Former President Donald Trump didn’t distance himself from offensive comments comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made during a rally at Madison Square Garden, simply claiming he did not know him.
During Trump’s New York rally, Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, “a floating island of garbage.” Trump claimed he did not hear Hinchcliffe’s remarks and that he didn’t know who he was or who invited him to the event.
“I don’t know him, someone put him up there,” Trump told ABC News. “I don’t know who he is.”
When asked by the outlet if he denounced the remarks, he repeated he did not hear them. The remarks have been played on television and written about extensively.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), also claimed he did not hear the remarks, saying people should not be offended and that he was “over it.” However, Vance arrived at the arena before Hinchcliffe took the stage.
“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,” he said. “But I think that we have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the