WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday stated she strongly disagrees with criticisms of teams of individuals based mostly on the candidate they help. Her remarks got here after President Joe Biden got here below fireplace the night time earlier than for his response to a comic’s racist joke at a rally for former President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews earlier than leaving for marketing campaign occasions, Harris stated that Biden “clarified his feedback” however added, “I strongly disagree with any criticism of individuals based mostly on who they voted for.”
During a video name for Latino voter outreach on Tuesday, Biden appeared to criticize both Trump supporters or comic Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of rubbish” amongst different racist jokes at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday.
“They’re good, first rate, honorable folks,” Biden stated, referring to the Puerto Rican group. “The solely rubbish I see floating out there’s his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s completely opposite to every part we’ve executed.”
The White House spokesman Andrew Bates shortly put out an announcement that Biden “referred to the hateful rhetoric on the Madison Square Garden rally as rubbish.”
The White House additionally despatched round a transcript in an try to point out that Biden was not saying that Trump supporters had been “rubbish” however that he tripped over his traces and meant to say he was condemning Hinchcliffe’s remarks particularly.
The transcript quotes Biden as saying: “And simply the opposite day, a speaker at his rally known as Puerto Rico a “floating island of rubbish.” Well, let me let you know one thing. I don’t — I — I don’t know the Puerto Rican that — that I do know — or a Puerto Rico, the place I’m fr- — in my residence state of Delaware, they’re good, first rate, honorable folks. The solely rubbish I see floating out there’s his supporter’s — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s completely opposite to every part we’ve executed, every part we’ve been. “
In a put up on X, Biden additionally stated he was referring to Hinchcliffe.
Biden’s remark got here shortly earlier than Harris delivered a closing argument speech on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., promising to “flip the web page on the drama and the battle” of the Trump period and provides individuals who disagree together with her “a seat on the desk.”
“Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t imagine individuals who disagree with me are the enemy,” she stated. “He desires to place them in jail. I’ll give them a seat on the desk.”
Harris sought to double down on her message of unity Wednesday, telling reporters, “I imagine that the work that I do is about representing all of the folks, whether or not they help me or not. And as President of the United States, I will probably be a president for all Americans, whether or not you vote for me or not.”
She added, “I respect the truth that all of us have a lot extra in frequent than what separates us, and that most individuals need a president that understands that, that will get that and approaches their function of management that method.”
The vice chairman stated that she spoke to Biden final night time however they didn’t talk about the president’s comment.
Harris’ operating mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, defended Biden in interviews Wednesday morning, saying that the president had clarified his remarks. He additionally echoed Harris’ unity messaging. “I’ve made it completely clear that we wish everybody as part of this,” Walz stated throughout an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“President Biden was very clear that he’s talking in regards to the rhetoric we heard at that [rally] so it doesn’t undermine it,” Walz stated on “CBS Mornings.” “People are hungry to come back again collectively. They’re hungry to discover a unifying message. They’re hungry for us to seek out options, whether or not it’s costs or whether or not it’s reproductive care, they wish to see options.”
Harris has sought to stroll a tremendous line in criticizing Trump whereas not alienating his supporters, pointing to Trump’s divisive rhetoric. During an interview this month on Fox News, Baier requested Harris if she thought Trump voters had been silly.
“Oh god, I’d by no means say that in regards to the American folks,” she stated. “And actually, in the event you take heed to Donald Trump, in the event you watch any of his rallies, he’s the one who tends to demean and belittle and diminish the American folks.”
Among Trump’s feedback that Harris and her allies have pointed to are the previous president repeatedly calling Democrats and his opponents “the enemy from inside” and referring to the U.S. as a “rubbish can.” Trump has additionally stated that Jewish individuals who voted Democrat “ought to have their head examined” and recommended that he may use the navy towards the “radical left.”
Stephanie Cutter, a senior adviser on messaging for the Harris-Walz marketing campaign, stated in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday that individuals ought to focus their outrage as an alternative on Trump.
“Spare me the fake outrage from Donald Trump, JD Vance, and his marketing campaign,” she stated. “Even as they’re attempting to argue that President Biden is disparaging Trump voters, the president is looking all the nation a trash can.”