White House tries to clean up Biden's “garbage” comment as Trump seizes on it

The White House and Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign on Wednesday continued to brush off President Joe Biden's “garbage” comment, even as former President Donald Trump seized on it and the controversy dominated the news cycle and distracted from Harris' “closing argument.” .”

On Tuesday evening, Biden appeared to call Trump supporters “trash” during a campaign call for the nonprofit Voto Latino.

“And the other day at his rally, a speaker called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of trash,'” Biden said, according to a video clip of the fundraiser that aired on CNN.

“I don't know – I – I don't know the Puerto Rican – that I know – or a Puerto Rican where I fr- – in my home state of Delaware they are good.” , decent, honorable people floating around out there are his Supporters – his – his demonization of Latinos is incomprehensible and completely contradictory to everything we have done, everything we have been,” Biden said.

His comments quickly drew criticism from Republicans and came just as Harris was giving her final speech nearby on the Ellipse, calling on Americans to leave behind hateful rhetoric and division in American politics.

At a campaign rally in Mount Rock, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump linked Harris to Biden's comments.

“On a campaign call last night, Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called her trash. And they mean it,” Trump said.

“Though without question my supporters are far more quality than Crooked Joe or Lyin' Kamala,” Trump said. “My answer to Joe and Kamala is simple: You can’t lead America if you don’t love Americans.”

Biden himself issued a clarification Tuesday night, saying his comment referred to the comedian who made the joke and “considered as trash the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico expressed by Trump's supporters at his Madison Square Garden rally – which is the only word.” I can imagine describing 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,” Biden said in the post on X.

At her daily briefing, reporters pressed White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Biden's comments.

“No, he doesn’t consider Trump supporters or anyone who supports Trump as trash,” Jean-Pierre stressed.

“The president has been saying this for more than three years, he has said several times that he is a president for everyone. It doesn't matter if you live in a red state, it doesn't matter if you live in a blue state.”

Asked whether Biden misstated or regretted his comments, Jean-Pierre said the president “clarified what he said” to ensure it was not “taken out of context.”

“He took the extra step to make it clear. And you know, you don't see that with a lot of elected officials, especially the former president. And this president wanted to make sure it wasn't taken away from the context,” Jean-Pierre said.

Jean-Pierre said the president spoke to Harris on Tuesday night after her speech to congratulate her. However, she would not say whether Biden apologized during their conversation or referred to his comment.

Harris, for her part, tried to distance herself from the comments. In an interview with ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce, Harris was asked how she felt when she heard his “garbage” remark.

“Well, first of all, I think the president explained what he meant,” Harris told Bruce. “But I have said it before: I strongly reject any criticism of people based on who they vote for, and I have made that clear throughout my career, including my speech last night before I believe “That's what happened, which is what I intend to do. Be president for all Americans, including those who may not vote for me in this election.”

But this incident isn't the first time the White House and Harris' campaign have had to clean up after a Biden gaffe caused a stir. Just last week, Biden spoke about Trump, saying, “We have to lock him up. Politically, we lock him up.”

The comments also come as Biden plans to travel to battleground Pennsylvania twice later this week – for campaign rallies and official events. Jean-Pierre said that for now there are plans to adjust his schedule.

ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Will McDuffie and Alexandra Hurtzler contributed to this report.