San Juan archbishop asks Trump to apologize for comedian’s Puerto Rico joke
Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez prays with other priests during Sunday Mass in the San Juan Cathedral in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 1, 2017. / Credit: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 29, 2024 / 16:50 pm (CNA).
Archbishop Roberto González of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is asking former president Donald Trump to personally apologize to Puerto Ricans after a comedian told a joke about the island during a campaign rally that some found offensive.
“I call upon you, Mr. Trump, to disavow these comments as reflecting in any way your personal or political viewpoints,” González wrote in an open letter directed to Trump.
“It is not sufficient for your campaign to apologize,” he added. “It is important that you, personally, apologize for these comments.”
Stand-up comedian and host of the “Kill Tony” podcast Tony Hinchcliffe spoke at the Oct. 27 rally at Madison Square Garden, an arena in Manhattan, New York City. He told a series of jokes for about 12 minutes, one of which mocked Puerto Rico.
“I don’t know if you guys know this,” Hinchcliffe said. “But there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now.”
“Yeah — I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” he added.
The joke did not get a laugh but was instead met with boos and groans from the crowd, after which Hinchcliffe nodded and said: “OK, all right, OK, we’re getting there.”
Hinchcliffe is most famous for his roasts and his brand of insult comedy. He often jokingly insults fellow comedians on his “Kill Tony” podcast. The show includes sets from career and amateur comedians in front of a live audience. Hinchcliffe then critiques the acts and takes jibes at the performers.
Guests on the show generally eschew political correctness. Hinchcliffe and other comedians on the show frequently make racial jokes and touch on other controversial topics.
The archbishop wrote in the letter: “I enjoy a good joke,” but added: “Humor has its limits.”
“It should not insult or denigrate the dignity and sacredness of people,” González added in his letter to Trump. “Hinchcliffe’s remarks do not only provoke sinister laughter but hatred. These kinds of remarks do not have a place in a society founded upon ‘liberty and justice for all.’”
The archbishop also said that Puerto Rico “is not a floating island of garbage” but rather “a beautiful country inhabited by a beautiful and noble people.” He also referenced the U.S. military service of many Puerto Ricans.
“Hinchcliffe’s remarks do not promote a climate of equality, fraternity, and goodwill among and for all women and men of every race, color, and way of life, which is the foundation of the American dream,” González wrote. “These kinds of remarks should not be a part of the political discourse of a civilized society.”
Trump campaign distances itself from joke
The Trump campaign is distancing itself from the joke after facing backlash from Puerto Ricans and from political opponents.
Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser for the Trump campaign, said in a statement provided to CNA that “this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
The Trump campaign also provided CNA with a statement from Vianca Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican who is the campaign’s deputy Hispanic communications director.
“Due to President Trump’s plans to cut taxes, end inflation, and stop the surge of illegal immigrants at the southern border, he has more support from the Hispanic American community than any Republican in recent history,” Rodriguez said.
Trump himself has not apologized for the joke as requested by the archbishop. When asked about the joke, Trump told ABC that he did not see what Hinchcliffe said and did not know the comedian, adding: “Someone put him up there.”
In 2017, following a visit to the hurricane-stricken U.S. territory, then-President Trump said Puerto Ricans are “great, great people,” said “we love Puerto Rico,” and called the territory “that great and beautiful island.”
Trump signed a disaster relief package in early 2018 to provide Puerto Rico with $ 16 billion in funding. Congress later allocated additional funds to Puerto Rico — but Trump faced criticism for delays in Puerto Rico receiving the funds and the strings attached to the money.
JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, told an NBC reporter on Monday that he had heard about the joke but had not seen it.
“I think we have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the United States of America,” Vance added. “I’m just so over it. … Our country was built by frontiersmen who conquered the wilderness. We’re not going to restore the greatness of American civilization if we get offended at every little thing. Let’s have a sense of humor, let’s have a little fun, and let’s go win in eight days.”
Hinchcliffe responded to criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, on X, saying it’s “wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his ‘busy schedule’ to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist.”
“I love Puerto Rico and vacation there,” Hinchcliffe added. “I made fun of everyone … watch the whole set. I’m a comedian, Tim … might be time to change your tampon.”
CNA reached out to the talent agency that represents Hinchcliffe for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, tonight, Oct. 29. More than half of the residents in Allentown are Latino, the majority of whom are Puerto Rican. Republican Puerto Rico Shadow Sen. Zoraida Buxó is expected to speak at the rally, as are two Puerto Rican reggaeton singers.
