Harris responds to Biden's “garbage” remark for the first time

President Biden's “garbage” comment while speaking about Trump supporters caused a loud debate in the US political world, with Vice President Kamala Harris responding to the controversy for the first time on Wednesday.

Biden made his remarks during a Zoom call Tuesday with Voto Latino, one of the largest Latino voter and civic groups in the United States. Harris, speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force Two, noted that Biden had “clarified his comments.”

“I object to any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” Harris said. “You heard my last night and throughout my entire career. I believe my work is about representing all people, whether they support me or not.”

Harris added that Biden called her Tuesday night after the event, but she said they did not discuss his “garbage” comment.

TRUMP HAS ANOTHER RESPONSE TO BIDEN'S “RUBBY” COMMENT ABOUT GOP SUPPORTERS

President Biden called Trump supporters “trash” during a virtual Harris campaign call. (Screenshot/CNN)

During Tuesday's Zoom call, Biden was asked about a comment made during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday in which comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of trash.”

Democrats fumed over the next two days that Trump's campaign should not refer to Puerto Rico in that way.

Then, as Harris held her last major campaign rally — and not far from the White House — Biden was asked what he thought of Hinchcliffe's comedy bit at the Trump rally in New York.

President Biden speaks briefly with reporters as he leaves the White House on October 24, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

BIDEN CALLS TRUMP SUPPORTERS “GARBAGE” DURING HARRIS CAMPAIGN EVENT AS VP PROMISES UNITY AT ELLIPSE RALLY

“The only trash I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden said. “(Trump’s) demonization of Latinos is irresponsible and un-American.”

Biden tweeted later that evening: “Today I called the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico expressed by Trump's supporters at his Madison Square Garden rally trash – that's the only word I can think of to describe it.” His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable.” That's all I wanted to say. The comments at this rally do not reflect who we are as a nation.

Walz told ABC News' “Good Morning America” ​​on Wednesday: “The president has clarified his comments, but let's be very clear. The Vice President and I have made it absolutely clear that we want everyone to be a part of this. Donald Trump's divisive rhetoric. This is what must end. He called this a garbage country and continues from the “enemy within.” What you heard from Vice President Harris and what I'm saying is that there's a place here for all of us, and I think that's the place she's running for president and she gave that speech on the Ellipse , which showed what we're doing So I think America knows what direction we're going in, and that's what we're going to do in the next six days and then the next eight years. “

Harris' senior campaign adviser Stephanie Cutter told MSNBC: “The president has been clear about what he was talking about, but the vice president has made it clear that her campaign, her presidency is about all Americans. And you know, if she's president, she's not going.” She doesn't care who you voted for, and I also want to say: Spare me the fake outrage from Donald Trump, JD Vance and his campaign, even if they're trying to argue that President Biden is demeaning Trump voters, the president is calling the entire country a trash can. You know, even at the Madison Square Garden event, his supporters disparaged not just Puerto Rican Americans, but all Latinos. So spare me the false outrage.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment. Harris responded to Hinchcliffe's comments within hours on Sunday afternoon with a tweet at 9:53 p.m.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells MSNBC that Donald Trump's MSG rally was a “hate rally.” (Screenshot/MSNBC)

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Many top Republicans seeking re-election – such as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Rick Scott – have also been quiet since Biden called many of their voters “trash.”

Based on the 74.2 million votes Trump received in the 2020 election, the incumbent president described nearly half of the country's voters as “garbage,” according to the Federal Elections Commission.

Get the latest updates on the 2024 election, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital Election Center.

Fox News' Ben Florance and Allie Simon contributed to this report.