Trump loyalists use racist and vulgar attacks on Harris and the Democrats at a rally in New York

CNN
—

Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden in New York began with a series of profane attacks on Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, other Democratic leaders, Puerto Rico and migrants seeking refuge in the city.

Local Trump supporters, who were many speakers on the event list before the former president, took the opportunity to spew familiar grievances against some of the former president's favorite targets. For example, a failed Republican candidate for the House of Representatives referred to Harris as “the Antichrist.”

The rally began with Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian and podcast host, attacking Puerto Rico – the city home to the largest Puerto Rican population in the U.S. mainland. About 500,000 Puerto Ricans also live in battleground Pennsylvania, where Harris campaigned on Sunday.

“There's a lot going on, I don't know if you know this, but right now there's literally a floating island of trash in the middle of the ocean,” he said. “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

The line was well received by Trump supporters who filled Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan. Trump has recently been calling the US a “dumpster for the world” when railing against undocumented immigrants.

Harris' campaign seized the moment, quickly cutting the video and posting it on social media channels. The vice president visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in North Philadelphia on Sunday, where she discussed her vision for the island as well as plans to reduce costs and create opportunities for Puerto Rican communities on the mainland.

Pop superstar Bad Bunny, whose album Un Verano Sin Ti was the most-streamed album worldwide in 2023 with 4.5 billion plays on the streaming platform Spotify and released a video shortly after Hinchcliffe left the stage in which Harris explained her plan for Puerto Rico to his 45 million Instagram followers.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, whose re-election campaign depends on significant support from the state's Puerto Rican community, joined the backlash, writing of the “joke” on X: “It's not funny and it's not true.” Puerto Ricans are great people and great Americans!”

Hinchcliffe also addressed the furor on social media, saying his critics had “no sense of humor.”

“I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone…look at the whole set,” he wrote.

He was followed, among others, by Republican politician David Rem, who called Harris “the devil” and “the Antichrist” while waving a cross.

“She’s the Antichrist,” Rem whined before saying he wanted to run for mayor.

Another speaker, radio host Sid Rosenberg – who once held pride of place next to Don Imus on WFAN, the region's largest sports network – began with an attack on Clinton, the Democratic nominee eight years ago.

“She's a sick bastard, that Hillary Clinton, isn't she?” he said, echoing Trump's own previous comments. “What a sick bastard.”

Rosenberg then turned his attention to the migrants now living in New York City — and his anger over the local government's attempts to feed and house them.

“There are homeless people and veterans — American, American — sleeping on their own feces on a bench in Central Park,” Rosenberg said. “But the damn illegals get what they want, right?”