Puerto Rican Archbishop Calls For Trump's Apology Over Joke

The archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico, called Monday for former President Donald Trump to personally apologize for a series of racist remarks made by a comedian at his campaign rally in New York City.

The Trump campaign is facing yet another political crisis with just over a week to go until the election after far-right comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage during an opening set at the former presidents event Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The comments which also included tropes about Black Americans, Latinos in general and Jews were quickly trashed as racist and offensive.

I enjoy a good joke, the archbishop, Roberto O. Gonzlez Nieves, wrote in a letter posted to Facebook . However, humor has its limits. It should not insult or denigrate the dignity and sacredness of people. Hinchcliffes remarks do not only provoke sinister laughter but hatred.

It is not sufficient for your campaign to apologize, the archbishop added. It is important that you, personally, apologize for these comments.

Trump has not condemned the jokes, but his campaign released a statement disavowing them with unusual haste on Sunday night.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been quick to lambaste the comedian and distance the Republican Party from his remarks.

Angel Cintrn, the chairman of Puerto Ricos Republican Party, said Monday he would not support Trump unless he apologizes for insults.

Right now we have no business and no relationship with Trump, Cintrn said Monday night on Jugando Pelota Dura, a Puerto Rican talk show, according to a translation. He said he would not back Trump unless he apologizes to Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is always first, he added.

[EXCLUSIVA] El presidente del Partido Republicano de Puerto Rico, ngel Cintrn, asegur en Jugando Pelota Dura que no votar por su candidato presidencial Donald Trump si no se disculpa con Puerto Rico.

Esto ocurre luego de que durante un mitin en Nueva York, en el Madison pic.twitter.com/6ltFW0L7hr

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[EXCLUSIVA] El presidente del Partido Republicano de Puerto Rico, ngel Cintrn, asegur en Jugando Pelota Dura que no votar por su candidato presidencial Donald Trump si no se disculpa con Puerto Rico.

Esto ocurre luego de que durante un mitin en Nueva York, en el Madison pic.twitter.com/6ltFW0L7hr
Jugando Pelota Dura (@JugandoPelotaPR) October 29, 2024

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Puerto Ricans living on the island are not able to vote for president and the territory carries no electoral vote, but more than two-thirds of Puerto Ricans live in the U.S. and are able to cast ballots in the states where they reside. Its unclear what residency Cintrn holds. HuffPost has reached out to the Puerto Rico Republican Party for comment.

Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, responded with his own frustration at a series of events on Monday. Vance said even if the joke was stupid and racist, he was so over people getting offended at every little thing.