Bad Bunny supports Harris as a Puerto Rican 'joke' backfires on Trump: NPR

Vice President Harris campaigns at Freddy and Tony's Restaurant in Philadelphia on October 27, 2024.

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Vice President Harris was promoting a new promise to boost Puerto Rico's economy in Philadelphia on Sunday – contrasting her approach with that of former President Donald Trump – as her message gained unexpected traction thanks to her opponent's rally in New York.

A comedian warming up the crowd at Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden called Puerto Rico a “floating island of trash” – which outraged Boricuas far and wide and bolstered support for Harris' message.

Megastar Bad Bunny posted Harris' Puerto Rican pledge to his 45 million Instagram followers, and other Puerto Rican artists followed suit.

Bad Bunny will perform in Miami on May 24, 2024.

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The “joke” could have political implications in a key state

Puerto Ricans living on the island are not allowed to vote in the presidential election. But Boricuas who live on the mainland do — and they wield significant influence in Pennsylvania, a key state in this year's race.

According to the Latino Policy and Politics Institute at UCLA, about 580,000 Latinos in Pennsylvania are eligible to vote in this election — and most of them are Puerto Rican.

Harris made his rounds Sunday at Freddy and Tony's Restaurant, a Puerto Rican staple in Philadelphia. She had previously announced this directly in front of the camera Video message that she would create a new Puerto Rico Opportunity Task Force if she wins the election.

Harris said the federal government would work with the private sector and island leaders to find ways to create more jobs there, and also pledged to rebuild the island's ailing power grid.

“I will never forget what Donald Trump did and didn’t do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and competent leader,” Harris said.

After Hurricane Maria struck the island in 2017, Trump said questioned the death toll And fought with the mayor of San Juan about the federal response to the disaster. During a visit to the island after the storm, he infamously threw rolls of paper towels at a group of people gathering supplies at a church.

Trump's campaign disavowed the comedian's joke about Puerto Rico, and a host of Republican politicians followed suit