WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris said Wednesday after President Joe Biden referred to Donald Trump’s supporters and “trash” that he “criticizes people based on who they vote for.” I don’t agree with that.”
“I represent all Americans, even those who didn’t vote for me,” the vice president said.
Democratic presidential candidate Harris made the comments to reporters while preparing to campaign in three states. Her words were an attempt to blunt controversy over Biden’s rhetoric with less than a week until Election Day.
The unrest began on Tuesday night, when Harris delivered a message of unity in a speech near the White House. Inside the building, Biden criticized a comedian who described Puerto Rico as a “floating trash island” during Trump’s recent Madison Square Garden rally.
“The only trash floating around is his supporters. It’s unconscionable and un-American for Mr. Biden to demonize Latinos,” said the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino. ” Biden said at a campaign event hosted by . “It goes completely against everything we’ve done and everything we’ve ever done.”
Mr. Biden and the White House rushed to explain that the president was not talking about his onstage rhetoric, but rather Mr. Trump’s supporters themselves. But Republicans have seized on Biden’s comments, an echo of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Democratic challenger to Trump when she said half of Trump’s supporters belonged to a “deplorable group.” he claimed.
In attacking Biden, and by extension Harris, Republicans drew on President Trump’s own history of insults and demonizing rhetoric, including calling the United States “the trash can of the world” and describing political opponents as “enemies within.” I’m cheating. President Trump has also described Harris as “stupid” and “extremely lazy” and questioned whether she was using drugs.
Trump also rejected demands for an apology for his comments about Puerto Rico at the rally, acknowledging that “someone said something terrible,” but adding, “I can’t imagine it being a big deal.”
Political attack lines have a history of sometimes boomeranging back to those who use them. For example, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who is currently President Trump’s running mate, once said that Democrats are benefiting from “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable with their lives and their choices.” He said that he has received.
Vance’s comments from three years ago resurfaced when he became the vice presidential nominee, energizing Harris supporters, just as Trump supporters once cheerfully labeled themselves “deplorables.” , repurposed the label as pride of place on shirts and bumper stickers.
On Wednesday morning, Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, downplayed Biden’s comments in a television interview.
He told “CBS Mornings” that Biden has “been very clear that he’s talking about the rhetoric that we’ve heard” and not the supporters themselves.
Walz made similar comments on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” emphasizing the Democratic Party’s inclusive message.
“Let me be clear: the vice president and I have made it very clear that we want everyone to be a part of this,” he said. “Donald Trump’s divisive comments must end.”
