Vance Defends Comedian Following Controversial Joke About Puerto Rico
By: [Your News Website]
Published: [Date]
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) expressed on Monday that he believes comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist joke about Puerto Rico will not deter voters from supporting the Republican presidential ticket. This statement comes in response to Hinchcliffe’s contentious remark likening Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage,” made during former President Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Vance’s comments aim to downplay the impact of such remarks on voter sentiment.
Why it matters: Hinchcliffe’s comment drew considerable backlash, including criticism from some members of the Republican Party. Representatives for the GOP presidential nominee stated that the comedian’s comments do not reflect the views of Trump or the campaign.
- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton likened the rally to a notorious 1939 pro-Nazi event that took place at the same venue.
- However, Vance articulated in Racine, Wisconsin, that the remarks from the comedian should not be a cause for alarm, stating, “I’m not worried about a joke that a comedian who has no affiliation with the campaign has told.”
Driving the news: Vance faced multiple inquiries regarding the fallout from Hinchcliffe’s remarks during campaign stops in Wisconsin. At a rally in Wausau, Vance characterized the rally as a “celebration of America,” while defending the GOP against comparisons to Nazi sympathizers.
- When a reporter questioned whether the tone of such jokes was appropriate as the 2024 election approaches, Vance responded: “I’ve heard about the joke, I haven’t actually seen it, but I think it’s telling that Kamala Harris’ closing message is essentially that all of Donald Trump’s voters are Nazis.”
- He continued, “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.”
Zoom in: Vance asserted he is “not worried” that Hinchcliffe’s joke would influence voters to reconsider their support for Trump. “I just don’t buy that,” he concluded.
- In Racine, Vance emphasized that he views a comedian’s remarks as not deserving of extensive media coverage, stating, “You know what I do when I think a joke is dumb or not funny? I don’t laugh.”
Go deeper: JD Vance currently presents Trump as the “candidate of peace.”