While Vice President Kamala Harris did not rebuke President Joe Biden, she did distance herself from his āgarbageā comment.
Speaking with reporters before boarding Air Force Two, Harris said on Wednesday, āFirst of all, he clarified his comments. But let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.ā
āYou heard my speech last night. I believe the work that I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not,ā she said. āI will be a president for all Americans.
The Democratic presidential nominee indicated she spoke with Biden on Tuesday night but the comment did not come up.
Watch Harrisā remarks below:
The White House and President himself are trying to clean up after President Joe Bidenās recent comment, as IJR reported on.
Biden spoke in a Zoom call with the organization Voto Latino on Tuesday, where he appeared to call former President Donald Trumpās supporters āgarbage.ā
āDonald Trump has no character,ā Biden suggested, adding, āHe doesnāt give a damn about the Latino community. Heās failed a businessman. He only cares about the billionaire friends he had and accumulated wealth for those at the top.ā
Responding to a comment made by comic Tony Hinchcliffe during Trumpās rally on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, Biden continued: āPuerto Rico, where Iām in my home state of Delaware. Theyāre good, decent, honorable people. The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization is seen as unconscionable, and itās un-American.ā
After drawing backlash, Biden posted to X later Tuesday: āEarlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trumpās supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbageāwhich is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. Thatās all I meant to say. The comments at that rally donāt reflect who we are as a nation.ā
The White House also tried to clean up after Bidenās comment, claiming the president āreferred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as āgarbage,āā as White House spokesman Andrew Bates put it.
Additionally, the White House issued a transcript of Bidenās remarks initially reading āsupporters,ā per The Washington Post. Hours later, a new transcript was provided, claiming Biden said, āsupporterāsā ā which seemed to refer to the comedian.
Former President Donald Trumpās campaign, however, tore into Biden. āThereās no way to spin it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris donāt just hate President Trump, they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him,ā Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
Trump also responded on X, writing, āWhile I am running a campaign of positive solutions to save America, Kamala Harris is running a campaign of hate.ā
He added: āNow, on top of everything, Joe Biden calls our supporters āgarbage.ā You canāt lead America if you donāt love the American People. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have shown they are both unfit to be President of the United States.ā
