A North Texas mayor born in Puerto Rico says a comedian’s crude joke about the U.S. territory at a weekend rally for Republican Donald Trump has not weakened his support for the former president.
Speaking at Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden, Texas podcaster and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” drawing immediate backlash and angering many Latino entertainers and some Hispanic Republicans.
Keller Mayor Armin Mizani took to social media this week to explain his continuing support for Trump in the presidential race against Democrat and Vice President Kamala Harris. Mizani, who has an Iranian father and Cuban mother, said he lived in Puerto Rico from birth to age 9.
“For Latinos, faith, family, and economic opportunity motivates us — not some bad joke by a comedian,” Mizani wrote Monday on X. By Tuesday afternoon, the post had been reshared about 9,000 times, including by billionaire Elon Musk, also a Trump supporter.
“Under the Biden and Harris administration, Americans have seen record inflation, an open southern border, increased crime, the weakening of the family structure, and the taking away of God from our daily lives,” the mayor wrote. “In contrast, under President Trump, Americans saw secured borders, economic prosperity, a respect for people of faith, and a respect for American values.”
On Tuesday, Mizani told The Dallas Morning News that he and other Latino voters are not motivated by a “bad joke,” but by soaring costs of groceries, electricity, automobile insurance and rent under President Joe Biden’s administration.
“This is what will motivate us at the polls come November 5,” Mizani told The News in a Facebook message.
Mizani, an attorney, was elected mayor of Keller in 2020. The city has emerged as a GOP-stronghold, with the school board voting this year to require parental approval for students to go by different names or pronouns than on their birth certificates. Earlier this year, a school board trustee resigned after a film crew from an evangelical Christian network filmed and interviewed students without families’ knowledge or consent.
Trump’s campaign sought to distance itself from the Hinchcliffe’s comments. Trump, who on Tuesday described the New York City rally as a love fest, said he did not know Hinchcliffe. A campaign spokesperson said “this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
The comedian’s comments were quickly criticized by Harris’ campaign.
On Sunday, Puerto Rican music star Bad Bunny endorsed Harris. Bad Bunny, whose official name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most famous artists of the moment and could provide a boost for the Harris campaign as it seeks to strengthen support with Latino voters.
Hinchcliffe’s comments were also called out by Angel Cintron, the head of the GOP on the island, and Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents parts of Miami and has participated in recent Trump events.
Salazar wrote: “Disgusted by “@TonyHinchcliffe’s racist comment calling Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’ This rhetoric does not reflect GOP values. Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
