The White House reportedly canceled several campaign calls involving President Joe Biden following his comments labeling supporters of President Donald J. Trump as “garbage.” According to guidance released by the White House the Sunday before, Biden’s schedule for Thursday, October 31, initially included participation in campaign calls. However, Biden did not take part in these calls.
Last week, Biden made headlines after a call with Voto Latino last Tuesday, where he referred to Trump supporters as “garbage” following a GOP rally in Madison Square Garden. The 81-year-old Democrat later claimed he was referencing a joke by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, in which the insult comic poked fun at Puerto Rico. Subsequently, the White House stealth-edited the official transcript of the call to support Biden’s narrative.
Despite Hinchcliffe’s joke, Trump has been endorsed by major politicians in Puerto Rico, and polls reveal that in Pennsylvania, the joke had no impact on Hispanic voting preferences.
In response to Biden’s comments, Trump incorporated a garbage truck and vest into a rally in Wisconsin, calling his supporters the “heart and soul of America.” Trump wore the vest during the rally, joking that people told him it made him look thinner.
No scheduled campaign events involving Vice President Kamala Harris are listed on Biden’s agenda before Election Day, tomorrow.
Earlier this month, at an event in New Hampshire, Biden made another contentious remark, suggesting he wanted to lock up Trump. The Trump campaign included Biden’s words in a legal filing calling for the dismissal of federal charges related to the 2020 election.